Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Long.
Hi Jamie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Cultivate began long before the doors ever opened. It started with a calling. As an Aveda color educator, I spent years helping other stylists grow and perfect their craft. The name Cultivate came from that passion: to nurture, to grow from the root up — in artistry, in business, and in life. Growth and guidance have always been at the heart of everything I do.
When the world shut down in 2020, something in me shifted. I loved being an educator, but I knew there was something more I was meant to build. I’d hit a wall in my career and felt disheartened by my previous salon environment. It was time for a change, though I didn’t yet know what that meant. So, I leaned into prayer, meditation, and leadership education.
And then, life or divine timing of chance stepped in.
I got a phone call about an old salon space sitting empty after the pandemic. The moment I heard the words San Marco, I knew exactly which building it was. My heart dropped straight into my stomach.
My husband and I had both been out of work for three months (he’s in the bar industry, I’m in hair), so naturally, opening a salon right then seemed… logical? (Cue nervous laughter.) But when I drove into the square, I just knew. I walked through those doors and felt it, this was where I was supposed to be.
Within ten minutes, fear and excitement collided, and I called my husband. What followed were weeks of late nights, business plans, and tears — the good kind and the “what-am-I-doing” kind.
Then came the hard part: financing. It was 2020, and SBA loans were going to everyone except new businesses. I had a solid credit score, years of management experience, and steady growth to show but bank after bank said no.
By September, my landlords needed a decision. With no backing, I had to walk away. My heart broke, but I refused to give up. I refined my plan, prayed harder, and kept searching.
Months passed. The holidays came and went, and I told myself I’d start again in January. And wouldn’t you know it — in January, I got a message. My landlords reached back out: “Are you still interested?”
I dropped to my knees and cried. Then I drove straight there and signed.
My husband, ever the problem-solver, had taken out a personal loan when interest rates were at rock bottom. A just in case we ever needed it. We did.
I gave my notice, honored my non-compete (a perfectly legal 12.5 miles away, thank you very much), and got to work. I had three weeks to turn an empty space into a salon. By February 1st, 2021, Cultivate Hair Salon officially opened its doors.
Fast-forward to now — nearly five years later. Cultivate has become more than a salon. It’s a community, a classroom, and a safe space for stylists to grow — what we call our Cultivars. Watching them bloom, learn, and find their confidence is the most rewarding part of this entire journey.
Every day, I’m reminded that when something is meant for you, it will find its way — even if it takes a few detours (and a whole lot of faith) to get there.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all, but isn’t that what makes it meaningful.
Every part of this journey has stretched me, refined me, and taught me what real leadership looks like. Every worthwhile journey has its challenges, and mine has been no exception. There were moments of doubt, tears, and doors slammed shut — literally and metaphorically. Starting a salon during a global shutdown was far from simple, but it shaped every part of who I am today. It taught me patience, resourcefulness, and resilience. From separating ways with a business partner, growing a team and finical challenges. But each “no” pushed me to grow roots before reaching for the light.
The hardest part wasn’t building the salon — it was becoming the kind of woman who could lead it. And that process has been humbling, beautiful, and absolutely worth it. Learning progress over perfection and grace.
The road may not have been smooth, but it’s been sacred. Every setback refined the vision of Cultivate — not just as a salon, but as a place where growth, education, and authenticity thrive.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My focus has always been on building something bigger than a brand. A legacy of education, empowerment, and authenticity.
I don’t just want stylists who can create beautiful color; I want professionals who understand their worth, their impact, and their potential to mentor others. Cultivate’s culture is built around growth.
We mentor, motivate, and multiply. That’s not just our motto; It’s our movement.
As an artist, what sets me apart is my ability to see hair as more than color or cut — it’s energy, texture, tone, and story. Every guest who sits in my chair has a journey, and my job is to honor that.
I specialize in creating natural, dimensional color that enhances who someone already is, not masking it. I document every step of my guests’ hair journey because transformation deserves to be remembered.
I don’t just formulate color. I translate emotion, season, and lifestyle into wearable art that grows beautifully over time. It’s never about chasing the next trend; it’s about creating timeless confidence.
Enhancing not changing. We all have something beautiful to show and share.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Oh man, the hair industry has shifted more in the last five years than another industry and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. From virtually no opening from reopening to, screening guests to having a stylist shortage. Guests are waking up to the fact that not all stylist are created equal. Eyes are being opened to beautiful hair starts at the root — literally.
Massive shifts toward scalp health, microbiome science, and treatments that blend dermatology + cosmetology. We’ll see more formulas with peptides, probiotic ingredients, anti-inflammatory agents, etc. (This isn’t just “nice to have” — increasingly, it’s expected.) Hence why we use AVEDA. Guests care about ingredients, sourcing, and brand ethics more than ever. The salons and our brands we use that can show their carbon footprint, packaging practices, cruelty-free credentials, and ingredient transparency will have an edge.
Costs (product, rent, labor) won’t retreat. Salons will need to be more creative with pricing models. Guests have and will scrutinize “value” more closely. Expect demand for transparency in pricing and “why this costs what it costs.”
Economic pressures are already pushing clients to stretch appointments.
Trends, it’s a pendulum swing. The 90’s are in and in no time they’ll be back out. Natural is coming in hot and I am here for it. Learning to grow old gracefully is my thing and I’m here to cultivate it.
The numbers back it: the salon services market is forecasted to grow significantly. But more growth means more players, more differentiation required, and more pressure to stay relevant.
Pricing:
- Know who your giving business to.
- How do they give back to their communities.
- Value over everything
- Customer Service
- Pricing Transparency
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cultivatehairsalon.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cultivatehairsalon
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cultivatehairsalon/
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/Zz105Hjtlf
- Other: https://cc.aurasalonware.com
