The Origin Story
Today, we’re sharing the story of how the brand, I Fucking Love Your Hair and the salon, We Fucking Love Your Hair, came to be. Buckle up, because this tale is filled with passion, perseverance, and a sprinkle of serendipity.
The Spark of Joy: Stickers and Spontaneity
About a decade ago, Franky started saying, “I Fucking Love Your Hair” while admiring the hair she'd created with her clients. What began as heartfelt outbursts quickly took on a life of its own when she started printing out stickers to distribute to people she’d meet in the wild. The goal was simple - create unexpected joy. The uno reverse card of unexpected joy flowed back in Franky’s direction when the stickers quickly became a major hit! Before she knew it, Franky was inundated with requests for more.
From Burnout to Fuck It, We Ball: Embracing the Brand
Before Franky was able to absorb an ounce of that joy, shit hit the fan in 2019 when she realized the water she was treading was actually massive burnout. She wanted to quit QUIT. Like, leave the industry, start the fuck over, burn it all down, move to another country, cancel everyone and everything type of quit. After 12 years of working her way up from beauty school to “Level 4A stylist” she realized the gate keeping, fair-weather favoritism, poor communication and discriminatory practices that surrounded her weren't going to resolve themselves anytime soon.
In a ✨ fuck it, we ball ✨ moment, Franky hired a business mentor who helped her unlock a windfall of personal responsibility and taught her the tools she needed to build self esteem and learn how to take risks again. 4 months after Franky started this mentorship program she flung open the doors to her very own private studio, aptly named I Fucking Love Your Hair.
Her first day open was March 10th, 2020.
Yep, you read that right.
2020: Franky’s First Micro Salon (97 Square Feet)
Franky’s First Micro Salon: 97 Square Feet
The Leap of Faith: Opening the Studio
Despite the hilariously horrible timing and the ✨unprecedented times✨, Franky's relentless hustle paid off. Although initially hesitant about branding, Franky embraced the idea and took her game to the next level. She created this kick-ass website you’re reading this on and built a strong social media presence to keep her followers engaged (15K on Instagram & 25k on TikTok). What started as a sticker hobby (and a low key joke - as many said putting curse word in a business name was a bad idea!) quickly transformed into a booming business, proving that the most successful ventures often sprout from the most unexpected beginnings.
Within just two years, Franky hired two badass employees and expanded the brand to include We Fucking Love Your Hair.
2022: We upgraded to a bigger space (200 Square Feet 😅)
2022: we upgraded to a bigger space… 200 Square Feet 😅
Growth and Expansion: Finding the Dream Location
Although the micro salon had been a cozy setting, Franky knew she wasn’t done growing. The fear of expanding into a “real” salon multiplied by some serious existential dread and imposter syndrome lead Franky to hire her second mentor Nikola Salter. Nikola broke Franky’s brain (in the best way) with two sentences,
“You’re using over-researching and over-analyzing things as a form of procrastination.”
&
“WHO told you that?”
Franky found her gas again and after searching high and low, she found her dream location in the West Town, Ukrainian Village neighborhood of Chicago.
The Future is Bright: Join the Journey
Today, WFLYH stands as a testament to Franky’s passion, resilience, and unwavering commitment to spreading joy through hair. If you're a talented hair artist looking for a new opportunity, we are always accepting applications and submission videos. Alternatively, if you're in or around Chicago and are looking for an amazing place to get your hair done, we would be fucking thrilled to have you. Book an appointment today.
We’re so excited to continue growing and evolving with our incredible community. Thanks for being part of our story, and stay tuned for more updates, tips, and behind-the-scenes fun from We Fucking Love Your Hair!
Don’t forget to follow us on social media for more hair magic and inspiration. Until next time, keep rocking those fabulous locks!
