Meet Mallory “Kitty” Tippin | Hairstylist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mallory “Kitty” Tippin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mallory “Kitty”, why did you pursue a creative career?
From a young age, art and self-expression have been my greatest passions. I vividly remember walking into art class – it was the only place where I truly felt in my element. I was that kid who constantly experimented with different hair colors and always had colored pencils in hand. Art competitions were my thing, and I even took 1st place in the VASE art competition, beating all the schools in my district. But I didn’t just express myself through art; I was always pushing boundaries. My colorful hair often got me in trouble at school, but that only made me want to rebel further. I loved the freedom of self-expression, and being told to fit into a box only made me want to break out of it even more.

When I went to college, I took all the required courses, but art was the only class I genuinely looked forward to. Everything else – math, science, history – bored me. English was the exception, as it occasionally challenged me creatively. I had no intention of working a typical 9-5 or answering to anyone. Even as a child, my mom would say I had a “boss mentality.” I did what I wanted, when I wanted, and when I had a dream, I went for it. Becoming a hairstylist had always been in the back of my mind. I would spend hours in the bathroom experimenting with my hair – changing colors, cutting it myself, and playing with styles. I’ve had every color imaginable, tried every cut, and even shaved my head when I ran out of options. Hair was my canvas, and I loved every minute of it.

College didn’t fuel my creative drive enough, so I decided to pursue cosmetology school. The moment I stepped into the classroom, it was like a spark ignited. I finally found the passion I had been searching for all these years. I told my mentors I wanted to specialize in creative color. They laughed, dismissing my dream and saying, “You’ll never make money as a vivid specialist. You can maybe do some fun colors here and there, but you won’t build a solid clientele.” That challenge lit a fire in me. I was determined to prove them wrong.

At my first school, I quickly realized I wasn’t like everyone else. While my classmates were all focused on blonding techniques, I wanted to push boundaries and take risks. But my unconventional approach didn’t sit well with my mentors, and I was eventually withdrawn from the program. It was a tough moment, but it only made me more determined to prove myself. I enrolled in a second cosmetology school, and this time, things were different.

At this new school, I found a mentor who truly understood me, Bobby. He was an LGBTQIA+ friendly stylist and a vivid color specialist. It was everything I had been searching for. Bobby welcomed me with open arms, encouraging my creative vision and pushing me to take risks. I knew I was in the right place.

After graduation, I worked at one of the top salons in my area, specializing in vivid and alternative styles. It was a dream come true. Getting into a salon that focused on such a niche, and often difficult to break into, was a huge accomplishment. They saw something in me, and I didn’t waste the opportunity. I poured my heart and soul into building my dream clientele, creating art every day, and working tirelessly to prove that what I loved to do was possible – despite what others had told me. My mission was clear: I wanted to inspire and impact people who didn’t fit the mold – especially within the alternative, LGBTQIA+, and creative communities. I wanted them to feel loved, seen, and like their most authentic selves. For the first time, I truly felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be.

After four years of hard work and determination, Tanner and I opened Neon Seance Salon. We’re a space that’s welcoming to all, a place built on love for the industry. Owning a suite is just the beginning of the next chapter in my life. I’ve got big plans for the future. One day, I’ll have an even bigger salon, and I want to be a mentor to other stylists, guiding them to achieve their creative dreams. My goal is to create a safe, empowering space for passionate, creative individuals to thrive. I’m incredibly grateful for how far I’ve come, and I encourage anyone with a dream to go for it. It’s never too late to make it happen.

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?
From a young age, art and self-expression have been my greatest passions. I vividly remember walking into art class – it was the only place where I truly felt in my element. I was that kid who constantly experimented with different hair colors and always had colored pencils in hand. Art competitions were my thing, and I even took 1st place in the VASE art competition, beating all the schools in my district. But I didn’t just express myself through art; I was always pushing boundaries. My colorful hair often got me in trouble at school, but that only made me want to rebel further. I loved the freedom of self-expression, and being told to fit into a box only made me want to break out of it even more.

When I went to college, I took all the required courses, but art was the only class I genuinely looked forward to. Everything else – math, science, history – bored me. English was the exception, as it occasionally challenged me creatively. I had no intention of working a typical 9-5 or answering to anyone. Even as a child, my mom would say I had a “boss mentality.” I did what I wanted, when I wanted, and when I had a dream, I went for it. Becoming a hairstylist had always been in the back of my mind. I would spend hours in the bathroom experimenting with my hair – changing colors, cutting it myself, and playing with styles. I’ve had every color imaginable, tried every cut, and even shaved my head when I ran out of options. Hair was my canvas, and I loved every minute of it.

College didn’t fuel my creative drive enough, so I decided to pursue cosmetology school. The moment I stepped into the classroom, it was like a spark ignited. I finally found the passion I had been searching for all these years. I told my mentors I wanted to specialize in creative color. They laughed, dismissing my dream and saying, “You’ll never make money as a vivid specialist. You can maybe do some fun colors here and there, but you won’t build a solid clientele.” That challenge lit a fire in me. I was determined to prove them wrong.

At my first school, I quickly realized I wasn’t like everyone else. While my classmates were all focused on blonding techniques, I wanted to push boundaries and take risks. But my unconventional approach didn’t sit well with my mentors, and I was eventually withdrawn from the program. It was a tough moment, but it only made me more determined to prove myself. I enrolled in a second cosmetology school, and this time, things were different.

At this new school, I found a mentor who truly understood me, Bobby. He was an LGBTQIA+ friendly stylist and a vivid color specialist. It was everything I had been searching for. Bobby welcomed me with open arms, encouraging my creative vision and pushing me to take risks. I knew I was in the right place.

After graduation, I worked at one of the top salons in my area, specializing in vivid and alternative styles. It was a dream come true. Getting into a salon that focused on such a niche, and often difficult to break into, was a huge accomplishment. They saw something in me, and I didn’t waste the opportunity. I poured my heart and soul into building my dream clientele, creating art every day, and working tirelessly to prove that what I loved to do was possible – despite what others had told me. My mission was clear: I wanted to inspire and impact people who didn’t fit the mold – especially within the alternative, LGBTQIA+, and creative communities. I wanted them to feel loved, seen, and like their most authentic selves. For the first time, I truly felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be.

After four years of hard work and determination, Tanner and I opened Neon Seance Salon. We’re a space that’s welcoming to all, a place built on love for the industry. Owning a suite is just the beginning of the next chapter in my life. I’ve got big plans for the future. One day, I’ll have an even bigger salon, and I want to be a mentor to other stylists, guiding them to achieve their creative dreams. My goal is to create a safe, empowering space for passionate, creative individuals to thrive. I’m incredibly grateful for how far I’ve come, and I encourage anyone with a dream to go for it. It’s never too late to make it happen.

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?
Neon Seance Salon – DUHH ! :p
Rubber Gloves – music venue
Fuzz Lab – Rug making classes
Komodo Loco – yummy food
Rebel Artistry & Aesthetics – lashes

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Tanner Pruitt – Co-Owner of Neon Seance Salon @yeahtannerhair
Jessica Ferris – Photographer @jessicarambophoto
Bobby Morrison – Cosmetology instructor @_bobbypins_

Website: https://hair-by-kitty.square.site/

Instagram: @cryptbrathair

Other: Google Reviews : https://maps.app.goo.gl/b5QpWzysPdkxaxGY6?g_st=ipc