Today we would like to introduce you to Faye Allen.
Hi Faye, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello,
My story starts with one of my older brothers suggesting I attend cosmetology school. He had a locksmith business next door to the school. One day, when I stopped by his business, he said, “sis, the owners next door are nice people. Why don’t you go over and talk to them? You may like what they are doing.” I took his advice, enrolled, and completed my training.
At that time, cosmetology schools, beauty salons, and barbershops were still segregated. I was their first African American student. In the beginning, they did not seem to know how to teach me and made me do things over and over and over. I absorbed everything I could. I learned how to do backcombing and teasing styles of the 60s and 70s and became good at it; the blue-haired and white-headed ladies requested appointments from me all the time. Among other things, I loved haircutting. I destroyed several mannequin heads while learning the correct angles and formations of a good haircut. Upon graduation, I had a job waiting for me in an African American salon 30 miles in one direction. I worked at that location for two years only receiving gas money as payment. The salon owner became my mentor and sold me my first beauty salon.
However, before I ever considered becoming a hairstylist, I was always doing something to my hair. At about five years old, I enjoyed the finished result of my mom pressing my hair on Saturday and getting a ribbon in my hair for Sunday church services. By the time I’m 15 years old, I was already wearing afro wigs, afro puffs, and ponytail clips. I have enjoyed over 40 years in the hair industry. I worked several years in corporate and private salons. After owning three salons across Missouri and Ohio, I accepted a corporate salon management position in Charleston, SC, and later opened Studio 711 Hair Spa. After a few years there, Covid19 pushed me to be closer to my family, so I moved and relocated Studio 711 Hair Spa to Frisco, Texas.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There were many life changes along the way that created challenges. My divorce, the death of my late husband, and losing my home in a fire were the most impactful challenges. The house fire destroyed everything my children and I owned, and I did not have fire insurance. I was a single parent at the time, balancing the salon, taking my children to the sitter, sleeping on my brother’s sofa, and looking for a new home in my spare time. The courage it took to keep going became the fuel for me to purchase my first salon eighteen months later.
Other than life happening, the salon is one of my favorite places to be and a place of refuge for many women. I have learned to listen well and become transparent to share life experiences when needed.
I am passionate about hair! I love working with hair. I love seeing the smiles on clients’ faces when hair goals have been reached.
We’ve been impressed with Studio 711 Hair Spa, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Studio 711 Hair Spa is a salon that specializes in helping women who have damaged and unmanageable hair. When coming to the salon for the first time, the condition of your hair does not matter. The focus is on helping the client achieve beautiful and healthy hair.
We are known for creating a safe space, a relaxing atmosphere, and helping hair grow long and healthy. We always bathe the hair in luxurious shampoos and treatments followed by a soothing and generous water rinse. A typical client experience usually starts with an engaging conversation and, before the service is over, they are asleep. Our goal is for the client to leave the salon loving their hair and the salon.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Now, that is a great question! In the next few years, hair styling will be transitioning. We have been conversing with colleagues for the last three years that a shift was coming in the industry. The Pandemic has and will continue to play a significant role in this shift. The consumer will continue to look for uncomplicated and effortless ways to style and care for their hair.
Studio 711 Hair Spa will continue to offer quality salon services and offer education in and out of the salon.
As a Salon Business Coach with 40 years of tenure in the industry, we looked at ways to help newly licensed stylists and coach salon business owners in the beauty industry. We have created a program to guide beauty businesses and stylists with time management, salon processes, and environment, salon ownership, etc. The program is packed full of information geared toward becoming a more successful salon owner.
We recently launched a Virtual Consultations service. This service allows someone to receive professional advice at home or on the go and before visiting the salon. It also provides support to the newly licensed stylist or struggling stylist in the beauty industry.
We have also just published a children’s book titled “Jazzie’s Big Hair Day.” It is currently available online at www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com. It’s a short story about a little girl’s first beauty salon visit. The inspiration to write this book came after witnessing numerous children afraid in the salon and or not visiting the salon. We wanted to show that this can be a very positive experience. We hope that all of us can envision ourselves in Jazzie’s salon experience.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @studio711hairspa
- Facebook: @studio711hairspa
