Today we’d like to introduce you to Makalla Wilson
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is Makalla Wilson born and raised in Memphis,TN. I now own three salon suite locations, I’ve been investing in real estate the past 9 years, and I’m currently in the process of re-launching my hair extension line Extensions Express.I started my beauty career at the age of 15 as an assistant to Winter Star braiding down her clients and getting them ready for their appointments , as I also worked a job at pizza spot called Papa Murphys. I then started taking my own clients in my bedroom at my parents house and within a few months I moved on up to the kitchen. Ultimately I had to quit my job for one it started to get in the way of my clients and secondly my biggest two week check ($365) (I still remember) couldn’t even amount to what I was making in a day as a hairstylist in high school . I would take clients every day after school from 3pm until and every Saturday and Sunday and as I think back I was so determined. I also started selling hair in 2011 in high school after watching an episode of Bad Girls Club I remember Gia yelling about her “Brazilian” hair. I was 16 and had never heard of it , so I did extensive research and little did I know that would push me Into my million dollar brand “Extensions Express” .Back then I didn’t have much of a vision of what exactly I wanted to do but I knew it included owning a business someday and real estate. I tried to go off to college at Tennessee State University which lasted for only a few months I was so broke I had to come home and work. I immediately enrolled in hair school, started back taking clients, and got a job at the natural hair affair as a receptionist.
From 2013 on I kept doing and selling hair from wherever I could, the hair was the best and I truly enjoyed making women feel good about themselves through my work. In July of 2014 I got pregnant and gave birth to my son Ashton at 19 years old. As a single mother I knew that more than ever I had to give it my all and in September of 2014 I signed my lease to my first store front, at 3550 hickory hill rd Memphis,TN . &By the end of 2015 I had purchased my first rental property. It wasn’t easy and I didn’t start with much but I started. From there on out I went on to opening stores in Nashville and also Atlanta. I stopped the hair extensions company late 2022 and decided it was time for a change. I went through a really rough patch dealing with emotions and depression trying to figure out my purpose and what should I do next. I had no clue what I was going to do but I prayed to God and told him I wanted to focus on hair + real estate and that’s where the salon suite idea came from. With all the experience as a stylist, owning real estate (handling tenants), and working in a salon I had I knew it was literally the perfect business for me. I opened my first location August 2023 and as of today I have 3 locations open & completely rented right here in Memphis,TN. I truly feel like this is a part of my calling as I get to provide a safe and upscale work environment for beauty professionals like myself and use my experience to continue to scale up & give something different to the city.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Yes. Of course plenty of obstacles.
Struggling with staff, balancing work and motherhood. Restarting time after time
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Salon suites by XO?
Salon suites by xo, is a woman owned luxury salon suite that houses some of the best hairstylist, Mua’s,nail techs, and estheticians. I am so proud of the fact that we can provide both a safe , warm , and welcoming atmosphere along with the luxury touch our salon suites provide.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Discipline, determination, focus, humility, kindness, and hard work
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @salonsuitesbyxo
