Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Mitchell.
Hi Ashley, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Before I ever held a pair of shears, I thought I’d be designing buildings. I studied architecture at Prairie View A&M University with a minor in business marketing, but life had other plans. Somewhere between late-night study sessions and early morning classes, I started doing hair for students, faculty, and even a few of my professors. Word spread fast and I’d leave class and head straight to the salon, sometimes working until midnight. Those long days showed me that my true gift wasn’t in structures but in transformation, not just of hair but of people.
What began as a hustle in college became a movement. I built a business out of pure passion, and before I knew it, my 10×10 suite was bursting at the seams with clients who believed in me. With two loyal assistants by my side, I took a leap of faith and opened Ashley Mitchell Salon & Spa.
Today, our salon stands as a symbol of luxury, culture, and confidence in Northwest Houston. We specialize in textured hair, blonding, and transformations that highlight every client’s natural beauty no matter their background or texture. My multicultural team brings artistry, education, and heart to every guest who walks through our doors, creating an experience that feels personal, empowering, and unforgettable.
What started as a college student’s spark has become a thriving community, one that provides opportunity, stability, and inspiration for others. Ashley Mitchell Salon & Spa isn’t just where beauty happens; it’s where transformation begins.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has been anything but smooth, but every bump has shaped me into the leader I am today. When I first opened my salon in 2019, I had no idea that 2020 would bring a global pandemic that would test everything I thought I knew about business and people.
Overnight, I had to navigate clients, finances, and a team through uncertainty while still trying to understand what had just happened. I was learning to be a business owner at the same time I was learning to survive a crisis.
The truth is, my business was built on me. I hadn’t yet learned how to hire or train people who could manage without me, so in those early years, it felt like my salon had a revolving door. I was constantly rebuilding, re-teaching, and trying to stay afloat. It wasn’t until I hired a business coach that everything changed. I learned what I was doing wrong, how to build real systems, and most importantly, how to shape my business into what I ultimately wanted it to be.
Through those challenges, I discovered the difference between being a stylist and being a CEO. The lessons were hard, but they gave me the foundation and wisdom to lead with clarity, compassion, and confidence. Now, I teach my team and other salon owners how to build sustainable success without losing themselves in the process.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Ashley Mitchell Salon & Spa was built on the integrity of hair, heart, and human connection. My mother was my first muse. She had the most beautiful hair I had ever seen, and when I started doing hair, she made me cut it. Her challenge was simple: test its limits with color and chemicals, then bring it back to life. If I could restore her hair, she would know I was meant for this. Not only did her hair grow back stronger, but that experience taught me that healthy hair never goes out of style and that transformation runs much deeper than the surface.
That moment shaped how I lead, teach, and create. I made it my mission to understand texture in all its forms because all hair has texture, and when you understand it, you can care for anyone who sits in your chair.
At our salon, luxury and inclusivity live in the same space. We are known for doing all hair, every texture, every shade, every person, and for bringing back the open-concept salon where community, laughter, and love thrive. My team is family, our guests are home, and every day I am reminded that what we create here is so much more than beautiful hair.
How do you think about happiness?
What makes me happy is seeing transformation in people, in purpose, and in peace. I find joy in watching someone sit in my chair one way and leave feeling completely renewed. It is more than hair for me; it is connection, confidence, and care all wrapped together.
Since growing my salon, I now see clients only one and a half days a week. The rest of my time is spent consulting with other business owners in the beauty industry, helping them scale their businesses, strengthen their systems, and lead with confidence. Watching other owners find freedom, clarity, and success brings me the same fulfillment I once found behind the chair. It is still transformation, just through a different lens.
As a single mom, one of my biggest goals was to create more time with my son and show him that life is not just about work; it is about purpose and meaningful connection. Now I get to live that truth every day, building a life where I can be present for him, lead with impact, and support others as they reach their dreams. That balance, that freedom, that purpose, that is my happiness.
Pricing:
- Signature Silk Press Experience – starting at $125
- • Luxury Blonding Services – starting at $300 (includes toner and botanical repair treatment)
- • Micro Links Installation – starting at $450
- • Shampoo, Blow Dry, Haircut & Treatment – starting at $115
- • Bridal Styling Packages – starting at $450 (includes trial session)
Contact Info:
- Website: http://ashleymitchellco.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleymitchellsalonandspa
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DCQ5vunED/
- Other: https://linktr.ee/THEASHLEYMITCHELL
Image Credits
Images by
Cory Dixon Photography
Cam Paige Photography
