MENU
SEARCHHe owns and manages two salons and four grooming establishments, designs his own furniture and lighting and is a dedicated husband and father--somehow Kelly Gorsuch manages to pack more than 24 hours in his day.
Kelly Gorsuch, owner of Immortal Beloved, Beautiful and Damned and Barber of Hell's Bottom.
Kelly Gorsuch could be described as driven, passionate, innovative and busy, but that would be too short a list of adjectives. Descended from a family of hairdressers, it was a natural progression for Gorsuch to join the beauty industry more than 20 years ago. Over the decades, he has experienced every aspect of the industry, from working as a service provider to working on runway and editorial hair to teaching the craft to managing, then owning salons—his current business focus.
Gorsuch’s two 45-chair salons and four men’s grooming shops are located in Washington, D.C. and Richmond, Virginia, and their names all invite questions and conversations—Immortal Beloved, Beautiful and Damned and Barber of Hell’s Bottom. He also built much of the wood furniture in his salons, and when he couldn’t find lighting to his liking, he decided to manufacture it himself.
Did we mention Gorsuch is a dedicated husband and father? He just may have cracked the code on how to manufacture more hours in a day. Here’s how he manages to fit it all in:
What time is your alarm set to wake you up in the morning?
“I don’t use an alarm clock. My four-year-old sneaks in and alternates between jumping on my stomach and kicking me in the head. That happens somewhere between 6:30 and 7 every day.”
What’s for breakfast?
“Coffee and contemplation. I don’t crave food in the mornings.”
First item you like to cross off each day?
“I like to make a list of things to do that day. I also spend some time on FaceTime every morning with Caleb Woodard, who builds all my furniture and lighting out of Nashville. My wife calls him her sister-husband,”
Which do you check first: email, Facebook, Twitter, or voicemail?
“Instagram.”
Biggest waste of time on a daily basis?
“Instagram.”
What time do you go in to the salons?
“The goal is shortly after opening every day at one of the locations, but I don’t always get there. By the time I go in, I’ve already worked a full day from home or in meetings.”
How much time do you spend there?
“However long it takes.”
Who do you wish you could have lunch with?
“I wish I could have lunch by myself every day. It’s a good time to just think.”
Daily/Weekly/Monthly fitness ritual?
“My ritual is to talk about jogging a lot. I think I’ve now talked about going jogging “one of these days” so much that I may have actually burned some calories in the process.”
Who is your idol?
“Entrepreneurs are celebrity to me, big and small. And I’m not ashamed to tell you that I love The Rock. Who doesn’t?”
Tell me something that would surprise me about you.
“I’m uncomfortable around people. It gives me anxiety to talk to someone I don’t know well. This kind of made my career a lot more difficult.”
Cat, dog, both, or something else?
“Two dogs: an English Mastiff named Daisy and a rescue mutt named Magnum PI.”
Do you cook, and what’s your favorite meal?
“I rarely cook with the exception of blue crabs on Sundays during crab season. It also happens to be my favorite meal.
How do you unwind?
“One of three things: an excellent, mediocre, or crappy whiskey. I also like to watch Sunday football but, for a Redskins fan, that’s not always a relaxing activity.”
What time do you go to sleep?
“My goal is to get to bed between 10 and 11 p.m. I wouldn’t say I ever sleep well, but it is better when I’m not building out a business.”
What do you love about your life?
“Living in America. I feel so fortunate to have been born here. I grew up in poverty. There’s not many places where you can work your rear off at something you love and pull yourself up.”
What would you change about the world if you could?
“I wish I could do something about how divisive everything is at the moment. We all need to give our egos a rest and realize that we’re all in this together and no one can be right all of the time. Except Elon Musk. He’s always right, all of the time.”
What career would you have if you weren't a hairdresser?
“Whatever it takes to pay the bills. I like to nerd out so hopefully I could work that in some way.”
What would you tell your 18 year old self?
“Calm the F down. You’re going to have to put in the years to master your trade unless you’re a prodigy.”
What is the one thing you want to accomplish in your life?
“I have a great family, amazing friends, and I’m leaving a decent legacy for those around me. I’m pretty content with that.”
What's the best invention of the 20th century in your opinion?
