Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Bradley.
Hi Taylor, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started doing makeup for weddings probably around 2007 or 2008, That turned into assisting hair stylists at weddings, and when I was living and working in Alexandria my hair stylist at the time suggested I go to hair school. So, it was really a natural progression, and I’ve basically been passionate about the profession of cosmetology from the time I was a teenager.
I moved to New Jersey for cosmetology school, and after I got licensed through Paul Mitchell and I worked in salons in New Jersy and San Diego before moving back to Virginia.
Those years working in salons an hour from Manhattan and an hour from Los Angles gave me such a wide experience on both the East and West Coast. Formal hair school is designed to teach you legal compliance and get a license. But being near these great cities gave me the opportunity to attend amazing classes and meet and work with the best stylists in the world. The standards in the cosmetology industry for education, modern techniques and trends, and the client expectations are very high. Those environments had a major impact on me and really elevated my standards of what it means to treat clients well and be a professional, high-end, stylist.
When I came back to Northern Virginia in 2018, I was in a salon closer to DC, but in 2020 everything obviously changed for our industry. I knew I needed to adapt and I decided I was ready to start working for myself. A new space was opening in Fredericksburg right down the road from where I had just bought a home and they were looking for independent stylists to rent out their chairs. It was a little scary, but I took the leap and established Weatherly as an independent LLC and became my own boss.
I think motherhood made me braver, and when an opportunity to open a new salon came in 2023, I moved again and opened The Collective with my business partner, Jenny. My clients took care of me, adjusted to my new schedule, gave me new mom advice and encouraged the journey of being the best mom and best stylist I could be. We officially opened in January of 2024. We created a space that after all the years of changes and building felt like a homecoming. We have been able to put together a great collective of cosmetology professionals, and we are about to host our very first edition class. A dream in the making.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s never been a smooth road. Every time I moved I had to start over and get new clients and learn a new place. When salons started to shut down in 2020 I had no idea what I was going to do, and when I started business on my own I had a whole new skill set I had to learn on my own. All these challenges were all opportunities to learn and grow, but it was a lot of work and risks.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
That wide range of education and experience I talked about earlier is why people come to me. I bring professional experience to clients who normally would never be able to get to places like NY or LA on a regular basis and get the same level of service. I specialize in effortless looks that make you feel your best and fit your lifestyle. This isn’t just hair to me. It’s your personality shining through making you feel amazing. I’m here to create the version you want to be.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Follow me on instagram @taylordbradley
And @collective.oncambridge
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Taylordbradley
