Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Fritz.
Hi Melanie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve been a hairstylist for over 23 years and have spent most of my adult life helping people feel confident and safe through beauty. I started in this industry because I loved art, fashion, and connecting with people, but over the years it became much more than hair—it became a way to build relationships, support women through life’s milestones, and create a career that gave me both purpose and flexibility for my family.
Throughout my career, I’ve worked in different salon environments before eventually opening my own studio, Bloom Studio has been my baby for the last 4 years and a success at that. Owning my own business taught me so much about leadership, resilience, marketing, and the importance of creating an experience that makes clients feel truly seen and valued. I specialize in blonding, lived-in color, extensions and bridal styling, and I love helping clients achieve beautiful, wearable hair that fits their lifestyle and just generally feel good about themselves when they leave my chair.
As the industry has evolved, I noticed a gap in how beauty professionals connect, collaborate, and grow. Many people have retreated so solo salon ownership and salon suites. That inspired me to begin developing BeautyHive, an app and platform designed to bring beauty professionals together through networking, education, and community. While building a tech startup has been completely different from doing hair behind the chair, it has challenged me to think bigger and expand my skills beyond the salon. Though it has come with a few bumps in the road along the way, I cannot wait to see how it helps my fellow beauty pros in the future.
Today, I’m a salon owner, educator, entrepreneur, wife, and mom of two boys. My journey hasn’t always been smooth, but every challenge has reinforced my belief that success comes from staying adaptable, and never letting anything get you down. You never lose, you either win or you grow. I love continuing to learn and grow, and I genuinely care about the people I serve. I hope it shows in the work I do everyday. I’m proud of the career I’ve built and excited about the impact I can continue to make in both the beauty industry and the entrepreneurial space. More to come 🙂
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. Like many entrepreneurs, one of my biggest challenges has been navigating relationships and learning who to trust. Over the years I’ve experienced everything from difficult workplace dynamics to business partnerships that didn’t work out as planned. I’ve learned that not everyone shares the same vision, work ethic, or level of commitment, and those lessons can be hard but incredibly valuable. I truly believe I’ve grown insurmountably through these challenges I’ve faced therefore I am thankful for them.
Building a business also comes with the challenge of wearing every hat—hairstylist, marketer, bookkeeper, customer service representative, and leader—all while raising a family. There have been moments where I questioned myself, faced setbacks, or had plans fall apart despite my best efforts. There have also been times the mom guilt sneaks in while I feel I’m giving the screen or my books more attention than my kids. That is where the boundaries come in.
More recently, while developing my beauty industry platform, I’ve faced unexpected obstacles and delays that reminded me how important persistence and adaptability are. Every challenge has taught me to become more resourceful, set better boundaries, trust my instincts, and keep moving forward even when things don’t go according to plan.
Looking back, those obstacles have shaped me just as much as the successes. They taught me resilience, strengthened my confidence, and reinforced that growth often happens during the hardest seasons. If anything it lit a fire under my butt that made me want to succeed stronger. If I can’t get someone to build it for me, I’ll do it myself! Haha
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I own Bloom Studio, a private salon where I specialize in blonding, dimensional color, bridal hair, and helping women feel like the best version of themselves. After more than 20 years behind the chair, I’ve learned that great hair is important, but the relationships are what really matter.
I’m probably best known for creating natural, lived-in blondes and for being honest with my clients. I’m not the stylist who’s going to tell someone what they want to hear just to make a sale. I care about the health of their hair, their budget, and creating a look that actually works for their lifestyle.
One thing I’m most proud of is building a business that’s lasted through industry changes, economic ups and downs, and the many seasons of life that come with raising a family. I’ve been able to create a loyal clientele who trust me not only with their hair, but with some of life’s biggest moments—from weddings and career changes to becoming mothers themselves, life struggles, illness, and hard emotional times. I even have a give and take box where people can donate gently used product and take something from the box to go home and sample. Not being able to spend $50 on a product shouldn’t stop you from being able to have the hair of your dreams.
What sets me apart, I think, is that I’m always look at the heart of the people I’m serving. I love not only making people feel good about themselves but being a listening ear and sometimes give advice that they may really need.
Whether it’s behind the chair, creating new opportunities through my boutique, or developing BeautyHive to help beauty professionals connect and grow, I’m always looking for ways to do more, provide something, make art inside my studio or on location for a publication. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I genuinely love helping people succeed, and I think that passion shows up in what I do. Helping others is a strong passion in my field from educating to passing on the general knowledge that comes with many years behind the chair. After all what good is all the knowledge you gain if you can’t help someone else with it. I can’t wait to continue to do more.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I think the beauty industry is going to become even more personalized over the next 5-10 years. Clients have access to more information than ever through social media, so they’re looking for professionals who can help them filter through trends and create a look that actually works for them—not just what’s viral that week.
I also think we’ll continue to see a shift toward independent stylists and smaller studio environments, just as it has the last 10 years. Many beauty professionals want more flexibility, autonomy, and control over their careers, and clients often appreciate the more personalized experience that comes with that.
Technology will play a bigger role as well. From AI tools and virtual consultations to online education and networking, beauty professionals are finding new ways to learn, collaborate, and grow their businesses. That’s one of the reasons I’m so passionate about BeautyHive—there’s a real need for stronger connection and community within our industry.
At the end of the day, trends will always change, but relationships won’t. The professionals who continue to educate themselves, adapt to new technology, and genuinely care about their clients will be the ones who thrive. I highly recommend finding your true purpose in the industry and letting your heart lead you from there.
Pricing:
- Full hilight $150+
- Women’s haircut $50
- Bridal $100+
- Balayage starting at $160+
- Extensions by consultation
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/melfritzhair
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100028608146901
