Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenna Ragard
Hi Jenna, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
After graduating high school in Upstate New York, I moved to St Petersburg, Florida, to attend The Aveda Institute. From a very young age, I wanted to be a hairstylist. I eventually returned to New York and opened my salon, which I owned for 8 years before selling it after a decision to move South. I moved to Greenville in 2022 and quickly realized that working at other salons here was not my thing. I told myself I would take one year to build a clientele and open another salon. I began looking for a building immediately, and in July of 2023, I found 100 W North Street and began renovations. Nomad James officially opened for business in October 2023, and it is truly my happy place.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not. There are a lot of stereotypes about the beauty industry, and last year, I learned how accurate many of them are. Moving to a new state as a hairstylist is difficult. Building a new clientele in an area where you don’t know anyone is hard. Finding a salon to work for was a challenge I didn’t expect. The experience I had when I finally started working was horrendous.
I just had to mind my business, put a smile on my face, and focus on the end goal of opening another salon of my own, which posed a whole new set of obstacles. I experienced everything from struggling to find a building to disappearing contractors. The day my new floors were finally laid, tree roots had grown through my plumbing and flooded the back of the salon. Never a dull moment!
Business ownership has taught me endless lessons and has been an incredibly humbling experience. One thing is for sure: the good times wouldn’t be as sweet without the hardships, and that’s what I focus on when times are tough. Good things are always coming; even when things aren’t going as planned, navigating difficult situations is how you build confidence. So, in turn, the more difficult seasons are also highly beneficial.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Nomad James?
Nomad James, Beauty + Well-Being is an upscale salon without the stuffy nonsense. The environment I aim to create is peaceful, relaxing, and uplifting. I love my work and want it to be felt by anyone who walks through the door. I value connection and learning about my clients & their lives just as much as getting to know their hair. It truly creates an environment where everyone knows they’re always welcome. I’m your biggest hype girl. When I opened my first salon eight years ago, I didn’t intend to create a gathering place where clients would stop in with friends on their lunch break or come for outfit approval before a date, but that’s precisely what it became, and that’s my intention with Nomad James. We offer modern color and custom extension services, but I’d like to bring on a few more talented artists to expand our services and availability.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something people may find surprising about me is that I hate posting on social media. It’s a constant battle for me to keep up with content while maintaining a comfortable level of privacy. As much as I wish socials didn’t exist, I wouldn’t have been able to build an entirely new clientele within 6 months without it. It doesn’t make sense not to use it, but it is a struggle. It’s a luxury to refrain from using it to promote a business. I prefer to throw my phone in the ocean and never see it again.
Pricing:
- Retouch – $120
- Modern Partial – $175
- Full Highlight – $200+
- Extension Move Up – 1 Row $175 | 2 Row $300
- Haircut included with all services
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nomadjamesbeauty.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomadjames_/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@jennanomadjames
