Amber Blaylock says she was well prepared when she took over ownership of Legends Salon & Day Spa on Sept. 1.
She’d had a goal for some time of owning a salon, and she’d learned a lot about the business in her four years there. Also, the transition to her from the previous owner, Amanda Jefcoat, had been in the works for about a year.
Still, she said, her first day as the boss wasn’t quite like the days before it.
“It was a different feeling — exciting and nervous and a lot of emotions,” she recalled.
But the change wasn’t hard, in large part because she and her colleagues work together so well and love what they do. Regardless of what mood she’s in when she wakes up in the morning, it feels good when she gets to work, she said.
“My husband jokes that ‘Most people in America don’t like their jobs; the other 1 percent work at Legends,’” she said.
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Legends opened in 1995 under the ownership of LaGatha Abbott, who sold the business to Jefcoat in 2001. Jefcoat likened the ownership transitions to a relay race, with everyone going in one direction toward the same goal: “She passed me the baton, and then I passed it on.”
Both Abbott and Jefcoat still work there as stylists. Blaylock said she’s benefited from their experience, knowing she can go to them for help when needed.
Blaylock, 29, is originally from Greenwood. She graduated from Carroll Academy and the Academy of Hair Design in Grenada.
“Ever since Amber started, she’s shown an interest in having her own business,” Jefcoat said.
Before becoming owner, Blaylock worked five days a week; these days she’s there pretty much every day. But now she’s also able to do some of her work at home at night after putting her children to bed.
She and her husband, Mike, have a 7-year-old daughter, Kaylee, and a 5-year-old son, Preston.
The salon is a lot of work, but it’s fun, too, she said.
“I couldn’t think of a better place to work,” Blaylock said.
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Legends now has eight stylists, two full-time estheticians, three people who do massages per appointment, four receptionists and three assistants.
In addition to hair care, its services include facials, massages, microdermabrasions, chemical peels, spray tans, manicures, pedicures and more.
It has a website, www.legendssalonspa.com, and it now can send confirmation emails for appointments.
Abbott said working with friends makes the job easier.
“When I come here in the morning and I smell the coffee, it’s like going home or something,” she said.
Kayln Bryant started doing hair and nails at Legends in June after working there for 1½ years as a receptionist. She said she enjoyed meeting people when she was a receptionist, they got to know her, and some became her regular customers.
“Everybody is very helpful here,” she said.
Another stylist is Pat Adams of Indianola, who ran the salon Pat Adams Ltd. for 25 years. She’s semi-retired now but still enjoys coming to work — and she’s willing to give advice to her co-workers if asked.
Then again, “they have taught me a lot also,” she said.
“You can never quit learning.”
Sometimes the staff goes to hair shows to see what the new trends are, and they share what they have learned. Adams said if she gets just one idea from a show, then it’s been a good trip.
Estheticians Kelley Bush and Shannon Ola stay busy, too. Each has worked there 2½ years. Bush said customers have commented on how well the staff members get along.
“It’s a great environment,” Ola said. “Everyone out here gets along extremely well.”
They have regular customers not only from all over the Delta but also from places such as Lucedale and Nashville. They also speak to teenagers about skin care.
“We do pride ourselves on seeing results,” Bush said.
• Contact David Monroe at dmonroe@gwcommonwealth.com.
