Meet Emily McKee

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

Hi Emily, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Never give up on your dreams; never take “No” for an answer! We hear it all the time but sometimes it’s easier said than done.
I decided while doing a high school tech program that cosmetology was a passion of mine. I loved that I could use my creative and artistic abilities outside of a canvas and make people feel more confident. My relationship with my clients goes deeper than just their hair. I feel that my calling is to be there for them emotionally with an open ear. I have fallen in love with getting to merge these two talents.

After taking a big leap for my dreams and moving from Alabama to Atlanta, I had a shoulder injury. Doctors told me I’d never do hair again. However, I was not going to allow my injury to stop me from following my dreams and what I was called to do. I ended up going through two surgeries and taught myself to cut right-handed. I could have easily listened to the doctors and pursued working a 9-5, which I know I would have disliked. However, I pushed through what the doctors told me that I could not do, and almost 20 years later, I’m still behind the chair.

After 14 years of doing hair, I received the opportunity to buy out the salon I was working at. I went through multiple banks trying to figure out how to receive a loan to bring my dreams to fruition. I was turned down multiple times before finding one that said yes. Once again, I found myself determined not to take “no” for an answer.

Owning a business has many day-to-day challenges. There are days that are great, and there are days that can feel defeating. However, I never let the challenging days deter me from my dreams and passion of being a successful artist that is here for my clients and a business owner that helps support and pour into the arts industry.

My grandad always told me from a little girl, “A McKee can do anything they set their mind to.” Those words stick with me daily, and I hope more people and entrepreneurs will replace my last name with theirs to make it so that they can see their dreams come to life!

I am proud to say over the last five years of being a salon owner, my team and I have achieved the following awards: Best of Atlanta 2021 by Atlanta Magazine, Best of Atlanta 2022, 2023, and 2024 from the Atlanta Awards Program.

I believe everyone on this earth has a purpose and in that I hope they lean on faith and drive to find that purpose and make their dreams come true!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have been in the salon industry for over 20 years. I grew up in Decatur, Alabama, and attended cosmetology school at Hartselle High School. As soon as I graduated in 2005, I moved to Atlanta to further my career and receive my Master’s Cosmetology license. I became an artistic director at the salon I trained at and spent several years doing stage work all over the U.S. I have trained with some of the best in the industry and continue to grow my talents daily. Continuing your education in this industry is a must to keep up with the current trends. After 14 years behind the chair I purchased my first salon and named it Atlanta Hair Color Studio. After our first year in business, COVID hit, and it was definitely a challenge getting through. While shut down, I found ways to sell products and also gift certificates to help keep things afloat. When we opened back up, I followed all safety protocols to keep the clients and stylists feeling safe. Being overly cautious definitely helped us, as we gained a lot of clients due to our safety measures being stricter than others and our HEPA filters we added. It was a challenging time, but we made it through. We have now been in business for a little over 5 years!

At Atlanta Hair Color Studio, we are a boutique salon dedicated to finding the right stylist for each and every one of our clients. We want every client to look and feel their best. We have a highly educated salon staff offering a diverse variety of color, cut, and treatment techniques to cater to all hair types.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love Atlanta and all the amazing gems it has to offer! The Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta Zoo, and Fernbank Museum are all at the top of my list of activities. Don’t miss a game, whether it be the Falcons, Hawks, Atlanta United, or the Braves. Atlanta fans give the best game-day experience! Enjoy a fun day or evening out for cocktails and food at the Putt Shack in Midtown, The Battery Atlanta, Painted Pin in Buckhead or the rooftop pool at LOA Social. My favorite restaurants in Atlanta are Six Feet Under, Murphy’s, South City Kitchen, Aria, BarBacoa, Hal’s Steakhouse, Eclipse di Luna, and La Grotta Ristorante. And what’s a week in Atlanta without a little R&R! Head over to Perspire Buckhead for a relaxing infrared sauna session followed by a foot massage at Treat Your Feet. I Love Massage is a hidden hole in a wall with the best deep tissue full-body massage at an affordable rate. Don’t miss Atlanta’s amazing hikes or trails like Stone Mountain, The Beltline, East Palisades, Bamboo Forest Trail, or Kennesaw Mountain. Also, check what’s going on at Piedmont Park and Pullman Yards! The Piedmont Arts Festival is one of my favorites!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to thank my family and kids for supporting me when I have gone through the tough times. I could not have achieved my dreams without my amazing team of stylists. I am so fortunate that they have stuck by me through the start-up, COVID, and all the other challenges over the years. To all my art teachers in my younger years that pushed me to be unique and myself. To God for always being someone I can lean on and knowing he has the right path set out for me. Most of all, I want to send a special thanks to Douglas for his mentorship, for seeing my drive and ambition, and for trusting me when he offered me the opportunity to purchase the salon from him.

Website: www.atlantahaircolorstudio.com

Instagram: Atlantahaircolorstudio

Facebook: Atlanta Hair Color Studio

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/atlanta-hair-color-studio-atlanta 

Image Credits
CatMax Photography