Meet Courtney Monroe | Senior Colorist/Stylist and Success Leader

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

Hi Courtney, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Let me begin by saying that I’m largely risk-averse. I’m not a fan of uncertain outcomes, especially when it comes to financial security. I didn’t grow up with many resources, and my mother held multiple jobs to ensure we had everything we needed, so the fear of not being able to provide is something I’m familiar with. In general, I think all people want to feel secure, but sometimes that’s what holds us back from taking risks in our careers.

After I finished cosmetology school in 2010, I knew it would take some time to find a salon and build a healthy and sustainable clientele so I found work in higher education. I remained working for the University of Michigan for eleven years while simultaneously finding a salon, developing my skills, and building my business behind the chair. There were many moments where I questioned whether or not it was time for me to leave my position at the university, knowing that I wouldn’t have room to be elevated while the salon industry offered opportunities for growth. But my fear of leaving something that felt consistent and dependable (no matter how restraining) held me back from taking advantage of momentum that would have escalated my salon career.

Like many people, Covid gave me an opportunity to reevaluate things. While our salon was closed for several months due to state mandates for social distancing, my work at the university started to shift. New demands and the global crisis pushed me to consider what was really important, so I decided to prioritize the business I had been building and finally left the university. Some people think leaving the institution was a mistake, but being an entrepreneur and having control over my own growth is infinitely more rewarding. It’s a decision I should have made sooner, and being afraid of the risk of leaving something that felt “safe” held me back in ways that I’m just now realizing.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a Senior Colorist/Stylist and Success Leader at Pura Vida Color Studio, a color-specialty boutique salon in Ann Arbor, MI. I have over a decade of experience creating natural-looking, dimensional, modern color (and cuts!). I love doing dimensional color (highlighting/lowlighting) using various techniques and encourage tonal options that work the best for the guest’s current hair color. In other words, I don’t advocate for colors that are an unreasonably strong contrast from a guest’s natural color because there are numerous, more-realistic options that will NOT compromise the integrity of the hair. I love chatting with guests about everything from current events, to travel experiences, to the shows they binge! I’m also one of the Success Leaders in our salon – helping to mentor and coach stylists who are newer in their career in hopes of them having a well-rounded experience and a growth mindset.

I was born and raised in Detroit, MI – and I’m a PROUD product of Detroit Public Schools. I graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 2009, and the Douglas J Aveda Institute in 2010. My continued education courses and certifications are in balayage highlights (Balayage Summit, Los Angeles 2019), precision cutting (Vidal Sassoon, Toronto 2016 and Allilon, London UK 2023), and advanced color theory/application (Davines North America, Montreal 2019 and Brooklyn 2022). In 2014 I passed the exam to be recognized by the Board of Certified Haircolorists (BCH), and in 2021 and 2022 I was honored to win “Best Hairstylist” in Current Magazine’s Best of Washtenaw County. I’ve also consulted off and on with the North American HQ of Davines, a global hair color and product company which we use in our salon. The opportunity with their Brooklyn-based team was aimed at creating a more inclusive and equitable future in the beauty industry.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If you’re visiting Ann Arbor, check out our salon! Pura Vida Color Studio is an amazing spot for all hair needs – and new guests have the convenience of looking at schedules in advance and booking appointments online. Or just pop in if you need some new hair products! The University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA) is really great place to kill a few hours in, and shopping at any of the numerous local small businesses in downtown Ann Arbor is always a win (shop small and local). But if someone is in town for more than 24hours, they HAVE to visit Detroit. There’s so much to experience, and it’s one of the most underrated cities in the country – I’m very proud of my city.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
No success is ever accomplished in a silo. While I’m not sure I would consider myself “successful” (at least not in the traditional sense – I’m trying to determine what success means to me), I do know that I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish much of what I have without a community behind me. This shoutout is dedicated to my parents for building a life together on their own terms, and for curating an environment for me to think freely and creatively. After my father passed away, my mom encouraged me to explore and develop at my own pace and never required perfection – she has always been the best example of strength and compassion. I’d also like to shoutout my upbringing in the City of Detroit, which gave me grit, a sense of collective responsibility, and strengthened my identity.

I’m LUCKY to have some special people in my corner – my Uncle Rocky, my best friend Gary, my brilliant sorors (especially the Gamma Delta and Zeta Nu Zeta Chapters of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. – there are too many of them to list but special shoutout to those who joined with me in 2006), and the colleagues/mentors who I met while working at the University of Michigan that ended up like family. And obviously, a special shoutout to the salon, Pura Vida Color Studio in Ann Arbor MI, and Raine and Walter Reggans (the owners) who have embraced and supported me. There are more shoutouts that I wish I could give – some places and people who have influenced me greatly – but the interview would take forever to complete. I just know that I’m grateful and they deserve recognition for pushing me to be a better version of myself while loving all of me as I am.

Website: www.mpuravida.com

Instagram: c.l.monroe_llc

Image Credits
headshot – Hannah Holland (IG @hannahhollandphoto)