Today we’d like to introduce you to Toni Jennings
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I met my husband, Tyler, in 2018. We were neighbors, but our paths had never crossed until we realized we were both hairstylists. We’d meet up and talk for hours about our dream salon—what it would look like, how it would feel. Fast forward to February 2020, and we signed our first lease. Then, just three weeks later, the world shut down.
The pandemic hit hard. Salons were forced to close for months, we were both sick, and our landlord made it clear he was eager to evict anyone as soon as the eviction freeze ended. We burned through our savings, but we weren’t ready to quit.
Somehow, we opened our first salon on the east side with just the two of us. The support from our community was incredible. People—clients and even those who weren’t yet clients—rallied behind us. We honestly couldn’t have done it without them.
Soon after, we hired our first two employees, and then, out of nowhere, we were featured on Queer Eye. It felt like a dream, something we hadn’t even dared to hope for.
By our one-year mark, we decided to take the plunge again—this time into our biggest adventure yet: a gorgeous 100-year-old house in downtown Austin. We’ve since built an amazing team, and I feel so lucky to work alongside them. It’s been an unexpected journey, full of highs and lows, but we’ve come so far, and I couldn’t be prouder of where we are today.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My mom got diagnosed with stage 4 aggressive pancreatic cancer. The city was shut down so we couldn’t get any of our permits processed. I called everyone I could. My mom passed shortly after taking on our second location.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are a stylist-run salon, built by and for passionate professionals. Every dollar we earn is reinvested into growing our team and business, ensuring a thriving, supportive environment for our stylists. As owners, we are also employees of our own company, standing side by side with our team every step of the way.
Our success is a reflection of the incredible support from our stylists, clients, and business community. We are honored to have been recognized as one of Austin’s best salons, named Best Stylist in Austin, and featured on Queer Eye as well as in Allure, Elle, Tribeza, Austin Monthly, and other local publications.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
We are deeply committed to supporting our local Austin community—right down to the details, like the wine we serve, sourced from a woman-owned local business. Our salon proudly showcases and collaborates with a diverse range of local businesses, including artists, coffee roasters, wineries, and even our window cleaners. We believe in the power of small businesses and are dedicated to uplifting and supporting the vibrant community that makes Austin unique.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hairhouseatx.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hairhouse_atx
- Other: https://hh.aurasalonware.com
Image Credits
Stephanie rogers photography
