At Madd About Hair Studio in Morganton, clients find confidence through individualized care

Felecia Maddox’s hands move with graceful ease as she styles a client’s hair.

Soft music plays in the background at Madd About Hair Studio as Maddox effortlessly carries on conversation with a regular. The walls are a muted beige, allowing the art on them to pop. A painting above one of the doors immediately draws the eye — four generations of women in white, all close together, one styling another’s hair. It is local artist Jarvis Conley’s handiwork, Maddox said.

In another room, Maddox’s daughter Tomecia works on customer Tina Chambers’ permanent eyebrows.

Next up, Chambers will sit in Felecia’s salon chair to have her hair done.

“Every time I leave out of here, no matter where I go, someone always compliments me on my hair and they always want to know where I got it done or who did it,” Chambers said.

Chambers said Maddox is attentive to detail and cares deeply about her clients’ hair and their needs.

When Chambers was going through radiation therapy for breast cancer, her hair “went through a funky time” and just didn’t feel right. She kept coming to Maddox, who continued to treat her strands until her hair was healthy once more.

“She had to cut some, and just gave it a lot of love, and my hair just flourished after the radiation,” Chambers said. “She went through that radiation process with me. It was me, her, and my hair.”

Madd About Hair Studio sits in a cozy office complex at 123 Wamsutta Mill Road Suite D in Morganton. It’s operated by Maddox and her daughter, both of whom are hairdressers. Tomecia also brings her skills as an esthetician to the table.

Making women feel at ease and giving them a warm, personalized experience is important to Maddox.

“A lot of times women, they go through some stuff,” Maddox said. “You always want to make a woman feel welcome when they come in. Make them feel like this is their moment, this is their time, this is their self-care moment. … That’s why I like to keep it one-on-one, because I can keep it personal.”

Maddox said she’s witnessed a lot of breakthrough moments with customers.

“Sometimes, like Tina (Chambers) said, women come in here struggling with their hair, (and) I’ve had them cry when they leave out of here because they love what I did,” Maddox said. “And I said, it’s not me. God just put the talent in me.”

Maddox opened the business in November 2020 after retiring from a 32-year career working at a correctional facility.

Hairdressing was Maddox’s first choice of career.

“(My grandmother) used to have me to sit on the back of the couch and do her hair when I was a little girl,” Maddox said. “I always enjoyed doing hair.”

But when Maddox turned 18, Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC) closed its cosmetology program. It was only when she was close to retirement that the program relaunched, and she immediately signed up.

Her mentor, Omer Jean Bolds, played an important part in Maddox’s journey to her second career. Maddox said Bolds was a Black hairstylist in Morganton who encouraged her to enroll in classes as soon as WPCC’s cosmetology program restarted.

Working full-time and going to school at night for hours – which included working on clients’ hair – was grueling, but Maddox said God carried her through it.

Maddox took a job at a salon after retirement. She said she enjoyed it, and opening her own salon was not part of her plan.

But it was God’s plan, and although it was during the COVID-19 pandemic, everything fell into place.

Chambers said Madd About Hair Studio fulfilled a community need. Having a full-service salon in Morganton saves local Black women from a trip to Hickory or Charlotte to have their hair done, which can be costly in gas expenses alone.

Madd About Hair Studio offers a wide range of services from hair and skin care to makeup application. Maddox said the most requested service is a silk press, which is a process that uses heat to straighten hair.

Most services start around $65, Maddox said, but prices depend on which services a client requests.

The calendar is always packed, so appointments must be made ahead of time. The studio is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Those who wish to book an appointment can call the studio at 828-334-3461.