We had the good fortune of connecting with Elena Nelson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elena, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Ethics is at the center of my brand, Hair Ethics. Of course Hair Ethics is ethical in the traditional sense, products not tested on animals that are low tox, all of the typical things you’d expect, but most importantly Hair Ethics is ethical in the way the clients are treated. I believe that the largest disconnect in the beauty industry is that clients are treated as a dollar sign & not like humans. This business was built (& continues to be built) on honesty & integrity. With both those things at the forefront of the business the right people will make their way to you. With Hair Ethics I’ve thrown away the concept of “selling to sell”. There’s no lies & no gimmicks, just hair. Services done with passion, honesty, & integrity, the only way they should be done.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
It comes as no surprise that I operate a bit differently. I frequently have clients come in & express to me that they feel an immense sense of comfort in my space & that they feel as though they’re spending time with an old friend. That feeling of comfort is something I’ve strived to achieve for my clients & it’s definitely something I’m proud to have been able to create. The road leading up to this comfortable space was far from comfortable though. Starting out in this industry, knowing I wasn’t accepted, quickly made me realize that’s something I never wanted others to feel & I’d hoped eventually there would be a safe space for me to create. One thing led to another & I found myself alone on my own. Once I was in my own space I was able to truly grow as a stylist & from there the right people found me, & chose to stay. The road to truly great things tends to be a bit uncomfortable, & mine was nothing short of that. Being able to create the safe space that allows my clients to be 100% themselves & be seen is something I wouldn’t trade the battles gone through that it took to get us here. If you’re struggling to find a salon home where you fit in, I encourage you to step into Hair Ethics, where you can stand out & be yourself instead of “fitting in”.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If you know me you know I thrive on coffee, so we’re starting the day there. If we’re downtown my fav walkable spot is LA57 bakery & coffee shop, but if we’re out & about already La Casita is the spot. A lot of my friends are skaters, so we obviously have to hit up one of the locals while they’re here so I can clip them up. After I’m taking them to hunt for the perfect vintage finds at my favorite spots, Rare Heart & Eigth Saint vintage. Dinner is either gunna be at Terry Blacks BBQ or Blue sushi, those are both the go to spots & never miss.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This might come across a bit controversial, but it’s my truth. Shout out to my haters. When I started in this industry it took me an entire year to acquire an apprenticeship, & even then the gossip & judgement never stopped. I know I’m different, (this has never been news to me) but because I’m different it took me much longer to be successful in a field where unfortunately most everyone is the same. I look different, (red headed & tattooed), I act different, (outspoken, personable, & truly caring) & in a world where different is “wrong” a lot of people aren’t going to like you. Just keep showing up, & keep being yourself, it’ll all work out. So yeah, shout out to the haters for the consistent self motivation.

Website: https://Www.hairethics.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hairethics?igsh=a29vNmgwdmIwbGhv&utm_source=qr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/197zB8QnDo/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Other: TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@hairethics?_t=ZP-8xLEREtGeVD&_r=1

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.