How salon owners are building spaces for wellness, mentorship, and community.
By Allyson Leak
At OTC Beauty Magazine, our mission is to highlight voices that are shaping the beauty industry from the inside out. This month, Sophia and I hosted our first OTC Beauty Roundtable—a virtual event with salon owners who are redefining what success looks like in today’s rapidly evolving beauty landscape.
Dr. Andrea C. Jenkins and Karyn Gordon joined us on our Zoom call for an honest, inspiring exchange. We talked candidly about the challenges of finding reliable stylists, the need for greater collaboration instead of competition, and how each owner balances faith, family, and business. The conversation also touched on marketing, brand partnerships, and the future of community-driven beauty spaces. Both women embody passion, resilience, and creativity—reminding us that salons are not just places for styling hair, but hubs for wellness, mentorship, and belonging.
Dr. Andrea Chanel Jenkins
With over 20 years as a licensed cosmetologist across South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia, Dr. Andrea Chanel Jenkins brings both expertise and vision to the beauty industry. She holds a Doctorate in Professional Cosmetology, is a licensed educator, and specializes in trichology and scalp health as a microbiome specialist. As owner of PurpleHeadz Salon in Grovetown, GA and the newly opened Innovative Strands Wellness Centre, Andrea’s holistic approach extends beyond hair—helping clients live healthier lives from the inside out. She is also the creator of the Andrea Chanel Signature Haircare Collection product line and is committed to mentoring stylists in professionalism, etiquette, and finding their “why.”
OTC Beauty: You’ve recently expanded from a home-based salon to your new Innovative Strands Wellness Centre. What has this transition taught you about perseverance and vision in business?
Andrea: This journey has been a true lesson in faith, perseverance, and divine timing. There were moments when it looked like I wasn’t making progress, but I learned that you must keep moving and praying anyway. Faith without works is dead. Prayer sets the foundation, but action builds the house. You can hope and dream all day long, but without the legwork and God’s blessing, you’re on a fast boat to nowhere.
Once God gives you the vision, you can’t unsee it—you have to move forward. Write the vision, make it plain, and keep building, even when progress feels slow. The reward always comes in its appointed time.
OTC Beauty: As a trichologist and holistic health provider, how do you educate clients on the connection between scalp health and overall wellness?
Andrea: I teach clients to understand their bodies first—how each system functions and what it needs to thrive. There’s no cookie-cutter approach to health or beauty. Each person is unique, so care must be individualized from the inside out.
I guide clients through how nutrition, hydration, sleep, and mental wellness directly impact the scalp and hair. The body sends nutrients where they’re needed most, but when it’s overloaded with processed foods, toxins build up and must exit through the skin, scalp, and digestive tract. By addressing these issues holistically—with herbs, natural remedies, and lifestyle changes—we restore balance. The results are visible not only in the hair but also in mood, energy, and overall vitality. True beauty begins within.
OTC Beauty: You’ve mentioned the lack of partnership and collaboration among stylists—how do you hope to change that culture?
Andrea: By changing mindsets. Collaboration isn’t competition—it’s an opportunity for growth. I believe seasoned stylists have a responsibility to mentor new professionals, to pass down both skill and integrity. When we work together instead of against one another, we elevate the entire industry.
Imagine a space where clients can access every service they need under one roof, supported by a unified team. Collaboration strengthens professionalism, reduces client anxiety, and fosters generational loyalty. When stylists understand that we all win when we work together, the industry becomes stronger and more respected.
OTC Beauty: What advice would you give new stylists about finding their “why” and building a sustainable career?
Andrea: Your “why” is your anchor—it’s what sustains you when challenges arise. Once you find it, your niche will naturally unfold. Build your career around what fuels your passion, not what’s popular.
Sustainability comes through continuous education and evolution. Invest in classes, network with like-minded stylists, and stay open to new ideas. The more you learn, the more valuable you become. When you commit to excellence, you become not just a stylist—but a trusted expert in your craft.
OTC Beauty: You’ve created your own product line, The Andrea Chanel Signature Collection. What inspired that step, and how does it complement your salon services?
