SIMPLIFIED
I started my salon career backwards.
When I opened my salon, I had no business background and no cosmetology background. I was an elementary school teacher making a crazy career change. I owned the business first, and then I learned to do hair.
In the beginning, there was a lot of bootstrapping, a lot of tears, and a lot of figuring things out as I went. I taught during the day, apprenticed at night, worked seven days a week, and brought salon laundry home to wash at midnight.
It wasn't easy, but I loved it. The creativity, the people, the problem-solving. I knew I'd found something I wanted to build.
From figuring it out to finding my footing
Things really changed when I started investing in mentorship and business education. I learned how to lead a team, understand my numbers, and build systems that didn't depend on me doing everything.
Today, Elevate Salon + Spa is a nationally recognized, seven-figure salon in Charlottesville, Virginia. I own our building, lead a wonderful team, and I no longer work behind the chair.
I've spent years building and refining the systems that make that possible. Now I get to share what I've learned with other salon owners.
What I'm like to work with
I'm not the loudest person in the room. I'm calm, I'm kind, and I do my best work one-on-one.
I love taking something that feels complicated and distilling it down to something easy to understand. Whether we're looking at your numbers, your team, or your day-to-day operations, you'll get honest answers, practical tools, and a clear picture of what comes next.
I learned a lot of this the hard way. If I can help another salon owner skip some of the tears and find clarity sooner, that's exactly the work I want to be doing.
Anna Woodie