Life & Work with Lisa Jagodzinski of North Carolina

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Jagodzinski.

Hi Lisa, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I began working in a salon at the age of 15 and quickly discovered that hairstyling was my calling. Through years of training and experience throughout New York and Connecticut, I continued to grow my craft, eventually opening my own salon after 15 years in the industry. Owning a business brought me tremendous joy, allowing me to expand my skills, build meaningful relationships, and explore one of my favorite aspects of the industry: networking and co-creating with others.

What has always drawn me to hairstyling is the opportunity to help people feel good both inside and out. As a highly sensitive person (HSP), I naturally connect with what others are feeling, and over the years, I found that many of my client relationships extended far beyond hair. I love creating beautiful hair, especially transformations that bring someone’s personality, individuality, and personal style together. To me, when someone’s outer appearance reflects who they are on the inside, it can be a powerful thing.

Toward the end of my time as a salon owner, I began exploring Reiki, which opened a new dimension in how I connected with and supported my clients. Bringing Reiki into the salon created a beautiful opportunity to go beyond the physical transformation of hair and invite more relaxation, balance, and personal connection into the experience.

Eventually, I sold my business to follow a dream and moved west, spending several years in Venice, California, where I immersed myself more deeply in the world of wellness. Today, I have returned to the East Coast and call Western North Carolina home, bringing together the skills and experiences I’ve gathered throughout my journey.

My approach to Harmonic Hairstylist blends hair, Reiki, and nervous system support into a more intentional experience of beauty and wellbeing. Whether you’re coming in simply for a hair appointment or looking for an opportunity to slow down and nurture yourself on a deeper level, my intention is to create a space where you can feel comfortable, cared for, and truly yourself.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The creative side of my career has always felt smooth, expansive, and exciting, but the business side has certainly come with its share of challenges and valuable lessons.
My first business venture was a partnership with an esthetician. What I thought would be a complementary and exciting collaboration quickly turned sour. I discovered that she was a professional con artist after having signed a five-year lease, it took me an entire year to get out of the contract and break away. I jokingly refer to that time as my “bad divorce.” Having been married before, I can honestly say that disolving that business relationship was more painful than getting an actual divorce from my ex husband.
My personality is one that tends to rise above difficult experiences and channel my energy into making the next chapter even better. Opening my own salon was the next challenge. It happened so quickly I found myself operating in a bit of a fight-or-flight mode at first. What began as a stressful leap of faith quickly turned into a successful and beautiful experience.
One of the biggest lessons I took away from being a salon owner is that there is always a solution and never a problem. Running a business pushed me to learn how to find a deeper sense of calm within myself and create more balance in the space around me. As a highly sensitive person (HSP), this became especially important. I worked with a shaman to learn how to bring more balance and harmony into my salon environment. It was beautiful to witness how clients felt in the space after those changes.
Another challenge was managing employees and learning the importance of healthy boundaries. I discovered that clear healthy boundaries and consistency are essential, especially when friendships extend beyond the workplace. Learning to maintain professional boundaries and uphold the guidelines of my business, even with people I considered friends, was an important lesson in being a business owner.
Despite these challenges, my career has been an incredibly fulfilling journey. Each experience has taught me something valuable about resilience, trusting myself, finding solutions, and creating a positive environment for both myself and the people I serve.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
‘m known for creating beautiful hair transformations, specializing in blondes, and helping people find a look that reflects who they are. I work with a wide range of ages, from teens navigating new chapters and personal changes to adults in their 30s through 70s looking to refresh their look or embrace a new version of themselves.

Beyond my hairstyling skills, clients often come to me for the comfort, connection, and understanding I bring to the chair. This inspired my concept, Hair SOS — a space for people to share their hair struggles and traumatic experiences, receive compassionate guidance, and explore a path forward.

My approach to Harmonic Hairstyling brings these elements together by blending hair, Reiki, and nervous system support into a more intentional experience of beauty and wellbeing. Appointments can be as simple as great hair or include Reiki for those who want to nurture themselves on a deeper level. For me, beauty is about more than what we see in the mirror; it’s also about how we feel within ourselves.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I’d have to say one of my biggest advocates was a former boyfriend. At the time, I had no idea that becoming my own boss was in my future, let alone how much I would love it. He believed in me and helped build my confidence in ways that opened doors I hadn’t even imagined for myself. He connected me with the right people to learn from and helped me understand what it takes to build and run a successful business.

During that chapter of my life, I was also surrounded by other entrepreneurs who inspired me, shared their knowledge, and encouraged my growth. Those uplifting connections were truly beautiful and played a meaningful role in shaping my path.

Beyond that, my clients have always been some of my biggest supporters and cheerleaders. Their loyalty, kind words, and continued trust in me mean more than they know. The relationships I’ve built with them have helped my career grow in ways that go far beyond hairstyling. I’m incredibly grateful for the people who have believed in me, supported my vision, and continued to be part of my journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lisajags.com
• Instagram: @Lisa.jags
• LinkedIn: Lisa Jagodzinski
• Twitter: @hair.sos4