Today we’d like to introduce you to Carrie Leigh.
Hi Carrie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I didn’t come up in this industry dreaming of owning a salon. I came up surviving it. I worked commission. I worked booth rental. I watched talented artist queer and otherwise burn out, get boxed in, or flattened by systems that were never built for us in the first place.
I spent years behind the chair asking the same question: Why is it like this? Why does creativity come with compromise? Why does community feel conditional? Why does “success” always look like selling out or making yourself smaller?
So I built the thing I couldn’t find.
HiFi was created to platform queer artists, not polish them into something palatable. A radically different salon model—no hierarchy bullshit, no squeezing people in for profit, no forcing artists to choose between stability and self-expression. This is a space where autonomy, sustainability, and identity are the foundation.
HiFi exists because I wanted better for myself, for my collegues, and for the next generation of artists who deserve more than just a chair. This isn’t a salon built to scale fast. It’s built to last, to protect the people inside it, and to prove that you can do things your way and people will love you for it.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No way. It hasn’t been smooth. Not even close.
There were missteps, financial pressure and more missteps, and a lot of learning the hard way. I questioned myself more times than I can count, especially when choosing people over profit didn’t look like the “smart” move on paper. Building something values driven in an industry obsessed with selling an abreviated version ourselves means pushing uphill, constantly.
There were moments where doing it differently felt really scary and lonely. Moments where it would’ve been easier to copy what already exists instead of standing firm in what I knew was right.
But every struggle clarified the mission. Every hard choice reinforced why HiFi exists at all. The resistance wasn’t a sign to stop, it was my sign that this kind of space was necessary.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about HiFi?
HiFi is a queer-owned, artist-driven salon built on autonomy, sustainability, and trust. We’re known for high-level hair done without the traditional salon bullshit. No forced retail, no rigid hierarchies, no sacrificing identity for “professionalism.” Our artists specialize in high end color, gender-affirming cuts, textured or curly hair, and expressive styles that prioritize the person wearing the hair, not trends.
What sets HiFi apart is the model. We operate as a commission salon that actually protects artists, hourly pricing and gratuity free pay structures so that both clients and stylists have transperency, unlimited time off, creative freedom, and real work-life balance. This is a space where queer and marginalized artists aren’t just welcomed, they’re centered. Clients feel that the moment they walk in.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that HiFi has become a safe and trusted space here in Texas for the LQBTQIA+2 community. Trust to be seen. Trust to be honest about what they want and who they are. We don’t chase volume or fast growth—we build slowly, intentionally, and in community.
What I want readers to know is that HiFi isn’t for everyone. We’re here for people who want something different out of their salon experience, thoughtful hair, radical respect, and a space that feels aligned with the community. If you’re looking for polished-to-death, this probably isn’t your spot. If you’re looking for integrity, artistry, and a space that actually lives its values………..welcome.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is integrity. Doing what I say I’m going to do, even when it’s hard or slow. I care deeply about building something that doesn’t exploit people or ask them to shrink themselves to belong. I’ve seen too many artists burn out or get discarded by systems that only value being busy or selling product over humanity, and I didn’t want to recreate that.
I care about queer artists having real opportunity, real safety, and real autonomy. I care about sustainability, financially, creatively, and emotionally. HiFi exists because I believe a business can be successful and principled, and that how we build matters just as much as what we build.
At the end of the day, I want the people who work here to feel protected, proud, and supported, and for clients to feel that difference the moment they walk through the door.
Pricing:
- all service are preformed at an hourly rate
- Gratuity Free
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hifiaustin.com/
- Instagram: hifi_hair
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577622488558
