Celebrity Hairstylist Melissa Schleicher

The tale of a pretty sophomore high school cheerleader that dropped out of high school married at 19 and had her first, and only child at 20 isn’t just a concept for a hit song. What makes this story unique is the phenomenal success of entrepreneur and celebrity hairstylist Melissa Schleicher’s is still unfolding.

An only child herself, Melissa’s dad was a high school teacher, and her mom a homemaker. This petite and bubbly blonde with a personality larger than her hair is Nashville born and bred. She had a typical middle-income childhood growing up during the 1970s and 80s. And hair has always been running through her veins. So much so, that as a child, she would practice cutting and styling on her Barbie dolls.

This article was originally published in Franklin Lifestyle Magazine and Brentwood Lifestyle Magazine.

Rebel or ‘Girl Next Door’

The question that begs an answer is simple; was she more the girl-next-door type or a rebel child?

“I was more rebellious than the girl-next-door type,” Melissa replied with a mischievous giggle. “I knew at an early age what I wanted in life, so I decided to enroll in beauty school without my high school diploma. My parents didn’t even know I had quit attending school for a while.”

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As you might imagine, Melissa’s parents were not thrilled with her decision. Nonetheless, they supported her, but on the condition that she assumed the cost of beauty school herself. Thankfully, her dad co-signed the loan for her tuition. 

“For many years, I was embarrassed that I didn’t complete high school. It was my daughter Hunter, who provided the encouragement I needed to come clean,” said Melissa. “Mom, it’s your story, and you’re a huge success, so tell it,” was her daughter’s advice. 

Starting at the bottom, she worked in the tanning salon and sold merchandise at New Identity Salon in Hickory Hills as she began to build a small clientele. 

“Something few people know is that I failed the beauty licensing exam on my first attempt. It’s true! I didn’t even tell my boss. I just started cutting hair.” She eventually did fess up and fortunately passed on her second try. 

Determined to succeed, Melissa took any client she could, which tended to be more colors than cuts.

“I hated coloring hair at first. I really hated it,” confessed Melissa. “But that was how you made money, and every hair and makeup client paid $75.” 

Her determination and drive started paying dividends. “When I received my first full paycheck, the amount was more than my dad was making for the same period. I couldn’t believe it. My dream was taking shape.”

Cuts & Color Were Only The Beginning

Melissa’s initial success only motivated her to explore new opportunities. She began pitching her hair and makeup services to area photographers. Most were pleasant but waved off the inexperienced artist. Then she met Nashville photographer Mark Martin who gave her a chance to employ her skills on a modeling client, earning a tidy $125. 

Meeting Melanie Shelley, an experienced hair and makeup artist for several Country Music stars such as Leigh Ann Womack, The Dixie Chicks, and Alan Jackson, provided an even broader entree. 

“Melanie got so busy with The Dixie Chicks (a female trio) that she sent me on jobs with Alan and Leigh Ann,” said Melissa. “She taught me how video and photography lighting worked and the techniques to apply makeup in all settings. That’s how I learned, through trial and error.”

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The errors were few because Melissa’s celebrity roster quickly expanded. “What’s funny is I wasn’t interested in working with Country Music artists. Heck, I was into rap music! Plus, I wasn’t star-struck at all, which is why I think they liked me. I just treat everyone the same. Alan Jackson was one of my first celebrity clients 21 years ago and he’s still a client today.”

Entrepreneurship

Most hairstylists are entrepreneurs because they work for themselves, yet Melissa’s aspirations exceeded a single chair. With the encouragement and support of her husband, Don, they rolled the dice for her dreams. They mortgaged their home to open Parlour Three, which was initially designed as a make-up store as Melissa saw an unfulfilled need in Brentwood.

The bet paid off. Today Melissa zips between multiple business ventures in her Mercedes E-300.

• Parlour Three, where Melissa and her top stylists ply their expert skills has an elegant, upscale, “glam and pretty” feel. 
• Hunter Paige by Parlour Three – named after her daughter – is a salon where younger stylists can work and build a clientele. “It gives newer stylists the chance to develop their chops and make good money.”
• Parlour 3 Collection is a spa that offers everything from skincare treatments, eye and eyelash services, and aesthetics and body sculpting.
• The Parlour Room is an event space for up to 80 people designed for showers, classes, dinners, or other events. “Last year alone, they handled over 200 wedding groups,” Melissa added.

And guys, don’t feel left out because Barbour 3 is a space designed for you.

“Men are taking better care of themselves in terms of hairstyles and their overall grooming,” Melissa explained. “Years ago, they wouldn’t think of coloring their hair, having body hair waxed, or receiving other treatments. The first thing my husband said was not to make the guy’s barbershop ‘too girly.’ I told him not to worry, I got this!”

That’s evident by the TVs mounted on the ceiling above the hair-wash stalls and the manly decor highlighted by the mounted deer head donated by a client and member of Rascal Flatts.

Carrie Underwood is undoubtedly one of Melissa’s most prominent clients. “We’ve known each other for years and are close friends. In fact, Carrie and her husband Mike came over one night when we were scrambling to open the salon and helped put chairs together with Don and me. They are so down to earth and just wonderful people. Nashville is lucky to have them.”

Opportunities and Challenges Await

Melissa is most excited about the family’s newest edition that will arrive in June, her first grandchild by daughter Hunter and son-in-law, Cameron Premo. “I’ve already picked out my name, and it’s ‘Missy.’ No grandmother or similar name fits me.”

With all of Melissa’s success, one of her most painful decisions was to temporarily close her businesses on Tuesday, March 17, because of the coronavirus pandemic. 

“I gathered my employees at noon and announced we were temporarily closing the shops, and I cried. It broke my heart. I hope by the time others read this article, we’re back together, making others feel good about themselves. That’s my real goal, to empower women and entrepreneurs to live their dreams as I have.”

No one that knows Melissa well doubts this self-educated businesswoman will fail at anything. In fact, even the backdrop canvas paintings she produced for her shop were picked and marketed as prints by Kirkland’s, the home decor company. 

Melissa Schleicher will survive and prosper in any environment, and she can’t wait to capture another day.