Stephanie McKinney

DM me for booking! 🩶

❤️✂️✨ BIG ANNOUNCEMENT — I HAVE A NEW SALON HOME! ✨✂️❤️

Beginning Saturday, August 29th, I will officially be joining...

✨❤️ SALON BELLA DONA ❤️✨
📍 4156 Bristol Hwy
Johnson City, TN 37601

And y’all... I cannot tell you how excited I am to finally make this announcement.

The last week has brought one of the most unexpected professional transitions of my entire 21+ year career.

For anyone just joining the story, leaving JMAX was NOT something I had planned or wanted. My intention was to continue teaching at TCAT while remaining behind the chair at JMAX. I offered continued salon availability because I genuinely wanted to do BOTH.

When I was ultimately required to choose between the college and the salon, I chose to honor the position I had accepted with TCAT, and my employment at JMAX ended.

After nearly five years of pouring so much of myself into that salon—as a stylist, educator, mentor, recruiter, marketer, teammate and someone who genuinely cared about seeing that business succeed—I have never felt more professionally devalued than I did by the way that chapter ended.

But sometimes an unexpected ending pushes you through a door that has been standing open for you for YEARS.

And THAT brings me to someone very special...

❤️ Vickie Miller❤️

This woman has been an advocate for me for a very, VERY long time.

For years, Vickie has encouraged me. She has reminded me of my worth. She has believed in my ability and repeatedly told me some version of:

“Stephanie, you are worth more. Trust me. Let me help you build the career you deserve.”

And what did I do?

I stayed loyal where I was. 😂🤦‍♀️

Vickie has been trying to get me over there for YEARS.

So...

VICKIE, YOU FINALLY WIN. 😂❤️✂️

But in all seriousness, I want people to understand WHY I have so much respect for this woman.

Vickie has spent 35+ years in the beauty industry.

After 21+ years in this industry myself, I have crossed paths with MANY professionals who have worked with Vickie—some who stayed with her, some who eventually moved salons and some who went on to build businesses of their own.

And one thing has always stood out to me:

VICKIE MILLER CARRIES A GOOD NAME.

I don't hear former stylists tearing her apart after they leave.

And I don't hear Vickie tearing apart professionals simply because they decided to move forward in another direction.

That speaks VOLUMES in this industry.

People can move on professionally and still respect one another.

Vickie has supported and advocated for me when she had absolutely nothing to gain from doing so. She saw value in me long before I ever agreed to work beside her.

I will never forget that. ❤️

And now she is giving me something incredibly important:

The ability to continue BOTH sides of the career I love.

🎓 EDUCATION + ✂️ BEHIND THE CHAIR

I will continue my position as an Adjunct Cosmetology Instructor with TCAT while officially making Salon Bella Dona my salon home.

And there is another part of this opportunity that has me EXTREMELY excited...

🎓✂️ EDUCATION IS COMING WITH ME! ✂️🎓

Vickie has a vision for creating a stronger educational and onboarding pathway within Salon Bella Dona for developing professionals entering our industry.

THIS is something I wholeheartedly believe in.

There can be a tremendous gap between graduating cosmetology school and suddenly being expected to function confidently behind a busy salon chair.

I want to help bridge that gap.

My hope is to partner with Vickie as this develops and help create an educational structure within Salon Bella Dona where newer professionals can receive mentorship, hands-on guidance, continued education and support while transitioning from STUDENT to confident SALON PROFESSIONAL.

Being able to teach at TCAT AND bring my educator mindset back into the salon environment feels like the different pieces of my career are finally coming together. ❤️

NOW... MY CLIENTS! 😂❤️✂️

YES — I AM TAKING YOU WITH ME!

My pricing will remain consistent with what you've been accustomed to with me.

And YES...

❤️✂️ I WILL BE WORKING SUNDAYS! ✂️❤️

⚠️ PLEASE READ THIS PART! ⚠️

I know some of you have already Googled Salon Bella Dona and noticed the salon's posted business hours show CLOSED ON SUNDAY.

