Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Whitaker
Hi Kelly, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m Kelly Michelle, and I’ve been doing hair professionally for the past 12 years—but my journey started long before that. At 16, I was known as the braider, long before I even realized that hairstyling was my calling.
Today, I’m a single mom of two amazing girls, 9 and 13, and a master braider and natural hair stylist. While I’ve built my career around natural hair and braiding, I’m now shifting my focus to luxury hair extensions.
Life hasn’t been easy. I grew up with an abusive father, dealt with depression and PTSD. Lost my second husband in an accident and my daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2020. The road has been anything but smooth, but every challenge has only made me stronger. Through it all, the salon has been my constant—even when I had to step away for a bit, it was always there waiting for me.
Now, I’m stepping fully into my passion, determined to not only elevate my career but also inspire and empower others along the way. Hair is my passion. It’s interesting—hair is such an important part of our lives, yet I feel like the industry as a whole has never been truly respected. I’ve had mothers sit in my chair and talk their daughters out of becoming hairstylists, claiming it’s not a “real” job. But the irony is, they’re sitting in my chair, trusting me to help them feel beautiful, confident, and put together.
What we do as hairstylists isn’t just about hair—it’s about self-image. It’s about identity. It’s about empowerment. A good stylist doesn’t just transform someone’s look; we transform how they feel about themselves. That kind of impact is real, and it deserves respect.
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?
Beyond my personal struggles, building my clientele hasn’t been easy. When I first moved to Utah, I started as a booth renter in a salon. Whether I had clients in my chair or not, the rent was due every month. To make ends meet, I picked up a second job, and when I wasn’t working there, I was in the salon sweeping, cleaning, posting, and doing whatever I could to grow my business. It took two years to fill my schedule, and once I did, I worked around the clock. I’m incredibly proud of that, but the truth is, I was also burning myself out.
No matter what I was going through behind the scenes, I showed up every day with a positive attitude, determined to bring light to my clients. But what I wish I had learned sooner was how to manage my money. When the world shut down in 2020, I had to reevaluate everything. I wasn’t prepared. I had no backup plan, no 401k, and barely any savings to get me through the year. It felt like all my hard work had been for nothing.
I took a work-from-home job as a marketing manager, but it was tough. I was grieving, taking care of a sick child, and juggling life on my own. For two years, I stepped away from the salon. But when I finally came back, I made a promise to myself: I would do things differently. I wouldn’t overwork myself. I would educate myself, not just on finances, but on my craft. I took haircutting, color, and hair extension courses because I want to be the best stylist I can be.
Now, my books are full again, and I get to wake up every day doing what I love. But this time, I’m doing it smarter.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Green Room Salon?
My salon is called the Green room, it’s filled with plants. I’m a nature lover and I want my clients to feel at peace when they walk into my space. My suite is a single chair oasis where my clients can come, relax, forget about the world for a bit and leave feeling rejuvenated and beautiful. I specialize in natural hair and genius weft extensions. I pride myself in the ability to style any hair type.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I’ve applied for a few grants. I would love to have a bigger space where I can sell retail products, hair extensions and have at least 2-4 chairs. I want to create more of an experience for my clients. I would am also working on building a brand for myself on social media.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: vagaro.com/thegreenroom5
