Sess Lee Cannon, a trailblazer in the salon industry, has transformed her passion for haircare into a thriving business. At just 37 years old, she is the proud owner of Flourish Curls Salon in Arlington, Texas. With a remarkable achievement of breaking the $1 million mark in annual revenue, Cannon is a shining example of success in a challenging industry.
From Humble Beginnings to a Thriving Salon
Cannon’s journey in the salon business began in 2007 during a casual visit to a tattoo parlor. While getting inked, she gave a friend a haircut that caught the attention of the tattoo artist. This moment sparked her interest in hairstyling. At the time, she was working at Maui Jim in a customer service role after leaving Monmouth College due to an unexpected pregnancy.
Despite her promotion to an accounting clerk position, Cannon’s heart was set on hairstyling. She decided to take a leap of faith. “I knew I had to follow my passion,” she recalls. This decision led her to enroll in the cosmetology program at Regency Beauty Institute in Peoria, Illinois. After 18 months of hard work, she earned her cosmetology license in 2009.
Building a Reputation in Curly Haircare
Starting her career as a single parent was no easy task, but Cannon was determined. She began styling hair from home and worked part-time at a local salon specializing in natural hair. Her unique background—being of both Black and White heritage—helped her connect with clients of diverse backgrounds. She quickly gained a loyal following among biracial clients and those with curly hair, who appreciated her understanding of their needs.
Using social media to showcase her work was a game changer. Cannon leveraged platforms like Facebook to share stunning before-and-after photos, showcasing her hairstyling transformations. In her first year, she earned nearly $30,000, proving that her talent and hard work were paying off.
Establishing Flourish Curls Salon
In 2016, Cannon took a bold step by relocating to Arlington, Texas. With a significant investment of around $50,000 from her savings, she opened Flourish Curls Salon, a space dedicated to natural and curly hair. Her vision was clear: to provide a specialized salon experience for clients who often struggled to find stylists trained in their hair textures.
Cannon’s dedication to her craft and her strong social media presence quickly made Flourish Curls a popular destination. “There aren’t many salons that focus on curly and natural hair in our area,” she explains. “Many cosmetology schools still don’t teach stylists how to work with those textures.”
Achieving Million-Dollar Success
Today, Flourish Curls Salon boasts a team of 11 stylists, including Cannon herself. She has successfully built a six-figure career, working only three days a week. Remarkably, in 2023, her salon broke the $1 million revenue milestone, a testament to her hard work and dedication.
Cannon’s story is not just about business success; it’s about empowerment. She inspires others, especially women of color, to pursue their passions and break barriers. Her journey demonstrates that with determination, a clear vision, and the right support, anyone can turn a side hustle into a thriving empire.
