Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Magruder.
Hi Laura, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Laura and I’m the owner of Prickly Pear Salon, a values-driven hair salon in Cary, North Carolina. I started cosmetology school back in 2010, when I was only 19. I always loved being creative and spent a lot of time in high school experimenting with my own hair or helping friends dye theirs. Hair felt like a natural outlet for creativity and personal expression.
After graduating cosmetology school, I worked in a range of traditional commission salons, from super small to multi-location. While those experiences shaped me, they also showed me what I didn’t want. I saw burnout normalized, overbooking encouraged, and little room for stylists to specialize or build sustainable careers. Leaving my last commission salon in 2017 was a major turning point for me. That was when I realized I was just as passionate about how salons are run as I was about the work behind the chair.
I started Prickly Pear Salon as a solo suite with a simple goal: create a calm space where great hair and real life could coexist. In 2021, I took the leap into a brick-and-mortar space. What began as a one-person operation has grown into a small, intentional team serving guests across the Triangle. Today, my role is a blend of mentoring our team, working part-time behind the chair, and building systems that support both great guest experiences and healthy careers.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been smooth! For me, the biggest shift was when I went from being solo to leading a salon team with no real blueprint for leadership, which came with a lot of hard lessons.
Opening a salon brought challenges I didn’t fully anticipate, especially hiring, managing cash flow, and building systems and operations. Learning how to hire well and how to navigate transitions when someone wasn’t the right fit, has been one of the hardest parts. There were also moments, particularly during economic shifts or team changes, where I questioned myself as a leader.
The biggest challenge I’ve faced is learning to navigate leading a team while also being a human going through hard seasons in my own life. It’s taught me to ask for support, let go of doing everything alone, and lead with more honesty and vulnerability. I’ve also had to learn how to balance empathy with boundaries. I care deeply about my team and our guests and I’ve had to unlearn old habits of people-pleasing and lead with clarity instead. Not having clear expectations and systems early-on made things harder later and rebuilding those foundations took time and humility. It has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but also the most meaningful!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Prickly Pear Salon?
Prickly Pear Salon is known for lived-in, low-maintenance color, dimensional blonding, and cuts that work with real routines and natural texture. Our goal is simple: hair that looks great not just when you leave the salon, but weeks and months later.
We focus intentionally on services that grow out beautifully and fit into our guests’ lives. This often looks like one or two larger color appointments a year with maintenance or refresh services in between. We aim for most guests to come in every eight to twelve weeks, not every few. To ensure success, we consult thoroughly, talk honestly about maintenance and budget, and build plans with reality in mind.
What sets us apart is what we choose not to do. We don’t double-book or rush appointments, we don’t perform services we aren’t 110% confident in executing, and we don’t pressure guests to color their hair if they aren’t ready. We also avoid overcomplicating our service menu; all of our services are based on the time needed, plus the product required to reach a specific goal.
On a brand level, I’m most proud of our culture and the trust we’ve built. Guests often tell us they love the entire team and how welcoming the space feels. Internally, we prioritize growth, open communication, and collaboration. We’re quietly pushing back against hustle culture and competition within salon walls by choosing balance, specialization, and a people-first approach.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Most of our guests find us through Google, Instagram, or word of mouth. For anyone on the fence about booking, we aim to make the process as seamless as possible. Our website features detailed “New Guest” and service pages, a comprehensive FAQ, and the option to reach out directly via text or chat. We also offer complimentary in-person consultations for those who want extra clarity before committing to a service.
For guests who want to support our mission, leaving a review, referring friends, or sharing our work on social media makes a massive difference – those small actions help us grow intentionally. Beyond behind-the-chair services, we are always open to community collaborations and partnerships with brands and educators who share our perspective. Education and connection are the pillars we’re most excited to expand on in the future.
To the stylists reading this: please know there are options beyond the “old-school” commission grind or the isolation of going solo after burnout. There are salons that offer flexibility, specialization, and support without sacrificing your autonomy. We are committed to expanding our mentorship and community impact as we continue to evolve.
If you take one thing away from this, I hope it’s that our care shows up in everything we do. Prickly Pear exists to create a space where our team, our guests, and the broader community feel welcomed, supported, and truly seen.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pricklypearsalon.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pricklypearsalon
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/pricklypearsalon
