Meet Whitney Huffman: Salon Owner & Stylist

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

Hi Whitney, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
Well, I’m a Virgo, so I’m very detail oriented and thrive on routine. I tend to set my schedule/to do list first thing in the morning. My mornings are very important to me. It’s my time to meditate and prepare for the day ahead. Making time to sit with my thoughts and my coffee is an absolute must. A morning workout is another nonnegotiable habit. After the lists are made, orders are placed, and emails are answered, I like to give myself time to move my body. I’m naturally an introvert (as well as an empath) so prepping my brain with extra endorphins allows me to truly be there for my clients.

Hairstylists do so much more than just highlights and haircuts. Yes, we are artists, but we are also listeners, supporters, and therapists… sometimes we are even expected to be mind readers and magicians. This takes more energy than some people realize. I believe a solid routine is the most important habit. Staying organized and making time for a healthy work/life balance has definitely been the key to my success.

What should our readers know about your business?
Maggie Murphy’s focuses on both men and women’s hairdressing. We strive to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable. Our guest’s time and experience is very important to us. This is why we do not book other clients during processing times. We believe it is our responsibility to help clients achieve their desired look through individualized appointments and proper education. Our main goal is high-end personalized services.

Jumpy and I started Maggie Murphy’s in April of 2018. We decided we would start small with a conjoined suite in the Larkin’s My Salon Suites. We were very surprised at how fast our little business grew! We never expected to be looking for a storefront after just two years but we fell in love with Summerhill and felt it was time to make the big leap. We signed our lease in December of 2019 and prepared to spend ALL our savings on the 3 month buildout our contractor had planned… Then the pandemic hit.

We were terrified and devastated. The uncertainty was crippling. I just sat in lockdown convinced we were going to lose everything we had worked for. Luckily construction was considered essential so our contractor was able to continue with the buildout. We had already paid half the construction costs up front but after months of shutdowns and lack of business due to people continuing to quarantine, we were worried about having the rest of the money for the final walkthrough. Unemployment was helpful but it wasn’t enough to pay our personal mortgage/bills and rent for the business. At one point we were even paying rent for the storefront and the suites!!

I’m so lucky to have such a strong partner. We definitely took turns stressing but I would have stayed a mess if Jumpy wasn’t there to put me back together. We used quarantine to apply for all the grants and disaster relief we could find. So much paperwork but it was worth it. We also designed a routine to keep us occupied. We worked to take it one day at a time, one problem at a time together. Our clients were also extremely supportive. They purchased gift cards and sent us groceries. Some even continued to pay for their regularly scheduled appointments without receiving the services. We can’t thank them enough. We truly wouldn’t have made it without our clients.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This is a tough question given the state of the world currently… I would definitely have to show some love to all of our neighbors in Summerhill. Breakfast at Little Tart Bakeshop or Hero Doughnuts! Lunch at Hotdog Pete’s, Halfway Crooks Brewery, or Mae Pole. On Saturday’s after work we like to hit Little Bear for a craft cocktail before going to Wood’s Chapel BBQ for another drink on the patio. We typically grab food to go from Wood’s Chapel, Juniors pizza, or Little Bear for dinner. The Summerhill neighborhood has done a great job of making people’s safety a priority. I am truly amazed at how adaptive our little community has been over this last year. The struggle has created quite the family on this side of town. I’d encourage everyone to visit. 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?
Definitely Jeff South, owner of Intrigue Salon in East Cobb. He’s the most encouraging and supportive boss! Also, a genius. He’s such a smart businessman.

While working at Intrigue, I assisted Kathy Cresci. She was always patient and taught me time management. I always admired the connections she made with her very loyal clientele. She was also very encouraging and helped me through some emotionally difficult times.

I met Jumpy in hair school over 10 years ago. We spent lunchtimes together day dreaming about our futures in the industry. I always thought he was crazy for wanting to own his own salon… We remained friends after hair school and started dating in 2015. He’s truly the most amazing human and I’m so lucky to have him in my life. I wouldn’t be where I am today without his unconditional love and support. Together we’re accomplishing all of our lunchtime dreams!

Website: www.maggiemurphys.com

Instagram: @Whitneyrain_makes.pretty @maggiemurphys

Image Credits
Adam Davilla