Today we’d like to introduce you to Haven Tibbetts.
Hi Haven, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Melanie and I actually met 18 years ago at our daughters’ ballet class. She was the cool mom and I wanted to be her friend. We couldn’t be more different, which is exactly why this works. She’s the creative one behind the chair. I’m the operations nerd who likes spreadsheets and systems.
She built this amazing clientele and opened Deep Roots in 2018 with a team of seven. I came on that same month to help at the front desk and it just kind of naturally turned into a partnership because I’m good at all the stuff she’s not. And honestly that’s where a lot of stylists struggle when they try to open salons. The business side falls apart. We made sure that wouldn’t happen here.
We opened Cedar Park together in fall 2019 and then the pandemic hit only five months later. We had no playbook for any of it. Nobody did. I filed unemployment for our entire team myself. We started making root touch up kits and toner kits just to keep the bills paid. Neither of us took unemployment. We just figured it out. And somewhere in the middle of all that we bought four condos in Lago Vista, The Golden Girls, to Airbnb. Because when everything around us was shutting down we decided to keep building.
That mindset never stopped. We launched Skin by Deep Roots, our medspa, in July 2021 and opened Bee Cave that November. Today we’ve got over 70 people across all three locations. We offer 401k, healthcare, education, career advancement. But none of that matters if people don’t feel valued. And really it just comes down to treating people how you’d want to be treated. It’s a pretty simple formula and it’s crazy how many people don’t get that.
That’s why the best part honestly is watching our team grow beyond the chair. We’ve got stylists launching their own companies and we do nothing but support them. We push them because we see more in them than they see in themselves.
Hair is what we do. But the reason people stay, whether they’re sitting in the chair or standing behind it, is bigger than that. People come here and something shifts. They’re seen. They’re believed in. They find the confidence to go after things they never thought they could. We didn’t just build a salon. We built a place that changes people’s lives. And we’re just getting started.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like most small businesses, we’ve had to learn a lot in real time while trying to grow quickly. In the early days we were figuring out everything from systems and hiring to leadership and scaling a team, all while still working in the business every day.
The pandemic was probably the biggest challenge. Overnight we had to shut down and navigate a lot of uncertainty while trying to make sure our team and clients were taken care of. Not long after that, the winter storms in Texas forced more closures and disruptions. Those experiences were incredibly stressful, but they also pushed us to become more resilient and creative as business owners.
Growth itself has also brought its own challenges. Going from a small team to a team of more than 70 means constantly learning how to lead, build systems, and protect the culture that made the company special in the first place. But every challenge has helped shape the business and made us stronger along the way.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Deep Roots, we specialize in high-end hair services with a strong focus on advanced color, blonding, extensions, and overall hair health. Our goal has always been to combine great technical work with an exceptional client experience. We want people to feel relaxed, taken care of, and confident when they leave.
One thing we’re really known for is the culture we’ve built within our team. We invest heavily in education, mentorship, and creating real career paths for stylists. The beauty industry has changed a lot over the years, and we’ve always believed that when you invest in people and give them opportunities to grow, it naturally raises the level of service and experience for clients.
What we’re most proud of is the community that’s grown around Deep Roots. When we opened, we had a vision, but we couldn’t have imagined how many friendships would form here, how many big life moments would happen here, or how many of our team members would grow into confident leaders within our company.
What sets us apart is that we’ve never viewed ourselves as just a salon. We’re in the relationship business. Whether it’s our clients or our team, everything we do is centered around creating an environment where people feel valued, supported, and excited to be part of what we’re building.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Starting a business is a risk in itself. Most small businesses don’t make it past the first couple of years for a reason. It takes a lot of time, sacrifice, and persistence to get something off the ground, and there are no guarantees that it will work. When Deep Roots first opened, there was a vision for what it could become, but building something from scratch means stepping into a lot of unknowns.
As the business grew, there were other big decisions that came with risk too. Expanding to new locations, growing the team, and investing in new parts of the business like our medspa all required taking leaps. Growth always asks you to step outside your comfort zone.
Over time, our perspective on risk has changed. When you trust your instincts, know you’re willing to put in the work, and make decisions that align with your values, things start to feel less risky. Having a strong team and support system around you makes a big difference too. It doesn’t remove the uncertainty, but it gives you the confidence to keep moving forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.deeprootsatxsalon.com
- Instagram: @deeprootsatx
- Facebook: @deeprootsatx
Image Credits
@janellshirtcliff
@eanicreative
