Celia Cox on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Celia Cox shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Good morning Celia, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
o grow in every way — that’s been my focus. This past year I’ve shifted my energy into truly helping people, and it’s been incredible to watch that vision come to life.

We officially launched our nonprofit, The Healing Hair Project, which hosts Pop-Up Salon Experiences to provide complimentary haircuts for individuals experiencing housing or financial insecurity. Being able to show up for our community in this way has been one of the most meaningful parts of my journey.

We’re also expanding into non-invasive hair replacement for those experiencing hair loss. At Celia’s Hair Works, we’ve always specialized in extensions, but mesh integration and cranial prosthesis take it to a whole new level. Soon, we’ll be able to guide our clients through the entire process—including how to file insurance claims for cranial prosthetics.

This is a major game changer for so many people who never knew they could qualify for this kind of support. And we’re just getting started.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Celia. I’m a salon owner of 11 years, a mom of three plus a bonus son, and a proud overachiever who leads with humility and kindness. I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without my husband, who holds down the fort at home and handles whatever needs to be taken care of.

Clean, sustainable, and quirky best describe both me and my business. For the past two years, we’ve been hosting haircutting events at a local coffee shop for people experiencing housing insecurities, and we’ve now officially launched our nonprofit.

Giving back and accepting others—no matter what—is at the core of everything we do.

I’ve had quite the health journey, from cancer to chronic illnesses, but every challenge has only empowered me to do more and to keep pursuing my goals.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My dear friend and old roommate, Sam, played such a huge role in the direction of my life. At one point, I wasn’t even sure I wanted to do hair. I was 20 years old, unsure of myself, and he would literally pay me to drive to Charleston so we could have little haircutting parties.

He encouraged me in a way no one else ever had. He pushed me to apply for a position in a salon I never imagined I belonged in—because I was scared of the judgment I might face. But I did it. And there was no judgment. I found exactly what I needed.

Without his encouragement and his silliness, I would have never taken that leap… and I wouldn’t be where I am today.

What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
I had to learn to trust myself. After years of feeling like I’d failed over and over, I hired a coaching company—and it ended up driving my business even further into the ground. Luckily, I had people who believed in me, and with their support, I was able to turn everything around by pivoting back to what felt right for me and my business.

Trusting myself has always been a struggle, and that experience made me even more cautious. Now, I trust very few people—but I’ve learned that if something doesn’t feel right in my gut, I’m simply not doing it.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, absolutely. I can only be myself, and I’m proud of that. Some people say I’m “too much,” but really—they just can’t keep up with my professionally whimsical spirit and my pure heart.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
I always give my best—sometimes to a fault—and I rarely feel like I get praise in return. I see the growth, and that’s enough for me, but every now and then it would be nice to hear it… to get a shoutout… to know others feel it too.

And deep down, I know they do—otherwise I wouldn’t have a team as big and committed as the one standing with me today.
When the praise comes it does come in abundance and that can be overwhelming to or in your head you don’t believe it. So I just keep going doing my best telling people thank you and myself to know that it’s real!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://celiashairworks.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/celiashairworks
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/celiashairworks

Image Credits
Owen Elgoff