Today we’d like to introduce you to Josy Thole.
Hi Josy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My grandmother was always my inspiration for joining the beauty industry and becoming an entrepreneur. She had her own business where she helped women with makeup, weight loss, and fashion. I always admired how put together she was, even in her later years.
I attended Aveda Institute right after high school, hoping to put myself through college afterward, but I fell in love with the beauty industry instead.
After a few years behind the chair, I started getting into education for a color line and training new stylists at our salon. I developed our training program and discovered how much I love mentoring both new and experienced stylists.
In 2019, my mentor at the time was opening his third salon and asked if I wanted to become a part owner. I accepted and helped shape and grow Women’s Spa Salon from day one. He passed away in 2023, and his daughter and I continued to co-own the salon. A couple of years ago, we made the decision to merge Women’s Spa and Men’s Spa, which were adjacent to one another, into one larger salon space called Bradley Douglas Salon Spa.
Merging two salon teams has been incredibly rewarding and has taught me so much. I am very proud of my co-owner and myself and how much we have learned and grown through the experience. Our goal is to provide a respectful, supportive, and fun work environment where both our team and our guests feel valued.
Currently, my focus is on growing our business, mentoring and training our employees, working behind the chair two to three days a week, and, most importantly, raising my two young children. Finding balance between motherhood and entrepreneurship isn’t always easy, but both have shaped me into the leader and stylist I am today.
My expertise is seamless, low-maintenance color and hair extensions. I am especially passionate about helping women embrace their natural hair color by enhancing it rather than feeling like they have to cover their greys or keep up with high-maintenance color.
I am currently training in The Luna Method, a physics-based, scalp-safe, revolutionary hair extension method. I was ready to elevate my craft to the next level. I help women whose hair has been thinning—whether from postpartum changes, menopause, health-related reasons, or other factors—regain their confidence through seamless, natural-looking hair extensions.
I believe our hair is our best accessory because we never take it off. When we truly love our hair, it gives us that extra confidence that carries into every part of our lives.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all! Everything I have built has come from determination, passion, and a desire to always grow and become the best version of myself.
I was on my own by the time I was 19, attending beauty school 40 hours a week while working on top of that to support myself. My first few years behind the chair were incredibly challenging. There were many days I left the salon crying and wanting to quit, but every mistake became an opportunity to learn, improve, and come back stronger.
Becoming a mom and trying to find the balance between my work and home life has been one of my biggest challenges as well. Then, becoming a business owner and leading the merger of two salon teams pushed me in a completely different way. It forced me to become less emotional in my decision-making, more level-headed, and more objective as a leader.
I am extremely self-aware, and one of my biggest areas of growth has been learning to be less of a people pleaser. I care deeply about the people around me, but developing healthy boundaries and learning to prioritize myself has been one of the most important lessons of my career and personal life.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I wear a lot of hats these days, and I truly love all of them. I co-own Bradley Douglas Salon Spa, where much of my focus is on growing the business, developing our team, and creating a salon culture that feels supportive, respectful, and genuinely enjoyable to be part of. Mentoring stylists is one of the most fulfilling parts of what I do. I developed our education program because I believe confidence comes from understanding the “why,” not just memorizing the “how.”
Behind the chair, I specialize in seamless, low-maintenance color and hair extensions. I’m especially passionate about helping women embrace their natural hair color instead of feeling like they have to constantly cover their greys or chase high-maintenance trends. I love creating hair that looks beautiful months later, not just the day someone leaves the salon.
Over the last year, I’ve also been investing heavily in advancing my extension education through The Luna Method. What drew me to it was its focus on scalp health, comfort, and customization. It’s a physics-based approach that completely changed the way I think about extensions. My goal is to help women with thinning hair—whether it’s from postpartum changes, menopause, or other health-related reasons—feel like themselves again with extensions that are natural-looking, comfortable, and safe for their scalp.
What I’m most proud of isn’t one specific accomplishment—it’s the business and team we’ve built together. After losing my mentor in 2023, my co-owner and I navigated one of the biggest transitions of our careers, including merging two salons into one. It challenged us in every way, but it also strengthened our leadership and reinforced the kind of culture we wanted to create. Seeing our team grow, support one another, and genuinely enjoy coming to work is something I’m incredibly proud of.
I think what sets me apart is that I’m never satisfied with “good enough.” I’m always learning, asking questions, and looking for ways to improve my craft. I care deeply about the details because I know they’re what create exceptional results. Whether I’m working with a guest or mentoring a stylist, my goal is always the same: to educate, to create trust, and to help people leave feeling more confident than when they walked in. I believe technical excellence matters, but so does making genuine connections and making people feel seen, heard, and cared for.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I think people are often surprised that confidence didn’t come naturally to me and that I actually second guess myself all the time, and that I am shy/nervous before leading meetings or teaching classes. I’ve had to build my confidence over the years through experience, making mistakes, and choosing to push myself outside my comfort zone.
Contact Info:
- Website: bradleydouglassalonspa.com
- Instagram: josyrosehair
