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Hidden Gems: Meet Lori Fudens of The New Salon opening in April is White Sand Salon

Hidden Gems: Meet Lori Fudens of The New Salon opening in April is White Sand Salon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lori Fudens

Hi Lori, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

My Journey: All started as a baby stylist at 17.

When I started my career as a hairstylist, it was all about finding a way to earn a living while doing something I loved—making people feel beautiful through hairdressing.

At 17 I went to Hair school in London England at Toni & Guy and Loreal Color Academy. Growing up in a home with a brother with severe disability was stressful but I didn’t realize how the life and experiences, with my family & my parents at home really shaped me to be able to handle some of the worse, and best things to come in life and in business. Especially as a salon owner.

But in my early years, I quickly realized I didn’t know what I didn’t know. By the time I was 27, I was $30,000 in debt. I was earning money, but I was spending it faster than I could make it. That was a wake-up call. I knew I had to figure out how to keep the money I was working so hard to earn.

Learning to Keep What I Earned

At 30, my life changed in ways I could have never imagined.

While pregnant with my daughter, my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 terminal lung cancer.

That period taught me the value of every single hour I worked behind the chair. I had to maximize my time 3 days a week, making enough money to help support my family and have the freedom to also care for my mom.

It was also during this time that I started seeking more advice from incredible mentors like Michael Cole, Sam Villa, Chris Baron, Beth Minardi and so many other amazing L’Oréal and Redken educators. They taught me how to manage my finances, save money, get more technically haircolor savvy, and get out of credit card debt.

I also realized that I couldn’t do it all on my own. A few years later, I started mentoring and training others, teaching them what I knew so they could thrive alongside me. Watching them grow and succeed has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career. Many of them have moved on to create their own successful teams and businesses.

Scaling and Giving Back

As I grew professionally, in partnerships, and businesses, I dedicated myself to education—both for myself and others. I’ve always believed in reinvesting in myself, whether through advanced training or learning to be a better leader and mentor. It wasn’t always great though. I made so many mistakes (and still learn from them), but I’ve had the privilege of learning from some of the best in the industry and paying that knowledge forward.

As a Redken Certified Designer, Colorist, and National Artist, I’ve been able to share my passion with stylists everywhere. Whether it’s teaching cutting-edge techniques in haircolor like Balayage, Ombré, or advanced hair straightening, or working behind the scenes at New York Fashion Week with the Ted Gibson Team, Tearsheets, and Redken, I’ve always been committed to staying ahead of trends and inspiring others to do the same.

I take pride in creating truly customized education experiences for teams. My goal is always to make learning interactive, fun, and meaningful. I love seeing a group of hairstylists go from doubting their abilities to feeling confident and excited to try new things. For me, there’s no such thing as a stupid question, and mastering business-building skills should be exhilarating and empowering.

Resilience Through Challenges

As a salon owner, I’ve faced my share of challenges—yearly storms and hurricanes, the massive economic changes, the Gulf Oil Spill, major local construction, and local economic changes. Each hurdle taught me resilience and gave me the courage to keep going. I’ve always believed that creating a wonderful experience for our clients and a supportive environment for my team is the foundation of a successful business. Being responsible for my own environment and “watering my own grass” and the grass of others around me was what my parents showed me that I hold as a core value.

Looking Ahead

Now as I look to open a new salon in Clearwater, I’m reflecting on how far I’ve come. My journey has been about more than just earning money—it’s been about investing what I’ve earned, growing my business, and helping others reach their full potential. It’s a bigger game than just me.

I’m excited for what’s next. Whether it’s mentoring stylists, teaching in salons, collaborating with photographers, or exploring new creative avenues with my own salon team, my mission remains the same: to inspire, empower, and create beauty—in the salon, in my community, and beyond.

As a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, environmental challenges you’ve had to overcome?

As a salon business owner, there have been major economic changes, environmental challenges from local development, all around us, to also the annual storms and seasonal beach we are on. All of these were challenges every year and forced more changes and new challenges in business.

Risks and making tough decisions to change were a challenge but had to be addressed in order to create a new chapter and a new, thriving local beauty business. It’s more about the whole team, not just me.

We’ve been impressed with The New Salon opening in June is White Sand Salon, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

I have been in a local successful partnership for over 25 years at Sharmaine’s Salon and Day Spa. As a successful stylist, leader, and educator in our company, we overcame tough challenges and still today navigate what owning a seasonal beach salon entails. We will be changing directions after a 30-year + run, on a win, while my partner retires, and I will be moving into a new salon location to continue to develop, lead, and mentor a team of stylists and serve our guests. I’m excited to grow with even greater success, all while having others with me on a successful ride in a new local Clearwater salon business.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?

Yes!

  1. Find someone who can help mentor you.
    I have a podcast for new young stylists called The Hairstylist Accelerator Podcast – on many podcast channels to help. Also, I created an online learning path for any new stylist to master what matters in the first years of being a hairstylist. It’s important to know you will never stop learning.
  2. Take care of yourself and your body.
    Wear good shoes, watch your weight, hydrate, limit sugar and alcohol, exercise, and take care of your body with any yoga, chiropractic, and nutrition care. I have been working behind the chair for 35 years and I can maintain because of those things.
  3. Don’t miss the important vacation time and family times.
    Yes, you might sacrifice some Saturday events as a stylist, but don’t miss the big ones! You can plan vacations and family time, and you can have it all. It’s not always balanced, but you can have the life you want and still serve others and create beauty in a successful career.

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