What inspired you to open your own salon?
After 11 years working at Rudy’s Barbershop, I knew firsthand how powerful culture can be in shaping a workplace, a career as well as a life.
In an industry that can be known for rigid beauty standards, Rudy’s proved that another way was possible. When I moved to Nashville and Rudy’s locations closed, I searched for that same culture—and found that it didn’t exist.
So instead of compromising who I was, I decided to open my own salon where stylists could be celebrated for exactly who they are.
Hideout Academy (a cosmetology school) opened this year because my opinion is that the cosmetology industry still can leave too many people behind. We exist to fill that gap, with education rooted in dignity, inclusivity, and real support.
What is the most rewarding experience you have as a salon owner?
My greatest reward of salon ownership is more than numbers or titles—it’s creating a space where people can be fully themselves while building real, sustainable careers in this industry.
What inspired you to open your own academy?
I started Hideout Academy with great inspiration and a strong belief that students could achieve better and stronger results compared to traditional cosmetology studies.
At Hideout Academy, I choose to do things differently. Our curriculum is built on hands-on, experiential learning—from artistic activities that teach anatomy to dynamic, interactive experiences that bring color theory to life. I believe people learn in different ways, and I intentionally designed this program to support multiple learning pathways.
It’s vital to me to create an environment that honors how different brains process information and turn knowledge into action. By meeting students where they are and engaging both creative and technical skills, we prepare them to thrive beyond passing the test.
At the core of Hideout Academy are my values: inclusivity, accessibility, and ethics. I believe beauty education should welcome people as they are, remove unnecessary barriers, and respect diverse identities, bodies, learning styles, and lived experiences. Education is about empowering people, help them feel included, and bring their very best to the forefront.
None of this would be possible without the incredible team behind Hideout Academy. I am supported by an amazing group of educators, stylists, and managers who are deeply committed to mentorship, creativity, and integrity. Their lived experience, passion, and leadership are vital to creating the space we envision for the future of cosmetology.
Together, we are determined to help change this industry. Future cosmetologists deserve an education that is transparent, humane, and career-ready; an education rooted in integrity, creativity, and respect, so that graduates leave confident, equipped, and proud of the path they’ve chosen.
What would you like our readers to know about you?
The industry is evolving. Rigid beauty standards no longer define success, and authenticity has become essential. There is profound beauty in people showing up as they are, and I’m excited to support a new generation of stylists who are reshaping what this industry looks like.
