From One Chair to a Collective: The Story Behind Salty Hair Collective

capecodhairbyashlee
7 days ago
4 min read

In 2016, after nine years of my husband serving in the Marine Corps, our family moved back home. Soon after, I found a perfect salon space in Falmouth—a cozy 450-square-foot studio filled with joy and laughter, that would eventually grow into Salty Hair Collective, one of the most sought-after destinations for lived-in hair color on Cape Cod.

What started with just me trying to build a clientele behind the chair, slowly evolved into something so much bigger: a full collective of stylists, a peaceful space for guests, and a brand that celebrates effortless, low-maintenance beauty.

Finding My Voice (and My Brand) Online

I’ve always been—as a friend once put it—“painfully shy.” I love deep, meaningful one-on-one conversations with my clients and being around people I know. But small talk with strangers or networking events? They make me physically ill. So when I started at my new salon, which had zero foot traffic, I knew traditional marketing wouldn’t work for me.

In 2018, I knew I needed help. I found a coach who specialized in marketing for hairstylists online. She helped me discover how to build a brand around my love for low-maintenance, sun-kissed hair. I learned how to market myself on social media, build a website, and connect with people authentically.

By 2020, my chair was fully booked. And then... the world shut down.

Saying "Yes" Before I Was Ready

Like so many others, the COVID-19 shutdown forced me into stillness. During that time, I began exploring new possibilities, feeling I had outgrown my space.

Then, six weeks into the shutdown, I got a call: the owner of the salon I worked at, The Hair Lounge, asked if I wanted to buy it.

Without hesitation, I said, “Yes.”

I had no idea how I’d do it—how to run a business, buy a salon during a pandemic, or even when we’d reopen. But I had a gut feeling. It was a full-body "yes".

During the shutdown, I registered my business name—Salty Hair Inc., inspired by the kind of hair I love to create and the beautiful place we live. I kept the name The Hair Lounge temporarily to keep things easy on our clients. But I knew the name change would come.

I also built a new website, researched safety protocols, and prepared to reopen. When we got the green light, we were ready.

Creating a Safe Space

Those first six weeks back were a whirlwind of 12-hour days. Clients said, “If you can make it through this, you can make it through anything.” They were right.

At that point, my only goal was to create a calm, clean, and safe space—for myself, my clients, and my one coworker, Kathleen. I didn’t set out to be a “boss.” I just wanted to protect the energy of the space after experiencing toxic salon environments in the past.

Building the Collective

Five months later, Kailee walked in. She shared my passion for lived-in hair color and had also left a toxic work environment. I knew right away—I could give her a safe space to grow.

Six months after that, Tori came aboard with the same passion for low-maintenance color and a desire for work-life balance. Once again, I felt the pull to provide a supportive space where she could thrive.

I started to feel more comfortable as a leader and then something clicked: Tori’s books were filling up—and nearly every service was for the kind of lived-in color we all loved to do. I realized: every single day could be filled with the kind of hair services that light up our souls.

We refined our brand, developed our signature services: Salty Mane, Beach Blonde & Sunkissed, and our business exploded.

The Retreat That Changed Everything

In June 2023, we went on a retreat that changed everything. During a morning reiki and yoga session, I felt a shift. I’d been emotionally closed off from post partum—but that morning, I felt open again. I realized I was ready to grow—this time, into a new space we could truly call our own.

As we wrapped up the trip, I got a text from Kathleen, saying a “cute brunette” had walked in with a resume. She sent me a photo of a resume with so much personality to it, I got chills, growth coming faster then I could have ever imagined. Chloe joined our team shortly after we returned.

A New Home for Salty Hair Collective

A few weeks later at a summer cookout, I told someone I was looking to buy a building. That someone happened to be my now-landlord. He mentioned a space opening up on Main Street.

I literally laughed and said, “No way—I don’t want to be on Main Street.” I loved our tucked-away location. It was quiet. No interruptions with walk-ins. Besides, I wanted to own, not rent. And possibly a little self doubt and imposter syndrome mixed into that response as well...

But that night, I didn’t sleep. Not for a minute.

The next morning, I texted him. I saw the space. And I knew—it was a "yes". Overwhelming, scary, and totally not a salon yet. But still, a "yes".

The Collective Is Born

I signed our new lease in September 2023 and finally changed our name to Salty Hair Collective. The word Collective felt right. That’s what we had become—a group of like-minded stylists lifting each other up and doing work we truly love. We began renovations shortly after in November.

After seven months of designing every detail, and welcoming Julia to the team, we opened the doors to our brand-new space on Main Street, Falmouth in May 2024.

Since then, we’ve continued to grow—welcoming Shayla, Jill, Justine, and Sarah, while retiring the legendary Kathleen and celebrating Grace as our beloved salon coordinator.

We are now a team of ten. And I couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve created.

What’s Next?

What’s next for the Salty Ladies?

We dream of taking a team retreat to Italy and continuing to expand our benefits as we grow together in this beautiful space. My goal is to keep building a business that supports both the stylists and the clients who make this place so special.