Daily Inspiration: Meet Kayla McDowell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla McDowell.

Hi Kayla, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Growing up, I was surrounded by family in the medical and emergency services field, creatives, and entrepreneurs. I knew I would end up in one of these fields, and I just didn’t know which one. I grew up in Bolivar, TN. A very small town in West Tennessee. So honestly, I thought my only options in life were to become something that was already in my family. My youngest memory that I can recall of what I wanted to become when I was older was a Plastic Surgeon. Then it changed to owning my own clothing boutique. And finally, back to anything in the medical field. I just knew I wanted to help people. Fast forward many years, it was time to apply to college. I attended MTSU and set my major as Nursing.

During my freshman year, I had a meaningful conversation with my grandfather, who was a very well respected Doctor. We were talking about my future and my major in school. I felt uneasy with my decision. And in that moment he gave me the “out” I didn’t know I was searching for. He told me “If your heart isn’t in it, don’t do it. The medical field has changed”. This conversation has stuck with me for almost 10 years. I still carry this mentality with me in everything I choose to do. After my sophomore year of college, I decided this wasn’t the path I was meant to be on. I dropped out. Never in a million years did I think I would be a college dropout. To this day, I still think it is one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself. I took a year and a half to work and figure out my game plan. Even though I had support from my family on my decision to step away from college, I was being pressured to figure out what my career life would look like. I agreed that figuring that out needed to be my focus.

I sought advice and counsel from family members that I valued their thoughts and input. Never in a million years did I think I would do this, but I decided to dig into the creative side of my genes. I followed my older cousin’s footsteps and enrolled in Cosmetology school at the Aveda Institute in Franklin, TN. I always looked up to her and admired the life that she had built for herself being a stylist. I have now been a stylist for six years and work alongside my cousin in her salon company, Leigh, Edwards & Company in Belle Meade & Bellevue. I am a Senior Stylist, Educator, Director of Education and on the Leadership Team. I have had opportunities to style for award shows, commercials, and many other celebrity events. I even styled hair for models during New York Fashion Week. I have had the opportunity to stand in front of rooms full of students and share how powerful our industry can be.

I’ve been able to rub shoulders with some of the brightest in the business. But my favorite part of my journey in the beauty industry has been creating meaningful connections with every person that sits in my chair.  Educating the next generation of stylists on how to grow their business all while showing them that you can make more money than you ever thought possible, only working three days a week. All while having FUN. The beauty and hair industry is FUN. You just have to find the right mentors to guide you and be SMART. You can have financial freedom doing something that you love. Work + Life Balance is possible. I am so thankful that I was surrounded by family that supported and loved me and pushed me to figure out what I needed to do to create a name for myself in my early 20’s.

Here’s a curveball though; Here I am in my late 20’s, making a massive career shift. Over the entire course of the last six years, I have ignored every gut feeling on this topic. I knew I was meant to help people. Remember?! At the time, I needed to do that through the beauty industry. But, I was always meant to be in the Health & Wellness industry. I just needed to figure this out in my own time. I needed to become a Stylist and Leader and learn valuable life lessons before I came to this realization. Before, I could truly help others the way I’m meant to. All of the gut feelings over the years pointing me back to health were ignored by validating myself on where I was at in my life at the time. I had made it. I was inspiring people. I was creating connections. I was making more money than I ever dreamed of, coming from my small hometown. I didn’t need to go any further in the hair industry. It was time to finally listen to my gut, with the support and advice from my brilliant husband, therapist, family, and close friends. I have decided to step away from the beauty industry effective December 2021. If your heart isn’t in it, don’t do it. Remember?!

I have a deep and burning passion (and always have, I just didn’t understand it) for Holistic Health. I believe this stems from being surrounded by medical professionals in my life and also growing up in the country, where there was always fresh produce available right in our backyard. It truly is amazing what healing can be accomplished by fueling our bodies with fresh, clean, whole foods from the earth and from animals that are fed the same way. I do believe there is a beautiful harmony that is created when you can combine modern and holistic medicine when needed. However, As of January 2022, I will be a Certified Holistic Health Coach (Holistic Nutritionist + Health & Wellness Coach). I am using this knowledge to create a Wellness company, with the help and support of my husband, Cameron.

My plan is to introduce this company in early 2022, so keep your eyes peeled on social media. It has been a long time coming. We have one body. We have the power to heal and optimize our bodies right outside our front doors. We just have to open the door. I am so excited to continue to make connections with people. To help educate people and help them live their best and healthiest lives. This has always been how I was supposed to help people. My feet feel firmly planted. Finally, my heart is in it, and I’m doing it.

This is for you, Grandaddy.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I feel like growing up; we always have this picture, this fantasy we paint for our older selves. Looking at myself in the mirror when I was 20 and realizing I was a college dropout was HARD. At the time, even though it was the right decision, I felt like I was letting younger me down. Deciding to go to cosmetology school was hard. Especially when there can be such a negative connotation around people that become stylists and why. We’re changing that stigma, though. Having the tough conversations with myself, my husband and people I care most about that I am stepping away from my successful career in the beauty industry to finally follow my dreams was very scary.

I was met with overwhelming support and love. Because of the instant support I was met with, this helped validate my thoughts and wants for myself. I knew this was IT. I had found it. My roots are finally being planted. Surround yourself with people who understand who you are beneath the surface. By doing that, I have had the support I needed to be surrounded by to be able to make these important life decisions.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In the present and over the last six years, I have become a Senior Stylist, Educator, Director of Education and am a part of the Leadership Team within my salon company. My specialty has been creating Lived-In, Natural-Looking hair colors and helping build up our next generations of stylists. Although I am leaving this incredible industry, I like to think that the mark that I leave behind in this industry will be one of that I helped people. Whether it be someone that sat in my chair, someone I coached, or someone that I worked alongside.

I believe our actions and our words are powerful. Although I have enjoyed creating beautiful hair for my guests and teaching. My real hope is that I was able to inspire someone along the way, just as I have been inspired daily by the people I come in contact with in this industry. I am most proud to be a part of a team and industry that sees the best in people. Human touch is powerful. We touch people every day, not to be creepy, but we do! We have the power to completely turn someone’s day around by the attention, touch, and time we give someone. I am thankful to have learned this valuable lesson from this industry. I will carry this lesson with me into my next.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
My hope for the beauty industry is that powerful mentors continue to help change the way professionals in the industry are looked at. After many conversations with my own mentors, I feel that we are on the right path.

As for the industry I am about to step into, my hope is that more people turn to and respect Holistic medicine and coaching. Every day we fill our bodies with unhealthy chemicals. From the products, we use in our homes, what we put on our bodies and what we fill them with. There is a reason so many people we love are constantly battling diseases. My hope is that the holistic health industry can help shed more light and bring more awareness around this topic. Everyone deserves to live a FULL life. We shouldn’t have to settle for less. Education. That’s all it comes down to. There needs to be a big shift in how the general public is educated about what we’re filling our bodies with and how it affects us. Good or bad.

Along with creating my Wellness company, I would also love to serve in more rural areas, like where I grew up, and educate. Growing up I wasn’t educated on the good or the bad foods and products we put in and on our bodies and how it can affect us. I feel like this is lacking in smaller communities and I would love to do my part and help make these communities healthier.

Contact Info:

• Email: kaylavmcdowell@gmail.com
• Instagram: kaylavictoriamcdowell & kaylamcdowell_hair

Image Credits
Rachel Ansley