Hi, I’m WHITNEY

SALON OWNER + COACH
STYLIST FOR 20+ YEARS

Silhouette of a person standing on a mountain peak during sunset.

BUILT MY SALON USING THE SAME BBA METHODS I TEACH TODAY

Illustration of a person riding a bicycle with a dog sitting in a basket on the front, both on a city street.

MOM OF TWO + DOG MOM ×3

Work with Me

Hi, I’m Whitney—Salon Owner, Hairstylist, BBA Creator & Mom of Two Beautiful Kids.

Why I Created Beauty Business Academy

I've spent over 20 years behind the chair, and I still love doing hair.

Along the way, I built a clientele, opened a salon, grew a team, raised my prices, changed my schedule, and learned how to make this career work for my life.

I invested years in technical education and becoming a better hairstylist. But there was another side of my career I had to figure out as I went:

The business behind the chair.

How much do I actually need to earn? What should my time be worth? How should I price my services? How often should my guests return? How do I confidently recommend products? How do I plan for expenses, taxes, vacations, sick days, and time away from the salon?

And most importantly:

How do I build a profitable business without simply working more?

It took me years to understand how all of these pieces worked together—and I don't think it should take you years to figure it out too.

That's why I created Beauty Business Academy.

I want you to have access to the business education I wish I'd had earlier—to understand your numbers, know what they're telling you, and know what to change when you want a different result.

Because the goal isn't just to make more money.

It's to build a profitable business that gives you more choice over your time and supports the life you want to live.

You already know how to do the hair.

Now let's build the business behind your chair.

I FINALLY LEARNED HOW TO WORK LESS—WITHOUT SACRIFICING MY INCOME OR THE BUSINESS I HAD WORKED SO HARD TO BUILD.

Once I understood my numbers and began making more intentional decisions, I created the balance I had been searching for: a successful salon career and more time for the life and family I love.

That’s when I knew I wanted to help other hairstylists do the same.

A woman with long curly hair and tattoos on her arms is sitting in a black office chair, wearing glasses, a sleeveless top, and striped pants. She is holding a notebook on her lap and is being handed a mug while talking on a cell phone.
Choose your BBA Journey

BBA: Build Smarter. Live Better.

BBA: Build Smarter. Live Better.

CLARITY

You shouldn’t have to guess what your business needs. BBA helps you understand your numbers, recognize what’s working, and identify the opportunities that can make the greatest difference.

FREEDOM

Your business should support your life—not require all of it. BBA helps you determine what each hour behind the chair needs to produce so you can create more income, flexibility, and time for what matters most.

STRATEGY

Working harder isn’t always the answer. You’ll learn how to make intentional decisions about your pricing, services, schedule, rebooking, and retail—based on your goals and the business you want to build.

SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

This isn’t about chasing quick fixes or getting everything perfect. It’s about building the skills to track your progress, set measurable goals, and continue making informed decisions as your business evolves.

My journey

A woman with long, curly, reddish-brown hair smiling in a well-lit room with bookshelves in the background.

2007

how it all started

I began my career in 2007 at the Aveda Institute in San Francisco, followed by an assistant program at an incredible salon in the city. After moving back home to Santa Cruz, I spent more than 10 years working behind the chair in commission and rental salons. Over time, I began to feel unmotivated, undervalued, and disconnected from the salon experience around me. I knew there had to be a better way—for both the clients and the stylists.

A woman getting her hair styled at a hair salon, with mirrors, plants, and hair products visible in the background.

2018

I BUILT MY SALON FROM THE GROUND UP.

I opened the doors without a team—just a vision and the determination to create something different. I wanted a salon where clients felt genuinely cared for and stylists felt supported, valued, and inspired to grow.

I also knew that if I wanted to build a successful salon, I needed to understand the business behind it. I started working with a business coach who taught me how to track my numbers, understand what they meant, and use them to make better decisions.

Six women are standing together in a brightly lit room, smiling at the camera. They are dressed casually in light and dark jeans and tops, with some wearing boots and sneakers. The background includes white shelves with white boxes, a mirror, and modern round wall lamps.

2024

THE DREAM BECAME A THRIVING TEAM.

Through intentional leadership, strong systems, and a clear business plan, I grew the salon into a fully staffed business with booked, successful stylists. We increased what our time behind the chair was worth while creating a healthier balance between work and life.

I learned that care and strategy don’t compete—they’re most powerful when they work together.

A woman with glasses and tattoos wearing a sleeveless top and striped skirt, sitting in an office chair, looking at a silver laptop. There are digital devices on her lap and in front of her. The background includes shelves with books and circular wall decorations.

2026

BEAUTY BUSINESS ACADEMY WAS BORN.

After seeing these methods transform my own business and help my team grow, I knew I wanted to share them with other hairstylists. I created Beauty Business Academy to teach stylists the business behind the chair—giving them the tools and confidence to build a profitable business that supports the life they want to live.