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SEARCHErin Mills believes beauty professionals deserve more than a successful career. A hairstylist turned multi-salon owner, Mills has spent 17 years growing her business while helping her team create lasting impact.
"Only take advice from someone who has done more than you, is happier than you are or is someone you'd gladly trade places with."--Erin Mills
*Summarized by AI
Erin Mills believes beauty professionals deserve more than a successful career; they deserve financial stability, meaningful relationships and the confidence to build a life they love. A hairstylist turned multi-salon owner, Mills has spent 17 years growing her business while helping her team create lasting impact behind the chair.
Named to the MODERN SALON 100 in 2019, Mills says the biggest opportunities in this industry come from serving others well, staying grateful and never stopping your personal growth.
Name: Erin Mills
Salon:Theory Salons
Location: Orlando, Florida
Years in the Industry: 17
Specialty: Multi-salon owner focused on developing leaders and creating impact behind the chair
Instagram:@erin.mills
MODERN SALON 100: 2019
Innovative. Resilient. Impactful.
Only take advice from someone who has done more than you, is happier than you are or is someone you'd gladly trade places with.
Who you choose to listen to—and who you allow into your inner circle—directly determines how far you'll grow. I've learned that real-life experience, especially from people who've struggled, failed, learned and succeeded again, is more valuable than anything that can be taught.
Learning to save, invest and build wealth is just as important as building your clientele.
Everyone talks about earning more, but very few people talk about saving more. Even if you start with just $5 a week, start today. Every dollar you save is a gift to your future self. Financial stability isn't something that happens later, it starts with small habits now.
Gratitude.
After 17 years, thousands of clients, two salons and hundreds of team members, I still spend a few quiet minutes every day saying thank you. I look at the appointment book and silently thank every client who's coming in. I thank every dollar that comes into the business. I thank every member of our team.
Life gets hard, and we can't control everything. But we can always choose gratitude, and that mindset gives you the fuel to keep going.
Not knowing their numbers.
Whether you're a hairstylist or a salon owner, it doesn't matter how much money you bring in if you don't understand your bottom line, your taxes, your budget or your savings plan.
Numbers aren't always fun, but knowledge creates freedom. The better you understand your business, the more stability you'll have when challenges come your way.
Erin Mills was a featured speaker on a panel at MODERN SALON Boot Camp in Nashville, 2025.
Relationships.
Education, travel and personal development have all been incredible investments, but the relationships I've built over the last 17 years have been the greatest reward of all. It's the people who make everything worthwhile.
I've realized that doing good also means taking care of yourself.
I've always believed in giving everything I have, but now I understand that I have to include myself in that equation. I have to give as much to myself as I give to everyone else.
Honesty.
I love seeing more conversations about both the good and the hard parts of this industry. People are being more vulnerable, and the stigma around those conversations is disappearing. I'm here for all of it.
Financial stability.
As an industry, we don't talk enough about saving for the future. If we don't change that conversation, too many beauty professionals will face unnecessary hardship later in their careers.
Customer service.
Customer service beats talent every single day. When every client feels like the most important person in the room, everybody wins. That's the standard we should all strive for.
"Dancing Queen" by ABBA.
Never underestimate the impact you have.
When you help someone feel valued, respected, included and beautiful during one of their most vulnerable moments, you're changing the world one person at a time.
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