Q+A with Audra Frangipani
OWNER + STYLIST
What is your story? How did you get your start?
Hi, my name is Audra, and I live here in Northeast Tennessee. I am married to my soulmate Thomas. I am a Certified Redken Colorist and Redken Specialist, I am Certified with Keratin Complex, and I am also a Certified Olaplex Professional.
I have been doing hair professionally since January 1986, and before that I spent a lot of time with my aunt when she was a professional hairdresser. I am her namesake. I received my initial training at Science Hill High School, where I was privileged to learn under an Artistic Professional from Helen Curtis Inc. Ms. CL Trentham had traveled the US training licensed stylists in creative hair color and precision hair cutting. Ms. Trentham had just stepped off the platform and into my training class the first year I started. What a Blessing! Within six months, I was coloring and cutting her hair just as well as many teachers at the high school. I worked for Fantastic Sams for five years after graduating before moving on. I eventually met a wonderful lady named Moneen from Redken 5th Avenue NYC, and she opened me up to Redken knowledge.
In 1992 I began working for Jerry Slagle’s Hair Fashion Forum where I trained under Redken Artist Jeannie Basinger (Slagle) & Jerry Slagle himself. I owe a tremendous amount of my love for hair to these two wonderful people! I am ever grateful! This is where I began going to Redken 5th Avenue New York for a much more in depth specialized education and training.
I have received several certifications under Redken, and I continue to train under World Renowned Redken Global Artists such as; Sam Villa, Chris Baran, Justin Issacs, Hugo Urias, Daniel Doud, Lindsay Marie Olsen and many more. It has been a dream for a while to open my own salon. I finally took a step of faith and opened a salon suite (MiaBella’s) in August 2021 in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The name is special to me because it is what my husband has called me since we first met. In Italian, Mia Bella means My Beauty, so MiaBella’s Salon means My Beauty’s Salon. I want the salon to be a place my beautiful guests call their own!
Gratefully and humbly, on Monday, June 5th, 2023, MiaBella’s Salon opened as a full scale salon with independent stylist renting stations. The salon is a modern, airy, Christian environment where guests can escape and enjoy themselves while we bring out the beauty from within them. We want them to leave our salon feeling empowered by their new look. Our stylists can utilize and grow in their skills within an encouraging, uplifting environment that is also loving and fun. A team that works together and watches each other fulfill their dreams.
It has been a dream of mine to offer other stylists a peaceful, happy place to use their artistic skillset where they are appreciated and celebrated regularly. That dream has finally come true. We invite you to experience our services specialized to your needs by our talented team!
What are your goals for the future?
I would love to see our salon expand further as we move forward. While keeping MiaBella’s Salon focused on the quality of the guest experience, our goals will continue to include new ways to uplift, love, encourage, and celebrate our talented team to follow and fulfill the dreams God has placed in their hearts. While every team member has unique gifts, I would love to help them reach their full potential. Physically, I would love to eventually move to a bigger space to enhance the guest experience and also become a special place guests want to come to even when not being serviced…but I will disclose those ideas as we approach upon that time.
How has BCS helped you?
BCS, specifically Sarah Presnell, has helped us gain a clear understanding of where we are in regards to our finances. In addition to providing peace of mind that work is completed honestly and professionally, Sarah is also encouraging us to step out to fulfill our dreams! She has shown us ways to make things flow together easily and how to make our dream a reality! Without her, I am not sure we would be where we are today.
Anything else you would like to share?
To be honest, we had many concerns about finances, taxes, and more in the past. At this point, Sarah and BCS have helped us move past taking care of current business practices to pushing through to see what the future can hold for us, and we know Sarah and BCS will be there for us! I highly suggest anyone in business, even an independent stylist, seek out BCS and find out what all they offer! There is a bright future ahead, and together we will run with it!
