Meet Mattea Hunter | Hair stylist and beauty guru, Balance and boundaries coach for salon professionals

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

Hi Mattea, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I started my business out of a desire to provide hair and make up services to clients to solve the ‘issues” that they encounter in a typical salon environment. I was finding that many clients were fed up with subpar services, unprofessionalism. lack of education and communication between client and stylist and overall disrespect of the client’s time. So I decided to create a salon experience that was the heart’s desire of so many clients.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
This is a loaded series of questions and I love it!! I began my career over 20 years as a make up artist. I specialized in providing make up services for weddings and special occasions. After doing that for a number of years I decided to go into corporate arena and begin a career with American Express Card Services. While there I helped train and coach associates for New Hire trainings and customer care engagement. I also was the Subject Matter Expert for Card Members Sales and Services. Through this experience it really taught me the power of customer service and how you treat your customers directly impact the success of your business. While working there is when I decided to go back to school and obtain my cosmetology license. A few years later I relocated to the DMV area and began my career as a hairstylist. I had no clients in a brand new area and had to generate some income. Thats when I tapped into what I learned as an educator and customer service professional and started to draw in a clientele. That was going great and then my husband got a new job opportunity and we moved again! This time we were in the Tidewater Virginia area. And I was determined that I was not starting over again! But a dear friend called me one day and said “Mattea you are way too talented to let that go to waste. You need to at least try and get back into the salon.” I listened and here we are. A thriving clientele and a successful business. It took a few years to get here but it is definitely a testimony of not allowing age and time to dictate whether to begin again. Whether this is the first time or fifth time, as long as you still have breath in your body, you can start over and be successful. I now not only service clients behind the chair but also provide coaching and consulting service to other beauty professionals and entrepreneurs.

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.
(Day 1) I would take them first to day of relaxation and pampering to the SeaHill spa and stay at the Cavalier Hotel. (Day 2) We would then go shopping to the outlets in Williamsburg and end the evening at the Aberdeen Barn restaurant. (Day 3) The next day we would explore Jamestown and Williamsburg and learn about the history of the area. (Day 4) We would do a day of fun and therapeutic activities such as candle making, flower making and wine tasting. (Day 5) Beach day and Virginia Beach exploration day. (Day 6) This day would be a day of Fine Arts at the Virginia Arts Festival.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I absolutely believe in giving flowers where they are due!! I would like to recognize Mrs. Betty Sharp who was my instructor in beauty school. She accepted nothing but excellence and ensured that we were prepared both with technical and customer service skills. I would also like to shoutout Shemika Summers who was very instrumental in teaching me how to handle and take care of my business. And lastly, I would like to shout out D’yolis Medina who taught me how to raise the bar on the esthetics of the salon environment and the importance of educating yourself and staying abreast with the updates and changes of the industry.

Instagram: prettypleaseartistry

Facebook: Mattea Hill Hunter