Meet Kelly Swann | Curly Hair Specialist & Salon Owner

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

Hi Kelly, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
Love is the guiding light in my life and in my business! I wholeheartedly believe if we lean into love in every aspect of our lives and every decision we make, we are able to live in harmony with the world around us no matter the circumstances. A life fueled by love is a life worth living in my opinion. It all starts with the internal work of learning to love and accept yourself exactly as you are and living in alignment. Once that happens you are able to start connecting with others in a more authentic manner and I have seen the ripple affect personally and professionally. My salon has become a little slice of sunshine in this crazy world and that has been very intentionally crafted as a result of keeping love at the forefront of our entire operation.

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 began my career in the beauty industry at a hair salon in Rockville, MD in 2012. This salon introduced me to the joys of working with naturally curly hair and helping people to embrace the beauty of their natural texture. I was able to move from being a receptionist to an apprentice to a salon manager at that salon in MD. Eventually, the mountains started calling me and I moved to Denver. Once I moved to Colorado, I found Let Em Have It Salon and joined as a stylist and salon manager. I fell in love with LEHI because the company aligned with my values of inclusivity and sustainability. This salon is the ONLY salon in Colorado to achieve a B Corp certificate and that is very challenging for any industry but especially so in the beauty industry. Within 2 years of joining the team I was given the opportunity to take over as the owner! Since becoming the owner of LEHI, I have made it my mission to teach every stylist that has been on our team the art of caring for naturally curly hair along with keeping our values driven culture as my top priority. There have been countless challenges since becoming a business owner and my most valuable lesson has been to always stay true to myself and keep my nervous system regulated. Owning a business comes with all kinds of unexpected experiences and it’s been so important to stay grounded to be able to show up and face the needs of my company and my team. Each challenge provides it’s own lesson and I am so grateful for the amount of growth this experience has offered me.

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.
I have taken every person I love to see Meow Wolf when they come to Denver! I love the trippy alternate reality that they have cultivate and also admire their B Corp status! I also love taking people to the iconic Red Rocks whether it’s for a show or just to walk around to soak in the beauty of that venue. Truthfully, I moved to Denver for the mountains so I do not do much in the city – I escape to nature as often as I can – camping/hiking in the summer and snowboarding all winter!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This shoutout is dedicated to my team! I want to thank everyone who has been part of this journey – past, present and future team members. None of our success could be achieved without the lessons learned from each person we have crossed paths with. I am so grateful for every experience that has crafted Let Em Have It Salon. Each celebration and challenge has been valuable to shape our overall operation as it exists today.

Website: https://www.letemhaveitsalon.com

Instagram: @lehisalon @kelly.swann_stylist

Image Credits
Kelly Swann