Meet Hayley Gregory of Historic Downtown Greeneville, TN

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hayley Gregory

Hayley, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started my career in cosmetology after deciding corporate fundraising was not for me. I enrolled in cosmetology school thinking I might enjoy cutting hair the way I enjoyed working with bonsai. Turns out, I did! After one semester, I left my fundraising job and have been in cosmetology since, more than 20 years. Around year 6, I went back to school to get my cosmetology instructor license. I’ve worked in gorgeous salons, spas and cosmetology schools in cities throughout the southeast. Now, I work as a national brand curl educator and own my salon, Deluxe on Depot in Greeneville, where I specialize in curls, craft haircuts and bridal work.

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?
Cosmetology is not for the faint of heart and the first few years are challenging for most stylists. Performing your craft in front of a mirror while creating with a client can be challenging and inspiring, clients see your successes or failures in real time. They see what you see, there’s no hiding the process or outcome. Continuing professional education, asking questions specific to understand the client’s goals and paying close attention to non verbal cues is critical to making sure what clients see in the mirror is a success. Learning to do those things is a challenge for every new stylist and you have to hang in long enough to overcome the struggles every artist faces. Mastering those skills builds confidence and creates a space where clients can talk openly about the hair goals, hair health and hair challenges emerges and makes the mirror less scary. When the mirror started to reflect success after success, I realized the struggles were all learning opportunities. I am so glad I kept going.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Working with clients to help them love the way they look is creatively fulfilling. Whether it’s crafting custom cuts or building a bridal updo, working with someone to enhance the way they look and boost the way they feel about themselves is a gift. I’m known in my area as a curl expert, someone who teaches textured hair clients how to care for and embrace their hair. I’m certified in multiple curl cutting and coloring techniques and focus much of my in salon work on textured hair and educating clients so they can maintain their look at home. I’m known for making curls easy and as an education junkie. In addition to educating for national curl brands, I continually seek education for continued growth. I’m always running to teach or take a class and my clients appreciate and value that. In the bridal world, I’m known for being friendly, professional, efficient, on point and on time no matter the venue location or call time. I’m grateful and proud to be a preferred bridal hair vendor for many stunning wedding venues throughout the region. I will always be team bride and go above and beyond to make the bridal hair experience pampering, stress and worry free. I’m proud that more than twenty years in, I’m a perpetual student of my craft and don’t rest on my experience or my laurels. My passion for education and providing private, uninterrupted one on one appointments make the Deluxe experience different, whether you’re in my salon chair or I’m onsite to service your wedding party.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
My salon was built in 1913 as a Palace barbershop. It remained Palace barbershop until 1956 and then became various businesses until I opened Deluxe in 2016. Palace is still in business, so I named my space Deluxe on Depot as a nod to the sister salon of Palace barbershop, Deluxe Beauty Shop, that opened one door up from Palace barbershop in October of 1938. The salon is such a special space. The building has the original floors and pressed tin ceiling tiles along with the ghosts of the barbers that worked here decades ago.

Downtown Greeneville has frequent Civil War era related paranormal activity and the salon is a hot spot, especially for clients sensitive to energies. Just like today, everyone goes to the barbershop to socialize, I never know who will be joining the ghost barbers and it can get active.

I often find my clippers and clipper guards moved or in weird places (i.e. in a potted plant, the recycling bin or the outgoing mail pile) and I work alone and know I didn’t do it. I frequently hear clippers running when I’m in the back and they stop when I come up front. In the front, I’ll hear water in the back and when I go to turn it off, there’s no water running.

Every bit of me knows the barber ghosts are still here, in the space they built and working their chairs and cleaning their tools. Lights go off and on when “sensitive” clients enter and it’s not unusual for music to suddenly change or to get a big whiff of aftershave or tobacco, neither of which live in the salon in this realm. I get along great with the barber ghosts and we share the space beautifully, except when they cause a ruckus over downtown development, but that’s a story for another time!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hairbydeluxe.com
• Instagram: Deluxeondepot
• Facebook: Deluxe on Depot