Some people are just born to do hair. For Tracey Cunningham, that realization came early when coloring her friends’ hair in high school and watching how one bold change in shade could shift confidence, attention, even social currency (yes, her friend hooked up with the hottest guy in school right after Cunningham gave her a new look). It was her first taste of just how powerful coloring really can be.
Fast forward to today and her slogan remains simple: less is more. In a world overflowing with choices from every shade, every tone to every formula, it’s not about doing the most, it’s about doing what’s right. And when it comes to blondes? People just keep wanting more.
But don’t forget about the brunettes! “Brunettes don’t want to see red,” she reminds us, pointing out how so many colorists aren’t properly trained on working with darker shades. Education is everything, from beginning to end. Walking stylists all the way through the process is how you avoid those disappointing, unfinished results. And when mistakes happen? You fix them. Right at the bowl.
Cunningham’s salon success story boils down to the truth that people who open businesses and don’t give them love usually fail. That’s why she and Neil are still there, still showing up, still hosting like true salon owners. It’s never been about putting her name into Mèche; it’s about creating a team where everyone can shine. “Salon owners have to be hostesses,” she says. “The everything to everyone.” That dedication is why clients keep coming back year after year.
Celebrity clients like Lindsay Lohan and Emma Stone have trusted her with iconic transformations. Lohan lightened up for “Freakier Friday” and Emma Stone experiments with vibrants, and even at the heart of it, Cunningham insists she’s not just in the hair business. She’s in the relationship business. Every highlight, every drastic change, every counseling moment at the chair is about connection and trust.
Her work doesn’t stop at the surface. With the help of Schwarzkopf Professional products, where she is U.S. Creative Director of Color & Technique, and being Chief Innovation Officer at Omi Well Beauty, she’s not only focused on coloring hair, but improving it simultaneously. Scanners at her salon can literally measure how much stronger and thicker each strand gets.
At the heart of it all is trust. Between stylist and client, owner and team, and mentor and assistant. Trust is what keeps clients coming back, what allows her to guide big changes with confidence, and what drives the innovation happening in the salon every single day. And when people truly slowly listen to each seed of advice that she plants, that’s what makes it all worthwhile.
