Meet Mackenzie Roscoe

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mackenzie Roscoe.

Hi Mackenzie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
From a young age, I always loved to do hair, but my family was very adamant about attending college. So when the opportunity came up for me to do the cosmetology program while still attending high school my parents quickly turned me down. I instead got accepted and attended the University of Arizona in the fall of 2014. I quickly realized that college wasn’t for me. I didn’t like any of my classes, I would show up late and eventually started dropping classes.

Before coming home for winter break I remember coming home and being so upset and telling my mom I wasn’t happy doing college. It wasn’t my passion. I begged her to let me go to hair school so I could pursue something I loved. After her talking to my dad they agreed to let me go to hair school. So I left the University of Arizona and started looking for hair schools to attend. It wasn’t long before I found the Aveda Institute in Tempe and fell in love. That day I enrolled to start with their spring class. Before I knew it April was here and I was starting my journey of doing hair. I finally felt that I was right where I needed to be.

But come July, after only being in the program for a couple of months, my boyfriend at the time was moving back home to Utah. Being the young and naive 19-year old that I was, I packed up my stuff and moved with him. My original intention was to transfer to another Aveda Institute in Utah. But after a little bit of consideration, I decided that I didn’t want to be moving to a different state to be with my boyfriend to be far away from him still. So stupid looking back!!

I ended up finding a mom-and-pop hairstyling college in the little city of Cedar City, Utah. I was actually so glad things went the way that they did. The hairstyling college was a blessing in disguise. They were super hands-on and focused a lot on “on the floor” teaching. I can definitely say that I learned way more at a smaller school than I would have at Aveda. After 8 months, I was graduating and getting ready for my state board testing. Needless to say, I passed with flying colors and was officially licensed cosmetology in the state of Utah. I quickly found a job at a chain salon and got to work.

After a couple of months of working there, I took a step back and considered moving back home. I wanted to be back with my family and somewhere where there was more opportunity to grow in my career. Before I knew it I was moving back home. I was Back in Arizona for less than a month before I found an assistant position at a busy salon in Goodyear, Arizona. I assisted for about 6 months before I became a commission stylist. My clientele grew very quickly and I was ready to make more money as a rental stylist, but my boss and I didn’t see eye to eye. I was ready for that next step as a stylist and my boss didn’t see that for me.

So I decided to leave. I had no plan, just knew in my heart that that was not where I needed to be, things got really rocky at this point in my life and career. I jumped from job to job and wasn’t really doing hair. It wasn’t until a good friend of mine reached out to me that I realized that I still did in fact want to do hair. Before I knew it I was an assistant again. The owners of the salon that I was working at fell in love with me and offered me a job as a receptionist. From being a receptionist for at least a year to being offered a chair to rent whenever I had clients, I felt like I was on the up and up!

Boy was I wrong. At the time, I was still working another job on the weekends, making enough money to where doing hair was a side gig for me. It wasn’t until the pandemic that I realized I needed to recommit to my career and put it at the forefront. The place that I was working at on the weekends was also closed permanently closed in midst of the pandemic. It just so happens that my good friend who I originally assisted for was coming back to Stray salon after having a falling out with her business partner and was looking for a new assistant. I jumped on the opportunity with quickness.

For the last year and a half, I worked 4 days a week as an assistant and 2 days taking my own clients. I’m so glad I made that sacrifice because now I’m a full-time stylist on my own and getting ready to move to a new salon. Definitely not how my path would go but so glad it went the way that it did in order to lead me to where I am today.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It has been the furthest thing from smooth. I think the biggest struggle I had faced was, is this the career I’m supposed to be in. There were so many ups and downs along the way but like I’ve said before if it weren’t for those ups and downs then my career wouldn’t be where it is today.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I love doing all hair! But I specialize mostly in blending services and hand-tied extensions. I’m known for just being real and creating a good experience for my clients. I think what sets me apart from other stylists is that I take my time with my clients in order for their hair to remain healthy while also reaching their desired look.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I’m very big on Christian-based books and podcasts. But I’m currently reading a book by Pastor Michael Todd, all of his books are real and FIRE! And my go-to podcast is called ‘Whoa That’s Good’ hosted by Sadie Robertson Huff.

Pricing:

• New Client Blonding Package $325-$475
• New Client Haircuts $85
• Hand Tied Extensions $1500-$2600

Contact Info:

• Email: Mackenzie.cardew@gmail.com
• Instagram: @thekenkenway