😂 DO NOT PANIC. 😂

❤️ THOSE GENERAL BUSINESS HOURS DO NOT APPLY TO MY PERSONAL SCHEDULE. ❤️

Vickie and I have specifically worked out the flexibility for me to create my salon schedule around TCAT and my clientele.

My tentative schedule will generally include:

✂️ SATURDAYS
Approximately 11 AM – 7/8 PM

✂️ SUNDAYS
Approximately 11 AM – 4/5 PM

Eventually I may rotate some Fridays and Sundays depending on appointments, family life and what works best for my clientele.

SATURDAY, however, will remain my primary consistent salon day.

So here's the easiest rule:

😂❤️ DON'T WORRY ABOUT GOOGLE HOURS — JUST TEXT STEPHANIE! ❤️😂

If you need me, we will figure it out.

❤️✂️ SATURDAY, AUGUST 29TH & SUNDAY, AUGUST 30TH — WE OFFICIALLY PICK RIGHT BACK UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF! ✂️❤️

To every single client who has called me, texted me, followed me, encouraged me, defended me and trusted me throughout this completely unexpected transition...

THANK YOU.

I am genuinely sorry for the disruption this situation created for you.

But I can finally tell you...

WE'RE GOOD. ❤️

I'm good.

My chair has a home. ✂️

My clients have a home. ❤️

I get to continue educating. 🎓

I get to continue creating beautiful hair. 🎨

And I am walking into an environment where I genuinely feel that BOTH sides of my professional career are valued.

I CANNOT WAIT to see all of my familiar faces sitting back in my chair! ❤️

And to the new cosmetology professional who may be reading this...

Keep Salon Bella Dona on your radar. 👀🎓✂️

If you're looking for a salon environment that recognizes the importance of EDUCATION, mentorship and professional development after cosmetology school, there are some really exciting things ahead.

Here's to NEW BEGINNINGS.
Here's to EDUCATION.
Here's to GROWTH.
Here's to GREAT HAIR.
And here's to surrounding yourself with people who recognize your VALUE. ❤️

Vickie Miller — thank you for believing in me and advocating for me all these years.

I guess you knew I'd eventually listen. 😂❤️✂️

✨ SALON BELLA DONA ✨
📍 4156 Bristol Hwy
Johnson City, TN 37601

✂️ Stephanie D. McKinney

✨ Master Designer • Hair Artist
🎨 Color Correction Specialist
🎓 Cosmetology Educator

✨ Creating Healthy Hair & A Little Magic Behind the Chair ✨ 🪄

📅 OFFICIALLY BEGINNING AUGUST 29TH!

📱 EXISTING & NEW CLIENTS:
Call/Text me directly
423-213-7383

❤️✂️🎨🎓🪄 HERE'S TO THE NEXT CHAPTER! 🪄🎓🎨✂️❤️

❤️✂️ IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION REGARDING MY DEPARTURE FROM JMAX SALON ✂️❤️
After receiving messages from clients this morning, I feel that I need to clarify something VERY important regarding yesterday’s announcement.
I DID NOT MAKE THE DECISION TO LEAVE JMAX SALON.
I had every intention of continuing my career behind the chair at JMAX while also accepting my position as an Adjunct Cosmetology Instructor at TCAT. I offered to continue working two days per week, including Saturdays, so that I could continue serving my clientele while fulfilling my responsibilities at the college.
Ultimately, I was given an ultimatum by the salon owner: choose the college or choose the salon.
When placed in that position, I chose to continue with the incredible opportunity I had accepted at TCAT. I was then told to come collect my belongings from the salon.
THIS WAS NOT A RESIGNATION I HAD PLANNED OR WANTED. I DID NOT CHOOSE TO WALK AWAY FROM MY CLIENTS.
I am now learning that some of my clients are being contacted regarding rebooking their upcoming appointments with other stylists and are being told that I am “leaving” the salon.
❤️ IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL OR MESSAGE FROM JMAX REGARDING REBOOKING YOUR APPOINTMENT BECAUSE I “DECIDED TO LEAVE,” PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT IS NOT AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT OCCURRED. ❤️
I absolutely understand that the salon needs to address appointments that were already on its schedule. However, I believe my clients deserve to know directly from me that leaving JMAX was NOT my decision or my intention.
I have spent nearly five years pouring my heart into my work at JMAX and building relationships with the people who sit in my chair. I would never simply disappear, abandon your appointments, or walk away without communicating with you.
You have a choice regarding who provides your hair services. If you would like to remain with JMAX, I completely respect that decision. If you would like to continue with me, I would be incredibly honored to continue being your stylist. ❤️
I am actively working on my next salon home and will share that information as soon as everything is finalized.
In the meantime, please contact ME directly regarding your future appointments or if you have questions about what has happened.
📱 Call/Text: (423) 213-7383
❤️✂️ I DID NOT LEAVE MY CLIENTS. MY CHAIR IS SIMPLY MOVING — AND I WILL MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND ME. ✂️❤️
Thank you for the overwhelming amount of love, support, congratulations, messages, and encouragement I have received. It means more to me than you know.
Much love,
Stephanie ❤️

