We had the good fortune of connecting with Allie Hudson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Allie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
There were a couple factors that went behind starting my own business, I would say first would be creative freedom and flexibility. Being able to customize the color and product lines I use in my own space has been a game changer. I love being able to create a customized care routine based on my clients specific hair type and needs. I’m so excited that I’m able to bring in product lines that I am truly passionate about. Not only do they work beautifully, but they are sustainable, vegan, and cruelty-free. These factors were very important to me when deciding to open my own business. I’ve always worked at salons that were environmentally conscious, and I also wanted my business to reflect those standards.

The flexibility I have with managing my own schedule has been wonderful for not only me, but to be more available for my clients has been amazing. I am also a traveling stylist for weddings, photoshoots, and special events. So being able to build my own schedule has made working events outside of the salon so much more accessible.

I also love being in a more scaled-down space with my clients. I really want to make sure my focus is on my guests and that they feel like I am listening to what they want. I always want my clients to leave the salon feeling relaxed, rejuvenated, and happy with their service. Starting a new business can be scary, but everyone has been so supportive of my new venture and my small business. I truly can’t thank all of my clients, friends, and family enough!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve always been driven to be creative since a young age. Whether it was painting, dancing, drawing, or singing. I always had to be doing something with my hands, or learning something new and exciting. As I got older I was always interested in the Hair and Beauty industry. I would constantly be watching hair and makeup tutorials and practicing new things. In my teen years I started playing around with different colors and styles on my own hair. This eventually led to doing my family and friends’ hair. That was when I first discovered I enjoyed doing people’s hair/ makeup and helping to make them feel good.

Moving into my adulthood I knew I enjoyed being creative, but struggled to find a career path that truly made me happy. I knew I needed a change and a career that would keep me interested and evolving. Finally at the age of 23 I decided to enroll in cosmetology school at Paul Mitchell The School, located in Temecula California. I was so excited for my new journey, but also anxious if I made the right decision. I really tried to soak up the full experience as much as possible. I had some great Learning Leaders there that encouraged me to take all the education I could. Throughout the schooling process, I took every extra class I could get my hands on. This led to having some great mentors throughout my career that really made me want to go above and beyond. I graduated in December of 2017 and moved on to pass my boards and receive my professional license.

Once I was done with school and had my cosmetology license I was ready for a change and moved to Northern Colorado. I started working at a beautiful salon and was excited to start my new journey. I started at the bottom and worked my way up. Over the course of the next few years, I continued my passion for education and had a lot of practice in perfecting my craft. That’s when I started getting interested in the business side of things. My goal was always to open up my own business at some point, and I wanted to explore that.

In October of 2021 I started looking into opening up my own space with a couple other business partners. We toured the Summit Salon Studio’s located in Fort Collins and we just knew this was the space for us. I started my own LLC- Beauty By Allie, and established Crafted Beauty Co. in November of 2021. I was so excited but I knew that owning my own business came with more responsibility and challenges. It definitely has not been an easy journey, a lot of hard work and dedication has gotten me to where I am today.

My advice to anyone wanting to enter into this industry is be willing to put in the work, but most importantly try to make it fun! There are so many paths you can choose, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and try new things. My number one piece of advice would be to always be open to learning and continue to educate yourself. The beauty industry is constantly evolving and there is always something new to learn. Some of the lessons I’ve learned along the way are to just keep going, even on your off days. You’re going to make mistakes and that’s all a part of the learning process! Some of my biggest accomplishments have come from a learning experience. I’m so excited to keep growing my business and can’t wait to see what the future has in store.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There is definitely a lot to do in the Northern Colorado area. If you’re in Fort Collins some of my favorite places to eat would be The Blind Pig, Canino’s, Los Chingones, and Bahn Thai. There’s also lots of window shops and fun activities to do in Old Town, often with live music. I love the wide diversity of the craft beer scene and the different breweries around. If you like show productions the Lincoln Center in Fort Collins or the Denver Center for the Performing Arts both put on great shows. There are a lot of small businesses in the area, and I love being able to support them!

In the warmer months my favorite thing to do is to get on the lake at Horsetooth Reservoir and paddle board and kayak.
There is also no shortage of hiking and outdoor activities to do. I love getting outside with my dog on my days off. Some of my favorite places to take her include Devil’s Backbone hiking trail in Loveland, the Spring Canyon dog park in Fort Collins (they have a swimming area made just for dogs!), and the Gateway Natural area located on the Pouder River.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost, without my clients I wouldn’t have a business to begin with. I want them to know how truly thankful and appreciative I am for them! It’s been so amazing to have their full support in starting this new venture. I honestly cold not do it without each and everyone of them, and I want to thank them for returning time and time again. My family and friends have also been a huge support in getting me to take that leap of faith in starting my own business. A huge shoutout to my fiance Lucas for always believing in me and encouraging me to be my best. There are so many fears and factors that go into opening your own salon. Having their encouragement and continuing support really gave me the motivation I needed to take on the endeavor. And lastly, a big thanks to my business partners Naomi and Mikie who are also very talented. I wouldn’t be where I am today without having such a strong support system around me.

Website: https://alliehudson.glossgenius.com/about

Instagram: @craftedbeautybyallie

Facebook: Beauty By Allie LLC

Image Credits
Rebecca Milam Photography

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.