Rising Stars: Meet Tracey Dabney

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tracey Dabney.

As soon as I was able to get my hand & eye coordination to work, I was fascinated with beauty. Every free moment I had, every doll, toy, or playtime turned into a beauty shop or makeover. I had my first paying client at 8 years old. She asked me to braid her hair & I told her if she had $5, then yes. The next day she paid me in quarters but nonetheless, it was still a paid service. Seeing her smile, big & proud let me know that I did possess some magic.

Around age 12, my grandmother preferred me to do her rituals, she told me I had the ”special touch”. Sometimes I would get really upset because she would call me from down the block playing with friends or away from a sleepover to come home on Saturday to style her hair & paint her nails for church.

I was thinking it’s 4 other women in the house, why me? She said this is your gift from GOD & you will help many women with your hairstyles. I didn’t know what blessed hands meant right away but years later after servicing hundreds of clients (in my neighborhood, schools, church & summer camp), I was convinced this was real-life MAGIC.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road was not smooth, but I’ve learned to use every challenge to enhance my journey. I was born & raised on the west side of St, Louis, MO. This was a rough part of the city & we didn’t have a lot of money, so we had to improvise to make the best of everything. The struggle taught me how important it is to work hard for what I want as well as believe in my ability to do great things even with little resources. I learned resilience!

I believe that’s where a lot of my perseverance and creativity were sharpened. After graduating from Cosmetology school, I went right to work. The very first salon was old-school with a much older stylist, so my millennial practices were corrected by this seasoned stylist. I must admit this salon owner taught me how to give an amazing shampoo, techniques I still use today.

I found myself doing what most stylists were doing. Double-booking & offering services that didn’t align with my passion & purpose, which almost led to burnout. I went back to my journal, prayed, meditated & renewed my vision for my career. That’s when Tracey’s Aromatherapy Treatment Service, TATS was created.

TATS is an aromatherapy service that infuses essential oils into every element of my guest experience, which enhances my client’s mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being in addition to a beautiful color & style. Creating a total transformation from the inside-out!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I opened my very first salon, Dabney & Company- Where Hair Meets Therapy ™️ in 2017. This move allowed me the opportunity to fully implement the methodology that I dreamed about as a little girl. A salon space that was uplifting, inviting, tranquil, grounding, inspirational, peaceful & private.

It was in my salon space that I started to experience an even deeper connection to my work, my mission & my clients. Going back to my roots and thinking about what drives me, what feeds my soul & what’s the best way to serve in my purpose. I always come back to Hair & Therapy.

When I started performing TATS daily, I would have these life epiphanies that made me a better person. Also, my clients would return to the salon with these “wins” that I believe was inspired back TATS.

They regained their confidence, they beat depression, they asked for a raise, they had that difficult conversation, they enforced a boundary, they booked that vacation, they forgave the person that hurt them, and they TRANSFORMED in some amazing ways. That’s when I knew I had something great. Different from every stylist yet unique & in perfect alignment with my purpose.

After almost 5 successful years in my own space, I have set the bar high, and clients crave my unique approach to hair care. I’m one of the Top Natural hairstylists in STL. I’ve created something beautiful & magical. My client list grew to 300+ & waiting list of 100+ so I knew it was time to expand.

In my search for like-minded stylists that would fit into my salon culture, I quickly realized I was looking for a needle in a haystack. In an effort to change the salon standards & guest experience (especially for curly women) I created Black Salon Culture Elevated, BSCE.

BSCE, is an educational platform created to empower stylists with the tools to provide a therapeutic, elevated & transformative salon experience tailored to curly textures. My mission is to cultivate millions of stylists that will offer therapeutic salon visits that will enhance overall well-being, in addition to optimal hair health so that each client emerges more beautifully.

I am most proud of this fearless move. It was GOD who inspired my gift, my purpose, my relocation to Nashville & now BSCE.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
The characteristics I feel were most important to my success are patience, persistence & optimism.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.dabneyandcompany.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacksaloncultureelevated/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bscelevated
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCylXxFpln1X4fLkxAcUa5Qg
• Other: https://dabney-company.square.site/product/tats-luxury-mask-beauty-oil-duo/191

Image Credits
Mena Darre https://www.instagram.com/mena.darre/