💕✂️ AN IMPORTANT & UNEXPECTED CAREER UPDATE ✂️💕

As of today, August 14, I am no longer employed at JMAX Salon.

Many of you already know that I've recently accepted an incredible opportunity as an Adjunct Cosmetology Instructor at TCAT (Tennessee College of Applied Technology). 🎓✂️

Returning to cosmetology education means so much to me. I've always had a tremendous passion for career and technical education, the cosmetology industry, and preparing future professionals with the education, skills, work ethic, and real-world experience they need to succeed. I'm incredibly proud and excited to serve in this role with TCAT while continuing my career behind the chair.

When I accepted my position at TCAT, I had absolutely NO intention of leaving JMAX Salon. I loved the salon, the location, and had fully intended for JMAX to remain the salon home for myself and my clientele.

I offered to continue working at JMAX two days each week, including Saturdays. Unfortunately, that arrangement was not accepted. I was asked to continue fulfilling the salon's requested schedule until additional stylists could be hired. Between my responsibilities at TCAT and being a mother first, I simply could not commit to the number of salon hours being requested. Today, I was informed that if I could not fulfill those hours, I should collect my belongings.

So unfortunately, and certainly not by the choice I had hoped to make, my time at JMAX has come to an end.

❤️ BUT PLEASE HEAR THIS PART: I AM NOT LEAVING MY CLIENTS! ❤️

My clientele has been the heart of my career for nearly two decades. You've trusted me with your hair, referred your families and friends, supported me through different chapters of my career, and in so many cases become lifelong friends. Wherever my chair goes, I will continue taking care of you.

I am already exploring new salon opportunities and will announce my new salon home as soon as that decision is made.

📱 Call/Text: (423) 213-7383
📧 Email: [email protected]

❤️ For my clients who were scheduled with me August 14, 15, or 16: I am incredibly sorry that this sudden change disrupted your appointment. Please contact me directly. Once I'm settled into my new location, affected haircut appointments will receive their haircut FREE, and affected color appointments will receive a discount from me. I want to make this right and make sure you're taken care of.

🎓✂️ Another option for my clients: TCAT Boones Creek has some incredibly talented cosmetology students providing services through our educational program at reduced student-service pricing. If you're interested, you're welcome to DM or text me your contact information. I'll gladly pass it along to Lara, our Lead Cosmetology Instructor, who oversees student services and appointment scheduling and can determine availability. I'm incredibly proud to work alongside her and these future professionals. ❤️

This isn't how I expected this chapter to close, but I'm incredibly excited about the chapter I'm beginning at TCAT—and I'm equally committed to continuing the career I've built behind the chair.

To every person who has trusted me, supported me, referred someone to me, laughed with me, cried with me, and become a friend while sitting in my chair: THANK YOU. Your loyalty and friendship mean more to me than I could ever put into words.

You are NOT losing your stylist. Stephanie's chair is simply getting a new address. ❤️✂️

And I'll share that new address with you very soon.

Much love,
Stephanie 💕

🍁🍂FALL is in the HAIR...🍂🍁

Make your appointment now with me to get you FALL ready! Book in from today - Tuesday 9th and receive a FREE deep hydration treatment with color service. DM me for booking to reserve your color appointment and FREE treatment!