Melissa was one of the first people I met after moving to Florida. I was on the hunt for a hairstylist, and a friend recommended her. From the moment we met, Melissa and I clicked. We discovered we had so much in common: shared life experiences, being the exact same age (we even celebrated our 30th birthdays together!), both being Leos, a mutual fear of flying, and a deep love for books and life. By her styling chair, she has a sign that says she’s a “hairapist,” and it couldn’t be more fitting. I absolutely love getting my hair done—not just because she’s incredibly talented (and she is!), but because those two hours in her chair feel like a safe space where I can simply breathe and exist. Over the past 15 years, we’ve been able to watch each other grow and share new life experiences, and I’m beyond excited to feature her and her fabulous salon this month on our blog. Melissa and her team truly are AMAZING! I had the absolute pleasure to work with her and some of the other fabulous stylists that work there for some salon branding fun!
Could you tell us a little about yourself and how you got to where you are today?
Hi all, I am Melissa Taylor. I have 22 years of experience in the beauty industry. Behind the chair is my passion. I used to do editorial hair and makeup for magazines and Boudoir photo shoots. I worked for Paul Mitchell corporate as a National educator for eight enjoyable years. I recently bought Stella Luca Salon West New England location, November 2024, and I’m so excited to step into the role of being a salon owner. This industry has given me so many incredible opportunities. I think the reason why I am where I am is because I just say “yes” and I am willing to do it scared, stepping outside my comfort zone, and I just really have a passion for people, connecting with people, and helping people feel beautiful. I have an amazing support system and feel very blessed.
What makes your salon unique when it comes to helping clients feel pampered and confident?
Taylor James Salon is unique in that we offer a complimentary coffee bar, wine, and tea. We love to spoil our clients with luxurious head massages and complimentary consultations. We offer free dog treats to dogs that walk by so we can get some puppy pets throughout the day. We love clients that range anywhere from short pixie cuts to custom-blended extensions. We are in the heart of Hannibal Square, Winter Park, so our 2,600 sq ft space is stunning. We want our clients to walk out of the salon feeling confident in how they look and loving themselves. We love supporting other local small businesses, and you can find us hosting community pop-up events.
Tell us about your favorite client transformation or a moment that reminded you why you love this industry.
After 22 years, I can confidently say I am still obsessed with this industry, and being able to connect with clients throughout the day is something that’s very valuable to me. There have been a ton of transformative moments in my career, but I think the overall theme is just being there to help clients with their hair needs. I also love connecting with them on a personal level whether they’re going through a divorce, a death in the family, depression, excited at a new job or a new baby there’s so many life changes that happen with clients, and I am grateful to be a part of that just for a moment of time.
How can potential clients find you and your salon?
Taylor James Salon loves new business. We are accepting new clients. You can find us on Instagram at TaylorJamesSalonWP, on Facebook at Taylor James Salon WP, and our website is taylorjamessalon.com. You could also find our Google listing under Taylor James Salon.
Can you walk us through the perfect pre-shoot hair care routine?
For the perfect pre-shoot hair care routine, your hair should be soft and shiny, so I would advise doing a gloss conditioning treatment a week before your photo shoot, so that when you get your pictures taken, it looks really soft and pretty. I prefer if clients have their hair a little bit dirty one day, it makes it easier to style and kind of gives that lived-in, messy look.
What kind of hairstyles work best for sultry, romantic looks in photos?
The best hairstyles for a sultry, romantic look, are really loose curls or something that looks like you just had your hair kind of tousled and messy something that’s a little bit relaxed comes across sexier than some thing that is very structured you want to look like you just had some fun in the sheets.
What’s one underrated beauty treatment you swear by for a confidence boost?
Hair masks! Doing a hair mask once a week revitalizes the hair, making it super easy to detangle and very shiny. I think that is so underrated, and I feel like if more people used a hair mask, they would be blown away by how gorgeous the hair can be.
If you could only choose one book to read for the rest of your life, which would you choose?
Is this a trick question? HAHA I would choose the legacy series by Melissa Roerich and Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas
What song always gets you in the mood to glam up and feel fabulous?
Perm by Bruno Mars, Dancing Under Red Skies by Dermot Kennedy and Venus by Mackenzy Mackay
If you could give every boudoir client one “beauty superpower” before their shoot, what would it be?
Confidence is key and just knowing that you are stunning and gorgeous. Believe in your baddie self! I think it makes the shoot even more fun when you get out of your head and have the best time with it. In terms of hair and makeup; I would say a very sexy, sultry lip (something red and glossy) and sexy bedroom eyes (smokey eye shadow helps) could also be a super power before a photo shoot. Just pretend you’re looking at a person that you’re extremely into when you’re getting your pictures taken, fictional boyfriends can apply in this scenario. haha
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