Andrea: It all started with a desire to provide my clients with products they could trust. While teaching at Empire Beauty School, I often told my students: “Listen to your clients, and give them what they need.” I wanted my clients to leave with the same confidence—knowing they could maintain healthy hair between visits with salon-grade products designed for them.
Each product was created with intention:
- Get Your Life Shampoo: Detoxifies buildup, soothes the scalp, and offers antimicrobial benefits—it can even double as a body wash.
- Hydra Life Shampoo: Inspired by the life-giving power of water, it restores moisture and hydration to dry hair.
- Leave It Leave-In Conditioner: Protects, detangles, and moisturizes—just leave it and go.
- Shine Me Out Spray: Revives dull hair with a radiant finish.
- Form It Styling Foam: Molds and defines styles without buildup or residue.
The collection empowers clients to care for their hair at home while extending the results of their salon experience—available both in-salon and online, without the worry of diversion.
OTC Beauty: Marketing is always evolving. What strategies are you exploring now to reach high-profile clients?
Andrea: I’m expanding into television, magazine, and mainstream media to reach a wider audience—but my true focus is creating awareness for those silently suffering from scalp and hair loss concerns. These issues often carry emotional weight, and my goal is to offer education, discretion, and effective treatment options. I want people to know they’re not alone—there’s hope, healing, and help available.
OTC Beauty: Are you open to partnering with beauty and hair brands, and if so, what collaborations would be most meaningful?
Andrea: Absolutely. I’m open to partnering with brands that value integrity, compassion, and community impact. The most meaningful collaborations are those that uplift others—brands that educate, empower, and give back.
Men, women, and children all experience hair and scalp challenges. Partnering with companies that understand that diversity in care matters, allows us to create real solutions. Together, we can redefine beauty as wellness and wholeness—inside and out.
Dr. Andrea Chanel Jenkins
info@innovativestrandswellnesscentre.com
Instagram@The_purpleheadededucator
Karyn Gordon
Karyn Gordon is the founder and owner of KG For Hair LLC, where her brand tagline says it all: “A Place where beauty meets community.” In addition to running her salon, she is the visionary behind The Blowout Boot Camp and Blowouts & Brunch—signature networking and education events for stylists that will mark their one-year anniversary in February 2026. A stylist, entrepreneur, community steward, wife, and mom of two autistic children, Karyn brings a spirit of connection and empowerment to her work, ensuring that both clients and fellow stylists feel welcomed, valued, and supported.
OTC Beauty: Your tagline, “A Place Where Beauty Meets Community,” really captures your approach. How do you bring that philosophy into the daily experience at your salon?
Karyn: Fun fact: my original tagline for KG For Hair was “Where Beauty Meets Wellness.” I still believe in that vision — but over time, I realized my true purpose is people.
Community has become the heartbeat of my business. Every day, when I look around the salon, I see familiar faces — my children’s teachers and classmates, the woman from the Kroger deli, football moms, even my mailman. KG For Hair LLC literally serves the community every day.
I’ve always dreamed of owning a salon that’s more than just a place for beauty — a place that serves. From seniors to children, from guests with special needs to busy parents and professionals, KG For Hair is a space where everyone feels seen, cared for, and valued. KG For Hair LLC isn’t just a salon — it’s the community’s salon.
OTC Beauty: What inspired you to launch The Blowout Boot Camp and Blowouts & Brunch? How have these events impacted the stylist community so far?
Karyn: I first launched The Blowout Bootcamp back in 2019 to give beauty pros and future professionals hands-on education about blowouts for all hair textures. At that time, I noticed only one type of client was getting blowouts — and I knew that had to change.
Fast forward to 2025, and Blowouts & Brunch was born out of a desire to heal divisions within our industry. This event isn’t just about styling hair — it’s about building community.
Blowouts & Brunch serves as a networking and educational platform where educators and stylists can come together as equals — sharing techniques, experiences, and inspiration. I believe our industry’s sense of community has weakened because many are focused solely on starting businesses, rather than learning from seasoned professionals.
