Our mission at Harper Ellis Hair Co. is to support stylists in their quest for personal success. We elevate our hand-tied artists not only by providing them access to the highest quality hair extensions on the market but also in offering an unparalleled stylist support network and industry-leading hair education.
In this spotlight, we chat with Nashville-based Harper Ellis hairstylist, Melissa McNabb. We got to meet Melissa, teach her the Harper Ellis Method, AND give her her own Harper Ellis hair all in one day! To say she's a talented stylist AND incredible businesswoman is an understatement. Today, we're learning all about her career in styling as well as her experience with Harper Ellis hair!
HI, MELISSA! CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF?
These days, I am a non-stop, on-the-go, hair, people, travel, adventure, happy, loving woman who could probably use a little more rest! My story started growing up on a farm in eastern North Carolina. Daily chores consisted of shoveling stalls to pampering show horses which, by the way, had better hair products than I did. I discovered my love for hair as a very young girl by braiding horse’s manes and cutting my doll's hair. By the time junior high came around, I was styling older friends for prom and homecoming court. In high school, I came to Nashville for a trip, and I remember saying, “I am going to move here to do hair one day.”
WE WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHAT’S BROUGHT YOU TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW! WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAREER AS A HAIRSTYLIST?
Life obstacles got in the way for a while, but I eventually packed up and moved to Nashville in 2015. I opened my very own salon, Sweet Melissa Salon, on Music Row in 2017. I'm blessed that it has become a growing and successful business. It has given me the greatest experiences, the best team, amazing clients, and forever friends. Sweet Melissa Salon has also brought me incredible opportunities to work red carpets, music videos, photo shoots, and many other exciting events.
My salon is an environment for positivity and an overall laid-back surrounding that everyone feels comfortable in. BLONDES are our THING! We specialize in bright, bold blondes that separate us from other hairstylists in town.
CAN YOU TELL US WHY YOU CHOOSE TO USE HAND-TIED EXTENSIONS AND WHY YOU USE HARPER ELLIS’S HAIR?
We most definitely do our fair share of extensions at Sweet Melissa Salon. To be honest, I have always been at odds about them. Although I am certified in multiple methods, the Harper Ellis Concealed Bead Method was the first method that made me want to wear hair extensions myself. I fell in LOVE with them. The Harper Ellis brand and all it represents falls directly in line with the quality that I want to give to others at Sweet Melissa.
Today I can say that my vision has come to fruition with major thanks to God, family, and friends. It is such an honor to be featured, and I hope to inspire and encourage many small-town stylists like myself in pursuing their dreams.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and your work with us this month, Melissa!
If you're a fellow stylist or a hair extensions lover out in Nashville, be sure to follow with Melissa on Instagram! AND . . . if you have just a few moments, we would love for you to VOTE to help Melissa's salon win Nashville Fit Magazine's Best Salon title!