Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily McKim.
Emily, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always been drawn to transformation — not only in how a person looks, but in how they feel when they see themselves. I started my journey at the Paul Mitchell Academy in Denver, Colorado, where I graduated with honors before advancing my training in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and internationally in London, England.
My career morphed into two worlds early on — the salon industry and the film industry. I fell in love with both. I’ve worked and still continue to work on major productions for Netflix, HBO, Lionsgate, and more, including working on some of your favorite celebrities. That Hollywood artistry shaped the way I approach beauty. I love storytelling, precision, attention to detail, and elevating the final look with the refined artistry required for on-camera styling.
When I decided to open my salon in Michigan, I knew I wanted to bring that level of artistry to the Midwest — but in a way that felt intimate, luxurious, and deeply personal. That’s how The Grand Raven Salon was born — it’s a one-chair luxury studio where every appointment is one-on-one, cinematic, and curated. No chaos, no rushed environment — just a stylist trained in major markets delivering an experience you typically only see on major sets. I wanted all my clients to feel like they were being cared for — like they have their own personal entourage right in their home area, just like you see in Hollywood.
The Grand Raven Salon is located in Walker, Michigan, just outside of Grand Rapids, inside the Sola Salons building. I designed it as a space where my clients feel welcomed, pampered, relaxed, and genuinely heard. From the moment you walk in and sit down, I want you to feel immersed in the experience. Everything in the salon — from the service flow to the atmosphere — is intentional and detailed. Creating that environment was an essential part of my story and my mission.
Today, my work is a blend of everything I’ve learned — precision cutting, customized coloring, advanced highlighting techniques, keratin extensions, film-quality styling, and a commitment to an elevated guest experience with grand attention to detail. My goal is to merge Hollywood glam with Midwest warmth — creating a space where every guest feels like the star in their own story.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I do not believe any long lasting big goal or dream is ever easy. If it were, everyone would do it, right? Short answer—not at all. My journey has been anything but linear, and that’s exactly what shaped me into the artist and businesswoman I am today. I’ve built my career through resilience, passion, determination, and the drive to complete my dream goal, and for me there was never a Plan B — only Plan A. It was doing whatever I needed to do to create my dream. I truly used every opportunity, big or small. I worked my way up in the beauty industry without any guarantee that it would work out, moving across the country, working in multiple major markets, and rebuilding my clientele from scratch more than once.
I’ve dealt with the realities many artists face—an inconsistent income, navigating difficult leadership, learning how to stand up for myself, and balancing salon life with demanding film schedules. Behind the pace of my career, I was quietly managing an autoimmune condition—an invisible weight that demanded discipline and grace. I learned how to care for my health without letting it derail the dream I’d held since I was seven years old- So I pressed on. Through long days, cross-country moves, and the unpredictability of my own body. That passion carried me, even when the journey required more than I thought I had.
What most people didn’t see was the challenge threaded through all of it: managing an autoimmune condition while working in a field that rarely slows down. Balancing ambition and health became its own form of training. I refused to let my illness become the headline or the limitation people expected. Nothing—not fatigue, not distance, not the realities of my condition, nor anything else—was ever going to stand between me and the dream I’ve been chasing since childhood. I wanted it that much. And that drive is what kept me moving when everything else said stop. Thankfully, after all the sacrifices — health, friend time, family time, and even relationships — it happened. I became a union hair and makeup artist with motion pictures. When I received my letter in the mail, holding it in my hands, taking a deep breath in, I read those beautiful fifteen letters: CONGRATULATIONS. I cried with joy. It happened — I actually did it.
After years of building my career in film and developing my signature approach to hair and makeup, I reached a point where I wanted to create something of my own: a space that reflected the same level of artistry, detail and intention I bring to sets.
That desire naturally evolved into the next chapter of my story- the creation of The Grand Raven Salon.
Opening my own one-chair luxury studio came with a new set of challenges and a whole new level of responsibility. It meant wearing every hat — stylist, marketer, photographer, accountant, receptionist, and creative director. But it also forced me to refine my brand, my standards, and my voice. Every obstacle taught me something about boundaries, excellence, and trusting my instincts. What looks like a “Hollywood-level” client experience today was built through years of reinvention, sacrifice, and sheer grit.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The Grand Raven Salon is a one-chair luxury studio specializing in advanced customized coloring, blonding techniques, precision cutting, and Hollywood-level styling. It’s built around elevated artistry, advanced technique, and a level of training rarely found in Michigan.
What sets this salon apart is the blend of global education, advanced hair chemistry, color theory, and years working behind the scenes in Hollywood — experiences that shape not only how I approach hair, but how I guide the entire client journey. Very few stylists in this region work at this technical level, and offering that standard within a personalized, relaxing, cinematic space is what makes The Grand Raven Salon truly one-of-a-kind. Every service is delivered through a personalized, one-on-one experience that feels elevated, unrushed, and crafted entirely around you.
Alongside my color, blonding and extension work, I’ve become the person clients turn to when their hair feels complicated or overwhelming. While my specialty services are at the heart of what I do, I’m equally trusted for helping people recover from breakage, over-processing, incorrect techniques, banding, uneven grow-out, past hair experiences that just didn’t hit the mark or simply years of not being heard — Corrective work is incredibly rewarding to me. I want to understand your desired look, what you’ve tried before, and what products you’re currently using day to day. At The Grand Raven Salon, understanding the why behind someone’s hair challenges allows me to rebuild both their hair and their confidence.
Whether we’re starting with a clean slate or restoring something that left you discouraged, my mission is for you to walk out feeling relaxed, happy, pampered, and genuinely excited about your hair journey — the kind of moment where you look in the mirror and finally feel like yourself again or just love what you see. I love teaching clients how their hair truly works and sharing tips and secrets from my years in film and advanced training around the world, so styling becomes easier, more intuitive, and even fun at home — where you actually want to work with your hair because you finally understand your hairs true potential.
Any big plans?
Looking forward, I see The Grand Raven Salon evolving in ways that raise the standard of what luxury, education, and artistry can look like in our industry. I’m passionate about helping stylists grow and creating a future with fewer hair disasters and more thoughtful, transformative work. Expansion is a possibility, and there are a few exciting projects quietly taking shape behind the scenes — but for now, my focus is on building something meaningful, intentional, and sustainable.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thegrandravensalon.com
- Instagram: @thegrandravensalon
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegrandravensalon
