Meet Mandy Baxter | Salon Suites Owner & Extensions Specialist

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

Hi Mandy, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I wanted to create a clean and organized space of peace, encouragement, support, and ease for myself and other stylists. I also wanted to have a private suite for my clients so that they could relax, work, unload and unwind without having to feel the distractions of a busy salon.

I loved the idea of individual suites rather than an open area salon. This would give each stylist the freedom and space to create, decorate, and run their business as they choose. I wanted to have a salon of like minded stylists who operate their business with professionalism but that I didn’t have to manage or pick up after. This business model gave me just that!

What should our readers know about your business?
As a salon owner, I try to be a leader, not a boss. I care about my suite owners, their success, and their contentment in their space. I have been intentional in creating a culture of support, encouragement, care, and celebration of achievements.

As a hairstylist, I strive to be the best I can be for my guests. I want them to appreciate the value and service that I provide and to feel appreciated as a guest in my space. I invest a lot of time and money into education myself on the type of services I provide so that their hair receives quality care and exceptional results.

As an educator, my mission is to empower hairstylists to realize their worth, enabling them to embody their purpose with ambition, encouragement, honesty, empathy, inspiration, and confidence in the beauty industry.
I’m proud of the business I have built as a stylist and salon owner and am excited to continue educating stylists in a whole new way on a larger scale in 2025!

I’ve learned to stay true to myself and my values along the way and not to forget what I know as a stylist of 20+ years and being able to think critically about opportunities, techniques, and experiences that are in my path.
I want to share my purpose and passion as a stylist so that I can make a positive impact on stylists helping them to become their most successful self, realizing their unique gifts, so that they can in turn pour into others in a more meaningful way.

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.
We would go to downtown Cartersville to visit Noble and Main for coffee, the cute boutiques, eat amazing food at Ate Track, and have a milkshake at Jerks, a new old style soda fountain! We would make a stop by my salon, Neeley Salon Suites, so that I could show off my space and introduce them to all my fabulous stylists. I would take her by to see my Mawmaw and my Mama who also live downtown. They would probably feed us more food and even though we would be too full, we would eat every bite. At some point during the week, we would hang out for the day at my in laws property, laying out by the pool, fishing, and probably having a cookout with the family. We would ride up to Blue Ridge to enjoy some shopping at the quaint little shops there and eat some amazing food at Black Sheep restaurant. We could also squeeze in some spa time at Blue Ridge Serenity Spa! Most nights would end fairly early back at my house in the woods where we would gather eggs from our chickens, ride the four wheeler, have a bonfire and talk until we couldn’t hold our eyes open anymore.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband, kids, and mama are my encouragers! They are also my main workers that helped get my salon ready and where it is now. They also help keep it going, from maintenance to cleaning, I couldn’t do it without them. My clients have also been so supportive and loyal along the way. They are always so happy for me in all my endeavors and positive with their support and encouragement. I love each of them and the time I spend with them in the salon. And last but not least, my assistants. Each of them have been such a huge and critical part of my journey and daily operations. I’ve had the absolute privilege and honor of training 4 of my current suite owners, coaching them from the beginning of their careers, through building their business, and now to them have their own suite inside my salon. It’s a full circle blessing and I am overwhelmed with gratefulness.

Website: https://Baxterhairco.com

Instagram: @baxterhairco

Other: Salon Suites Website: Neeleysuites.com
Salon Suites Instagram: @neeleysalonsuites

Image Credits
K&E Photography