Meet Lacey Wootten of Sylvan Park

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lacey Wootten.

Hi Lacey, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started cosmetology school after already spending a decade in the workforce, grinding through two minimum wage jobs before working my way into restaurant management — and hating every minute of it. I knew I wasn’t built for the corporate world. The rigid hierarchies and the disregard for humanity that I saw so often in those environments clashed with the way my autistic brain is wired. I needed something different — a career where creativity and intellect were equally valued.

With that in mind, I dove headfirst into cosmetology. I attended Paul Mitchell the School Nashville, where I became the first student to achieve the Dean’s List honor — a rigorous program that went beyond the regular curriculum. I was incredibly fortunate to find a mentor there, Susan Waggoner, who helped me stay grounded and push through when things got tough. With her encouragement, I secured my first job as an assistant at Studio Gaven before I even graduated.

From the very beginning of my career, I ran into the reality that the beauty industry — though dominated by women — still reflected many of the same systemic issues found elsewhere. Despite women comprising 69% of the industry’s workforce, only about 36% of top management positions are held by women. That imbalance was obvious in the culture. Schedules were rigid and incompatible with my responsibilities as a mother. My creativity was celebrated, but my neurodivergence was not. Even in supposedly creative spaces, there was still an expectation to assimilate into the deeply Southern, traditional culture of Nashville — and my constant desire to challenge norms and streamline systems wasn’t exactly welcomed.

After working at two different salons together — and both leaving with a sour taste in our mouths — Kai (my business partner) and I decided enough was enough. In 2021, we started Studio Strange: the salon we wished existed. A place where artists of all backgrounds could thrive. A space where stylists worked with all textures and lengths of hair. A salon intentionally designed to serve people of all races, genders, religions, sexual orientations, and disabilities — including invisible disabilities like chronic illness and autism. A place where people could make a living wage without working two jobs.

We didn’t want to just be “inclusive” — we wanted to build a home for the underserved, the unseen, the ones who never quite fit anywhere else.

We launched Studio Strange in a 10×10 suite in Midtown. After a year, we expanded into a 20×20 suite in Bellevue. And just this year, we opened the doors to our 2,200-square-foot location in Sylvan Park.

When the world didn’t make space for me, I built a space for others like me — and made sure it was better than what I was given. Being different isn’t a weakness — it’s the blueprint.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road — if anything, it’s been an obstacle course.

We launched Studio Strange at a time when the entire economy was still reeling from the pandemic. Product costs were rising, shipping delays were constant, and securing funding was a challenge on its own — especially for two people without generational wealth or property to leverage. Even after we finally secured funding, we faced another roadblock: finding a landlord who would rent to us. Being listed as an LGBTQIA+ owned business created barriers we hadn’t fully anticipated. From May to October, we searched Nashville for a retail space, money in hand, only to be turned down again and again — often without any clear reason. It became apparent that our mission, our values, and who we are didn’t align with what a lot of wealthy property owners in this city wanted to support.

There’s also the reality that owning and growing a business demands enormous time and energy. The hours are relentless, and that’s come at the cost of missed time with my son — something I carry with me every day. On top of that, the political environment around us often feels hostile to everything we stand for. And then there’s the personal reality: navigating the journey with disabilities, both visible and invisible, adds another layer of difficulty that most business owners never have to think about.

But giving up has never been an option. I have a family to support. Failure simply isn’t on the table.

Access to capital continues to be one of our biggest hurdles. It’s part of a much larger, systemic problem — there’s a $1.7 trillion funding gap between male- and female-owned businesses in the United States. That reality shapes our experience every day.

I don’t view struggle as some noble requirement for growth. The idea that struggle “makes you stronger” ignores the reality that not everyone struggles equally. For many of us, the barriers are not character-building exercises — they are systemic injustices we are forced to navigate in order to simply survive, let alone thrive.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m behind the chair four days a week, working hands-on with my guests. The rest of my time is spent mentoring our staff, recruiting new artists, and running the business operations at Studio Strange.

I specialize in creating looks that help people feel fully seen — especially my LGBTQIA+ clients. One of my favorite moments is when someone sits in my chair and says, “Make me look more gay.” There’s a kind of magic that happens when two queer people share that shorthand, crafting a look that aligns with their identity on a deeper level.

Technically, I work with all textures and all hair types, but what sets my approach apart is that I focus on helping my clients work with their natural hair — not against it. We all lead busy lives, and not everyone has an hour every morning to style their hair. Through thorough consultations, I create cuts that accentuate what already exists, so people can feel put together with very little daily effort. I also love tackling the kinds of big projects many hairdressers might shy away from — like major color corrections. I see those as puzzles to be solved, and I’ve gained the experience and technical knowledge to find beautiful solutions no matter how challenging the starting point is.

I’m known for being fearless when it comes to my craft. I don’t shy away from big transformations, but I also don’t push trends onto people. I offer guidance and advice, but ultimately, I let my clients lead the direction of their service — because it’s their reflection we’re creating together in the mirror.

The thing I’m most proud of is the space we’ve created for our transgender clients. Before Studio Strange, many of them didn’t have a salon they could walk into and feel safe, respected, and celebrated. I’ve seen women walk into our space unable to meet their own eyes in the mirror — and over time, with care and connection, I’ve seen them begin to see themselves differently. To know I had even a small part in helping them reclaim their reflection is something I am endlessly grateful for, and deeply proud of.

What sets Studio Strange apart isn’t just the services we offer — it’s the values we are built on. We aren’t a salon that simply claims inclusivity as a buzzword. We designed every part of our experience to intentionally serve marginalized communities: clients of all races, textures, genders, sexualities, and disabilities — including chronic illness and neurodivergence. We operate on transparency, not upsells. We structure our services to prioritize accessibility and comfort. We invest in creating a living wage for our artists, because healing the industry starts from the inside.
At Studio Strange, transformation isn’t just cosmetic — it’s a reclamation.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
For me, success is about financial security.
It’s not tied to flashy awards or social status — it’s about freedom. Freedom from poverty. Freedom from the constant anxiety of wondering how the rent will be paid next month. That’s what success means to me.

I know it’s a different definition than the one society usually pushes. I’m not chasing luxury or prestige. I’m chasing stability. Safety. A life where basic needs are met without struggle.

My definition of success hasn’t really changed over time — it’s been the same goal my whole life. Growing up without it made me even more determined to build it for myself and for my family.

At the end of the day, success, for me, is simple:
Success is freedom.

Pricing:

• At Studio Strange, we charge by the hour based on your artist’s rate, with all services, consultations, and finishing work included in that time — so you’re paying for our expertise, not an endless menu of add-ons.
• Hair Rituals start at $105 per hour
• Skin Alchemy starts at $150 per hour
• We expanded and are HIRING: stylists, barbers, braiders, extension specialists, estheticians, & massage therapists

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.studiostrangenashville.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studiostrangenashville/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/studiostrangenashville/
• Other: https://www.fresha.com/a/studio-strange-nashville-4204-charlotte-avenue-q34x6k61