Community Highlights: Meet Jean Randall of Meraki Loft

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jean Randall.

Hi Jean, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
As a kid, I often tagged along when my mom got her hair done, and by high school, I was seeing her stylist myself. When that salon had an opening at the front desk—answering phones, folding towels, shampooing clients—I applied and got the job. That became my first (and only) W-2 job before enrolling in cosmetology school.

After high school, I had my daughter young and began attending Citrus College. I remember watching the cosmetology students on campus and feeling this deep pull—it reminded me how much I loved being in the salon environment. So I followed that feeling and enrolled in cosmetology school. It took longer than expected, especially as a single mom, but I made it through. The day after my 21st birthday, I started working in a salon. I assisted for two years—longer than most did back then—but every moment was valuable. I fell in love with the craft, the stories, and the way a small change in someone’s appearance could help them feel more like themselves.

Now, with over 25 years in the industry, I’ve grown from a commissioned stylist to a renter, and now a suite owner. What I love most isn’t just the hair—it’s the environment I get to create. A space where women feel supported, seen, and heard. A place where stories are shared freely and friendships form naturally.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege to walk alongside my clients through life’s biggest moments—engagements, pregnancies, promotions, heartbreaks, healing, and growth. That trust, that connection, is everything to me.

Through it all, I’ve been blessed with a husband and two children who have supported me so lovingly through every stage of my career. Their encouragement, patience, and belief in me have meant the world—and have grounded me as I’ve grown both personally and professionally.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Some of the biggest challenges I faced came early on when I was first building my business. It was a different time—before social media, before booking apps—when you had to rely on mailers, word of mouth, and sheer persistence. Growth was slow and humbling. Nothing happened overnight. You had to believe in yourself, stay committed to education (which wasn’t as accessible back then), and just keep going.

There were moments that tested me deeply. Clients who made me cry. Learning curves that hit harder than expected. You think you know what you’re doing when you leave cosmetology school, and even after assisting, but real growth? That comes in waves. Clients will unknowingly educate you. Mistakes will shape you. And failure—though painful—can be a powerful teacher.

In 2008, I was incredibly lucky to have joined BNI, a networking group that quite literally kept my business afloat during a difficult economic time. I not only avoided a decline in clients that year—I actually grew. And more than that, BNI taught me how to view my business differently. I learned how to talk about it, present myself professionally, and own what I was building in a way I hadn’t before.

Then came COVID, which shook our entire industry—especially in LA County. For hairstylists, it wasn’t just about being shut down; it was about figuring out how to pivot in a way that still honored the safety and trust of the people we serve. I eventually made the decision to leave the large salon I was in with my business partner and move into a suite. It was about creating a space that felt safer, more intimate, and truly personalized for my clients. I wanted them to feel secure, seen, and supported.

Balancing it all—as a woman, a mom, a wife, a friend and a business owner—hasn’t been easy. There were times I felt like I was failing on both sides: not doing enough for my kids or for my career. I’ve had incredible wins and some really tough failures. I think so many women feel that tension—that deep desire to be fully present in all areas, and the constant questioning of whether it’s ever enough.
But every stage, every struggle, every pivot has shaped the way I show up today—for my clients, for my family, and for myself.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Meraki Loft?
In my salon, I’ve created an environment that supports women—intentionally and wholeheartedly. I believe the world doesn’t always offer enough space for women to fully express themselves or simply be. So I built that space. A space where they can let go, speak freely, and feel seen—not just as clients, but as women with stories, challenges, and triumphs.

One of the things I truly specialize in is building community. When my clients are together—chatting, laughing, sometimes crying—there’s this organic support that happens. It’s not just me showing up for them; often, they show up for each other. Those shared moments are what make the salon feel like more than a place to get your hair done—it becomes a place to be lifted up.

Technically, I specialize in gray coverage. As my clients and I age together, we’re always working on how to manage that—how to keep their hair looking beautiful between appointments, how to stretch color gracefully. I also love doing highlights and still get excited about vivid colors, even if I don’t do as many of them anymore. And haircuts? Always a favorite.

What makes me different, I believe, is my commitment to continued education. Every year, I seek out new trainings and trends—not just for the sake of staying current, but to better serve my clients. I pay attention to what they’re asking for, what they’re curious about, and if I don’t already have that tool in my toolbox, I go find it. Because evolving as a stylist is essential—but evolving for them is where the magic lives.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was raised by a single mom—probably the strongest person I know—and the foundation for so much of who I am. She taught me that hard work and staying true to yourself will take you far in life. I also have two brothers: an older one and a twin. Both were incredibly supportive growing up, and we all share this drive to care for others—something I know comes from our mom.

My dad passed away when I was very young, and that loss forced our family to grow close and resilient. We learned early how to move through hard things. That kind of strength and connection became part of our journey.

As a kid, I was precocious—a total tomboy who played in the dirt with the boys, but also deeply sensitive. I cried a lot, felt a lot, and cared a lot. My mom loves to tell the story of me at five years old, already trying to help fold my brothers’ clothes. I think caregiving was just naturally in me. And when I look at our lives now—with all of us in professions that support and help others—I see how much of that comes from how we were raised.

My childhood was a mix of the beautiful and the hard. I grew up in a neighborhood where we played outside all day, climbed trees, and played hide-and-seek. In a lot of ways, it felt idyllic. But like any life, there were challenges too—some small, some life-changing. And those moments, especially the hard ones, helped shape me into a deeply empathetic, grounded and resilient woman I am today.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Meraki_Loft
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/jean-randall-stylist-monrovia?osq=Jean+randall+stylist

Image Credits
Photo credit :Brannon Tejeda https://www.instagram.com/_brannont?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==