We recently had the chance to connect with Kayla Reed and have shared our conversation below.
Kayla , it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Right now, I’m being called to fully step into leadership and open a commission-based salon — something I used to be afraid of. Salon culture gets such a bad reputation, and honestly, I understood why for a long time. But I’ve realized it doesn’t have to be that way. When it’s done right — when stylists are empowered, supported, and treated like the creative professionals they are — a commission salon can be the most inspiring, growth-filled environment there is. I want to redefine what salon culture looks like and prove that success and community can exist together under one roof.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Kayla, the owner and founder of The Colour Mill- a luxury salon built around the belief that beauty and business can coexist in a way that empowers everyone involved. After many years behind the chair, I saw firsthand how salon culture could either lift people up or burn them out — and I knew I wanted to create something different.
The Colour Mill is designed to be a sanctuary for both stylists and clients. For stylists, it’s a space where creativity, growth, and financial success all go hand in hand. For clients, it’s a place to unwind, feel seen, and experience next-level care in an environment that feels effortless and elevated.
Right now, we’re focused on redefining what modern salon culture looks like — building a community where luxury, artistry, and empowerment all meet.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I like to think this one’s a bit of a trick question — because I’ve never really been someone who let the world decide who I should be. I’ve always gone against the grain, followed my intuition, and built my path in a way that felt true to me, even when it didn’t fit the ‘expected’ mold.
Whether it was how I approached how i present myself to the world, career choices, leadership, or creativity, I’ve always believed that staying grounded in who I am is the real key to success. So who was I before the world told me who to be? Honestly — the same person I am now. Just a little more wise and humble with each passing year.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me something success never could — how to fail forward. I’ve learned that you don’t know what you don’t know, and the only way to truly grow is by making mistakes, owning them, and learning how to fix them. Every misstep I’ve taken has given me the experience and credibility to guide others through theirs.
There’s a lot of power in falling on your face, taking the consequence, and then building something stronger because of it. You can’t teach resilience or leadership from perfection — you earn it through the process of getting it wrong, getting back up, and proving to yourself that you can turn it into success.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The biggest lie our industry tells itself is that commission salons don’t take care of their stylists — that you can’t make real money or have creative freedom unless you’re independent. That mindset has held so many people back- including myself for many years.
The truth is, when a commission salon is built the right way, with genuine support, education, and a culture of growth, stylists can thrive beyond what they ever thought possible. I’ve seen stylists on commission making more than I did working for myself, simply because they’re in an environment that’s designed to help them grow.
It’s not about control — it’s about community. The problem isn’t commission salons; it’s the lack of leadership and
structure in the wrong ones. At The Colour Mill we’re proving what’s possible when you build it right.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say I was strong — that nothing ever stood in my way, even when I had to fight tooth and nail for what I believed in. I want to be remembered as someone who didn’t just build something for herself, but created something that lifted others up too.
The last few years I’ve learned to believe success means more when you bring people with you and give it to others. So if the story people tell about me is that I was resilient, relentless, and selfless in the pursuit of something bigger than myself — that’s more than enough for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thecolourmillco.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecolourmillco?igsh=eHFhMGQyMnk4OGky
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17LBGxebVR/
Image Credits
Cain’s Candids
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