Meet Tracy Musgrove | Licensed Cosmetologist and Salon Suite Owner

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

Hi Tracy, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
I think that most outsiders to the beauty industry do not realize that cosmetology and the licensing of it as a whole are constantly at risk. Texas, along with several other states have tried to pass legislation in the past few years deregulating the cosmetology industry. This means that a stylist or colorist would no longer have to carry a license. This puts not only our careers at risk, but the health and safety of our clients as well. Our training covers not only how to cut and color hair, but how to keep our clients safe from the chemicals we use, as well as communicable diseases and afflictions common to the beauty industry like lice and ringworm. As it stands, Texas was one of many states who recently reduced the number of hours required to get a license, from 1500 hours to 1000 hours. This is one of the reasons that I mentor students who have recently graduated cosmetology school or have recently gotten their license. While beauty schools are amazing, there is no way for them to cover everything you need to know when you walk into a salon. So many salons have training programs, but those spaces are limited, Extra continuing education can be costly, and student loans do not cover it. In fact, the shorter cosmetology programs get, the less likely student loans are to cover them at all. It is a terrifying prospect for the beauty industry.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Wildflower Salon has grown so much in the almost 3 years we have been open. Setting yourself apart in the salon industry, much less the realm of independent salon suite ownership can be hard, but we have really focused on making our brand recognizable. We still maintain our focus on customer service and making sure that our client is always satisfied with their experience, from the moment they walk in to the door, until they come back to see us again. Running a business is never easy, and any industry is forever shifting and moving like the ebb and flow of the tide. You learn to take the bad in stride and try to get ahead when the times are good. We like to maintain a forever optimistic mentality. There have been so many new and unexpected challenges we have faced since we opened. We have learned to deal with unprecedented floods, hurricanes, and now pandemic, where we had to close our doors for the safety of ourselves and others. These challenges unfortunately have destroyed so many other small salon and salon suite owners like myself. Our clients loyalty, their ability to stay patient and understanding, and the support of our facility owners kept our business alive. As soon as we were able to safely open again, our clients began to book, knowing we would be taking every precaution possible to keep everyone safe. I have always said that Wildflowers are resilient– that some grow in direct sun, some grow in shadow, some bloom only at night. We have proven ourselves to be true Wildflowers, and that we can bloom in the cracks of the sidewalk if we need to.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
With so many restrictions in the area, this would be a tough trip to take but I think I would take them to the Houston Zoo, which is always a winner in my book. As a mom, we have been long time members and love to see everything from the butterflies to the specialty exhibits, like dinosaurs or dragons. I also think Seismique, the cool art museum/installation on Westheimer and Hwy 6 is pretty awesome. You can spend hours in there finding something new, or interacting with things. As a group, we really enjoy just hanging out on the patio at Alamo Drafthouse at LaCenterra in Katy. You cannot beat the drinks, snacks, and the awesome playlists they have all the time.

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?
My career in the beauty industry would not even have been possible without the support of my best friend and soulmate in life, Mandy, who made sure that the kids at home were well taken care of and well loved, and who still makes sure that the kids stay alive, and my own head stays on my shoulders. She puts in 110% effort every day to make me look like a super mom and hairstylist. I am always telling people that I am not as amazing as I seem, I just have an extra person to hold it down.

Website: wildflowersalontx.com

Instagram: @wildflowersalontx

Facebook: facebook.com/Wildflowersalontx

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/wildflower-salon-katy-2