Today we’d like to introduce you to Cecilia Conaghan.
Hi Cecilia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
You began your journey in the beauty industry at just 15 years old on Long Island, starting through an apprenticeship and building your career from the ground up. Today, you are the owner of Love is in the Hair II LLC in Fuquay-Varina, where you’ve built not only a successful salon, but a place centered around education, creativity, community, and genuinely loving what you do.
Over the years, you and the salon have been fortunate to receive incredible recognition, including being voted #1 Best Salon twice in the WRAL Voters’ Choice Awards, recognition through Suburban Living, and being featured twice in My Favorite Stylist. You’re a two-time Master Colorist and have continued advanced education in blonding, extensions, precision cutting, Brazilian Blowouts, keratin treatments, and more. You’ve also had opportunities within the professional beauty community through SalonCentric, PRAVANA, Pulp Riot, and Stylists Supporting Stylists.
Today, Love is in the Hair II is home to a team of eight stylists, along with additional beauty services that have helped create the one-stop beauty experience you envisioned. But more than the awards, certifications, or accomplishments, what means the most is the people behind it — your team, Susan, your clients, and the community that has continued to support the salon through every season.
What started as a teenage girl who simply loved doing hair has grown into a career, a business, and a second family that you’re incredibly proud of.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Owning a salon has definitely involved a lot of trial and error. I had to learn the business side while still working behind the chair, all while learning how to lead, grow stylists, and build a team of people who shared the same work ethic and genuine care for their clients.
There were absolutely growing pains along the way, but I truly believe every one of those lessons helped create the salon we have today. I’m incredibly grateful for the staff I have now — they’re invaluable to me, and looking back, I wouldn’t change the lessons that got us here.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I think what sets me apart is the combination of technical education, creativity, and genuinely listening to what each client wants. I care just as much about how someone feels when they leave my chair as I do about the technical result.
I’ve become especially known for blonding, dimensional color, color corrections, and vivid transformations, but I never want my work to feel one-size-fits-all. Every client is different, and that’s what keeps this career exciting.
I also think what sets our salon apart is the genuine energy of our team. We work hard, we support one another, we laugh a lot, and our clients become part of that. I wanted to create a salon where people could receive high-level work without losing the fun, comfortable, welcoming feeling that makes them actually look forward to coming back.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I like best: The sense of community, especially among the women here. Our local Facebook groups, including Ladies of Fuquay-Varina, Ladies of Holly Springs, and others, have been incredible about supporting and recommending local businesses. Some of my own amazing clients are admins of these groups, and I’ve seen firsthand how much work they put into keeping them positive, classy, and genuinely helpful to our community. Over the years, so many women have recommended me, my stylists, and our salon, and that word-of-mouth support has truly helped us become what we are today. I’ll always be incredibly grateful for that.
What I like least: Probably the traffic that came along with everyone else discovering how great Fuquay-Varina is! 😂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.loveisinthehairllc.com
- Instagram: @_loveisinthehair_nc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EYhnDb8sz/?mibextid=wwXIfr