“The internet. For 21st century thus far: autonomous cars.”
What do you want to come back as in your next life?
“A sloth.”
What has the industry given you?
“So much. I never took for granted that I was lucky enough to work in an industry that allows you to be creative and do whatever you want, as long as you work hard enough for it.”
After moving to Colorado and teaching at a cosmetology school, Allison Stock joined Zandi K as a stylist, eventually becoming part of the Leadership Team, Education Team and Master Bridal Team. Today, as Director of Operation, Stock is Owner Nicki Wenz's right hand, managing human resources and operations, education and career development, and coaching and culture.
The company's Concealed Bead Method is raising the bar for what professional extension education can deliver.
Scott maximized her micro-salon by transitioning from stylist to strategic owner, focusing on recruiting and station-sharing. By prioritizing her ownership role over behind-the-chair work, she grew her team to six stylists within the two-chair, 150-square-foot space before eventually moving to a larger facility.
The former CFO of Perdue Farms and owner of Hardy Seafood, Terry Owens delivers a wealth of wisdom and strategies for entrepreneurs in his new book, "Business is Simple."
After scaling her single-location salon business, SALON TODAY 200 Honoree Amy Pal recently sold her six-location Whip Salon for seven figures. Using the six Ps for maximizing a business's value, she's ready to help her peers do the same.
Buried inside the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are federal solar tax credit changes that deserve your attention now. Two of the credits that matter most to commercial property owners, the Investment Tax Credit and the Production Tax Credit, are still available, but only if you move fast. A third, the Commercial Building Energy Efficiency Deduction, has a hard termination date that is closer than most people realize.
Up to 40% of hair stylists ghost the salon interview stage, leaving owners trapped playing endless phone tag with uncommitted applicants. This data-driven report breaks down why traditional job boards create recruitment friction and reveals the modern messaging strategies high-growth salons use to get pre-qualified talent to actually show up. Learn how to transition from cold calling to high-conversion conversations that protect your time and fill your chairs.
Sponsored by Beautista
Spit fests, hostile threats, and even an overachieving matchmaker--SALON TODAY readers share their craziest client tales and how their team handled these tough situations with professionalism and grace.
Keeping your appointment book full when clients are in vacation mode takes more than a good Instagram post. It takes a plan. The 2026 Summer Marketing Calendar from Meevo gives salon, spa & med spa owners a month-by-month roadmap with sharp themes, key opportunity dates, and campaign ideas specifically designed for the beauty & wellness industry. Here’s to your summer season working as hard as you do!
Sponsored by Millennium Systems International
AI is transforming the beauty and wellness industry, and the future is about empowering people, not replacing them. Discover how Phorest AI helps salons, spas, and med spas across North America respond faster, personalize every visit, and keep human connection at the heart of the client experience.
Sponsored by Phorest
Owner Michaella Blissett-Williams credits her General Manager Gloria Hortua with [salon] 718's year-over-year, double-digit growth and says she's been able to scale the company to eight locations because she can rely on Hortua to manage daily operations.
Shine Time: Aluram’s High Shine Line Delivers Moisture and Shine with Clean Ingredients
Sponsored by Aluram
Elyse Rogers is an uplifting presence at The Headroom who makes the team feel heard even in stressful situations. Owner Danielle Cherewyk sings her praises in this installment of Meet the Manager.
Despite a slight and predictable decline in client traffic for Q1, resilient pricing power is driving year-over-year revenue growth in salons. The KIM Report's Alain Audet reviews the data and what it's telling us about the state of professional beauty.
Same-store revenue grew just 2% for the second straight year—and new guest visits declined across every segment of the industry. The 2026 Benchmark Report reveals where growth is actually happening, which verticals are pulling ahead, and what the data says about where your business stands right now.
Sponsored by Zenoti
Hair restoration is entering a new era driven by regenerative science. This paper explores how Exosome technology is transforming treatment outcomes by targeting hair loss at a cellular level. Discover why EXOGROW is leading this shift.
Sponsored by Dermapenworld
A salon brand is much more than a logo. In this thought-provoking blog, Leon Alexander, Ph.D., walks you through the difference. SALON TODAY suggests sharing this article with your team and leading a discussion at your next huddle, asking the team to define your business's brand.
