Meet Emily Young | Salon owner/hair stylist

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

Hi Emily, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I’m a very hands on personality when it comes to my business, I always want to cater to my clients and strive to meet all of their needs, from their beautiful hair to their schedule— That being said, business in the beauty industry really isn’t always the normal 9-5, your clients text you at all times of the day because hey, they are busy humans too! they want your latest apt time so they can come in after work, and if that doesn’t work they’ll take your next available saturday— which I totally get!! In my early career it was easy to immediately get back to my clients calls/text even if it was midnight, and come in extra early or stay extra late if it meant having appointments on my books! Fast forward 13 years, a sweet husband and two awesome kids later, and it’s a difficult road to navigate balance in an industry that thrives on evenings and weekends. As much as my clients want to come in at 5 or 6 o’clock after work, I’m so lucky that they understand that I want to eat dinner with my family and tuck my kids into bed! I am extremely fortunate to have a wonderful clientele filled with relationships built over a decades time, who have watched my babies grow up, who understand why I need to be at baseball on Saturday, who get it when I don’t text them back if it’s after 7, they respect the boundaries that have naturally evolved over time and I finally feel like I’ve got the best grasp on my work life balance that any business owning, working stylist can ask for!!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have a passion for all things Hair, specializing in extensions and hair color with an emphasis on blonding! I like to think I live vicariously through my blonde clients, my hair is way to dark to achieve a flattering blonde shade (without killing it anyway) so since I can’t have it… let me give it to you! 😂 I honestly enjoy any color challenge my clients throw my way— I find it fascinating the way the slightest shade change can do so much for the glow in your face, or to watch someone leave an enhanced version of the girl who walked in. To actually see her stand up a little taller because she is feeling herself is just.. thhheee best!

I started out an 18 year old girl scared to death to actually be responsible for someone hair— I didn’t feel that prepared to be out on the floor but I was also not prepared to fail, so I at least had to try— and with each failure I learned a lesson and bettered myself, with each client! I enjoyed the social connections I made with every client. I watched what others were doing and I tried their techniques— I’ve learned to embrace the new to evolve with the times. I’ve always thought to myself that as soon as you’re the stylist who claims to know it all is the min you are already behind. Beauty never sits still. I’m very proud of where I’ve come as a woman today, as a salon owner, as a stylist, and as a business woman just even in the last 2 years of unpredictable circumstances, I’m thriving and I cannot wait to see where I go next!

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 I were planning a week long vacation in the DFW for a friends experience, I def want to take them to a rangers game! There is nothing like a good ol ball park hot dog, and a baseball game, even if we lose!! after that we could head over to texas live for some local music! Maybe one day we’d hit up the arlington highlands for a bit of shopping and our choice of many delicious restaurants! I would take them to the ft worth zoo to feed the giraffes! While we’re still in fr worth, we’d walk around the stock yards and finish our night at my favorite restaurant the Reata.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my husband! He has been by my side since day one— like the Hair school days. He has always supported my goals every step of the way, and is my biggest hype man when I’m ready to take the next leap! Id like to also thank my parents, in particular my mom for being an inspiring woman in business and a leading example of the work it takes to be a business owner! I get my entrepreneurial spirit from her for sure!

Lastly I want to thank my business partner and right hand man, Abby Bauer! Because without each other business would be a lot less fun!

Instagram: @emilyyounghair

Facebook: Roots beauty bar

Image Credits
Charley Chaney @chasingchaneyportraits