The Long Story Short

Hey! Im Chelsea, Owner of Balay & Brown Hair Studio, daughter, big sister, aunty, plant mom, lover of all things beautiful, natural world advocate, recovering people pleaser, outdoor enthusiast, music lover, hair cultivator, artist at heart.

  Jumping right into it, this isn't the story where I knew I would be a Hairstylist or even a business owner as a child, but there were signs. When I was 5, I taught myself how to braid which was turned into my first "business", Beads by Chelsea, slinging bracelets to family, friends and anyone who would make eye contact. While the business cards still exist, the love for sharing my creations soon evolved to being dubbed the friend who did hair for our formal dances and on the back of the bus for sporting events throughout high school. To be honest it all came naturally; I got really good at creating pretty things, chit chatting, sharing my work & in turn developed a passion for making people feel good.

I've been in the Hair industry for 10 years and counting. Fresh out of High School and only 17 years old, I attended Douglas J Aveda Institute in East Lansing where I got licensed as a cosmetologist in 2014 and swore doing hair would be a temporary affair. After Cos school I caught a travel bug and practiced my craft in 5 different counties and 2 states over 5 years.

Along the way, I picked up jobs at dog kennels, bars, restaurants, environmental non profits, charter fishing boats and lodges, not quite knowing how these side gigs fit into doing hair. But still, my love for nature grew, & so did my relationship with myself. I soon realized maybe it wasn't doing peoples hair that felt temporary, it was the environment of which I did it in. Maybe I could weave my love for nature & good people into my practice. 

Flash forward to 2021, I realized it was true. What I was running from had everything to do with the stereotypical toxicity of the hair industry, my own mindset, and nothing to do with the practice itself. I loved playing with hair, I loved connecting with people and I had a relatively deep understanding of what an honor it was to be able to do both. I believe people, myself included, deserved to be taken care of with intention and care, in a safe & non toxic manner, down to the products we use. & so with $10 in my bank account, I started building out my first brick and mortar.

A non toxic, home away from home feel, vibey little nook in the heart of Downtown Petoskey overlooking Lake Mich. in all her glory. I thrifted, gifted and lifted everything you see in the studio today (minus the shampoo bowl and floor matts- don't come for me) and cultivated a collection of only non-toxic beauty products, safe for you and the environment. After 5 tough and unemployed months, Balay & Brown was born, May 2021.