By creating accessible, affordable education, we’re helping stylists connect, grow, and understand the deeper importance of collaboration over competition. Together, we’re reigniting the spirit of community in the beauty industry.
OTC Beauty: Finding reliable stylists has been a challenge for many salon owners. What would you like to see change in the industry when it comes to apprenticeships and mentorship?
Karyn: Finding reliable, committed stylists has become one of the biggest challenges for salon owners today. With the rise of salon suites, many new stylists jump straight into being their own boss — simply because it’s an option.
While entrepreneurship is empowering, I believe we need to refocus on mentorship and apprenticeship in beauty schools. That’s where the foundation is built.
I spent two and a half years as an assistant, and it wasn’t always easy — but that experience taught me invaluable lessons. I learned customer service, salon etiquette, and what it means to operate in a professional environment. Most importantly, I learned how to navigate the day-to-day realities of salon life in real time.
Stylists today need to slow down, find their purpose, and fall in love with the craft again — not just the hustle. Let’s bring back the love of hair, the spirit of education, and the strength of community to our industry.
OTC Beauty: You’ve said word-of-mouth and relationship-building have been the backbone of your marketing—why do you think those personal connections matter so much?
Karyn: Trust is everything. Creating a safe, welcoming space for my guests is one of the most important parts of what I do.
God has blessed me with the gifts of empathy and grace, and those gifts naturally draw people to me. The salon became more than just a place to style hair — it became a platform to pour into people, to listen, to uplift, and to remind them of their beauty inside and out.
OTC Beauty: How do you balance entrepreneurship, family life, and your own self-care?
Karyn: I usually start off by saying, “Do I have a choice?” — but on a serious note, balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship has been one of my biggest challenges.
Trying to build a business while raising a family — especially with two autistic children — has stretched me in ways I never expected. Finding babysitters for classes and events wasn’t easy, and that’s actually one of the main reasons I opened KG For Hair LLC. I needed to create a life where I could be fully present for my children while also doing what I love.
Owning my salon gave me the flexibility I needed, but for a while, I poured everything into serving others and lost sight of myself. I was heading toward burnout and forgetting my purpose.
Now, I make it a priority to pour into myself first — I wake up at 4:15 a.m., three times a week, to train, pray, and gather my thoughts for the day. It’s just two hours, but it’s sacred time that allows me to plan with clarity and peace.
This journey taught me that success isn’t just about business — it’s about balance, purpose, and faith. God, family, and business — in that order.
OTC Beauty: Looking ahead, where do you hope to take KG For Hair and your community-building initiatives in the next few years?
Karyn: Beyond growing my team — hopefully with new stylists from the local beauty school where I teach and offer free education every quarter — I have big dreams for the next few years.
I plan to earn my Cosmetology Educator’s License so I can have even greater impact training and mentoring future professionals. My goal is to help bridge the gap between education and real-world experience, ensuring that the next generation of stylists enters the industry prepared, confident, and purpose-driven.
Another passion project of mine is creating a Cosmetology Apprenticeship Program for individuals with special needs. Everyone deserves a place in this industry — and I want to build opportunities for those who are often overlooked.
Ultimately, my vision is simple: to keep giving back, to uplift others, and to strengthen the beauty community through education, inclusion, and connection.
OTC Beauty: Are you open to partnering with beauty and hair brands, and if so, what types of collaborations would be most meaningful to you and your clients?
Karyn: A collaboration would be absolutely amazing! I’ve always been drawn to brands that have a story — something deeper that lets you feel who’s behind the package. That connection matters to me.
I love working with brands that are intentional — those that take the time to understand that all hair isn’t the same, and that choose to create healthier, inclusive products for multiple hair textures.
To me, it’s not just about products — it’s about people. It’s about aligning with brands that care about education, authenticity, and community just as much as I do.
Because when passion and purpose align, that’s when collaboration becomes something truly beautiful.
Karyn Gordon
Master Stylist, Educator, Author
718-810-3774
Instagram@kgforhair
Facebook: KG FOR HAIR LLC
