MENU
SEARCHGet a glimpse into the leadership style of Mechelle Khodayari, co-owner of Aria Salon Spa Shoppe, with two locations in Alpharetta, Georgia, with the first in our new series, Profiles in Leadership.
Mechelle Khodayari, co-owner of Aria Salon Spa Shoppe based in Alpharetta, Georgia.
Mechelle Khodayari is a second generation stylist, who started her career under the award-winning duo and platform artists Sandra and Brian Smith. In 1991, she moved to Atlanta where she worked her way up to a master level designer and education director for another fast-paced salon. At the same time, she was a color educator for the Aveda network. In 2000, Mechelle and her husband Matthew opened Aria Salon Spa Shoppe with a focus on customer service. The salon now has two locations in Alpharetta and Cumming, Georgia. In 2017, Mechelle was selected to be a member of Intercoiffure Canada America. During her spare time she enjoys gardening and painting. Most of her inspiration comes from nature and the outdoors.
As part of a leadership series with Intercoiffure, SALON TODAY recently caught up with Mechelle:
ST: From where does your entrepreneurial drive originate?
Mechelle: “I’m an accidental entrepreneur! I just wanted to have an environment that allowed me to be me.”
ST: What are your strongest leadership qualities?
Mechelle: “Empathy and flexibility.”
ST: How would you describe your management style?
Mechelle: “I don’t mind getting dirty. I’m out there in the trenches with everyone else.”
ST: What’s the best lesson you’ve learned after making a mistake?
Mechelle: “History seldom remembers failures. Tomorrow is another day.”
ST: Who has been your biggest mentor?
Mechelle: “My husband and business partner of 32 years.”
ST: What’s the best thing an employee/colleague ever said about you?
Mechelle: “She cares.”
ST: How would you like to spend your retirement?
Mechelle: “Quietly reading a good novel in my garden.”
ST: Describe your company’s culture.
Mechelle: “A flat organization with like-minded people, who are trying to make a difference.”
ST: What business project are you working on now?
Mechelle: “Building out our next salon.”
ST: Tell us something about yourself that would surprise most of the people you know in the professional beauty industry.
Mechelle: “I love to ride my skateboard.”
ST: Why did you want to join Intercoiffure?
Mechelle: “If you want to be the best, you must learn from the best.”
For more information about Intercoiffure Canada America and becoming a member, visit Intercoiffure.com.
The strongest salons, spas, and med spas know which numbers tell the real story of their business. In this practical guide, Phorest breaks down the five essential KPIs every business should track to improve retention, boost revenue, and make smarter decisions with confidence.
Sponsored by Phorest
At Bella Style Salon in Slidell, Louisiana, Director of Operations Angela Meyer tackles inventory, team management, and guest relations. Read all about her in our latest Meet the Manager.
Starting at Impressions front desk in 2006 when he was 19 years old, General Manager Paul Petrowsky is a seasoned professional who owner Sarah Taylor says is responsible for much of her own success.
Planning is in full swing for the most anticipated events and promotions for the 2026 holidays. As owners share their favorite ways to celebrate, they prove that a carefully planned event can also build culture, increase client loyalty, boost sales, and set a business up for a successful 2027.
When things run amok at Mane Attraction Salon, Owners Chris and Jenny Knudsen say General Manager Sami Hernandez is their go-to resource and ultimate sounding board. Meet Sami in this installment of Meet the Manager.
Pagoda, a new AI-native operating system for scheduling, payments, patient records, marketing, and client communications, launches at Skinovatio Medical Spa in Arlington Heights, Illinois.
At a panel discussion hosted by L’Oréal Professionnel in Paris in early July, French Philosopher Sophie Galabru explored the cultural shift where women are increasingly choosing natural, personalized color results over traditional grey coverage. In an exclusive interview with SALON TODAY, Galabru and L’Oréal Professionnel Colorist Pierrick Beringer discuss this shift and how salons and colorists respond.
At Salon Blonde, Director of Operations treats the staff as the salon's most important guests, while her wonderful 'nerdy' side, loves data, systems, and numbers. Find out how she makes Salon Blonde tick.
In an exclusive interview with SALON TODAY, Salon Owner Salvatore Minardi reflects on his past 18 months as Intercoiffure America Canada's World Talent Exchange Ambassador and how his experiences will help encourage cultural and artistic exchange and support greater engagement between ICA and the global organization Intercoiffure Mondial.
Everything you need to know about client retention as a salon owner.
Owner Shelby Bills says her general manager, Sydney Osborne, reminds her of the power of leading with heart. Find out how Osborne became a great leader in our lastest installment of Meet the Manager.
In her latest blog, Kati Whitledge identifies the five stages salon owners go through when a team member leaves the salon unethically, offering advice for each stage.
The beauty and wellness businesses pulling ahead aren’t just working harder—they’re using AI to capture demand, personalize pricing, and convert more of every guest interaction into revenue. Here’s what the benchmark data reveals about the growing gap between AI adopters and everyone else.
Sponsored by Zenoti
Stop chasing recruitment ghosts on generic job boards and start curating an elite team. Discover the framework that top-tier salons use to bypass phone tag, automate visual portfolio vetting, and attract high-earning, culture-first beauty professionals directly through real-time messaging. Turn your recruitment process into an exclusive brand invitation that keeps your highest-ticket chairs permanently filled.
Sponsored by Beautista
Your calendar looks full, but is all of that demand actually converting to revenue? From phantom rebookings to underpriced peak hours, the 2026 Benchmark Report exposes five revenue leaks that most beauty and wellness businesses don’t even know they have.
Sponsored by Zenoti
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.
In a world dominated by e-commerce, salon owners push back with proven strategies to increase retail sales while motivating team members to educate their clientele and delighting clients with retail-themed events and clever merchandising displays.
