Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Maggipinto.
Amy , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always loved making people feel beautiful, but somewhere along the way I realized what I loved even more was creating spaces where people feel seen, comfortable, and like they truly be themselves. That idea eventually became a reality.
When Brooklynn, Natalie, and I decided to open Kindred A BeautyCollective, it wasn’t because we wanted to build a big salon. We simply wanted to create the kind of place we wished existed, a beautiful, welcoming space where talented artists could thrive, support one another, and genuinely enjoy coming to work every day.
Each of us brought something different to the table, and I think that’s been one of our greatest strengths. We share the same values, but we each have our own perspective and gifts, which has helped shape Kindred into what it is today.
Over the years, it’s become so much more than a salon. It’s a community. We’ve built a collective of incredible independent beauty professionals who care deeply about their craft and about the people who walk through our doors. Seeing clients connect with our team, watching our stylists build fulfilling careers, and knowing we’ve created a space that feels warm, inspiring, and full of heart is something we will never take for granted.
Looking back, I’m incredibly proud of what the three of us have built together. Kindred has grown in ways I never imagined, but at its core, it’s still about the people, connection, and creating a place with intention as it’s foundation. A place where everyone feels like they belong.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Like any small business, we’ve had our ups and downs. There have been seasons that stretched us financially, emotionally, and personally. We’ve had to make hard decisions, navigate changes within our team, and learn how to adapt when things didn’t go the way we had planned.
One thing I’ve learned is that owning a business is about so much more than doing what you love. It’s about having difficult conversations, setting healthy boundaries, staying true to your values, and sometimes making decisions that are hard in the moment but are ultimately what’s best for everyone.
What I’m most grateful for is that I’ve never had to do it alone. Brooklynn, Natalie, and I were best friends before we ever became business partners, and I honestly think that’s one of the biggest reasons Kindred has become what it is today. We all bring different strengths to the table, which has made us better together. Of course we’ve had moments where we didn’t all agree, but we’ve always respected one another enough to work through it. Our friendship has always come first, and I don’t take that for granted.
I’m also incredibly proud of the team we’ve built over the years. Seeing talented artists choose Kindred, build their businesses here, support one another, and create such a welcoming experience for our clients has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey. The culture has always mattered just as much as the business itself, and I think people can genuinely feel that when they walk through our doors.
Looking back, I wouldn’t change the hard seasons. They taught us resilience, brought the three of us even closer, and helped shape the kind of business and community we always hoped Kindred would become.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I think what sets Kindred apart starts the moment you walk through the door. We’re tucked away just steps from the ocean in Avila Beach, and we feel that there is something very special and magical about that. Clients often tell us that coming here feels like taking a deep breath. Between the coastal setting, the natural light, the thoughtful design of the space, and the energy our team brings, it feels more like a retreat than a typical salon experience.
When Brooklynn, Natalie, and I created Kindred, we were intentional about every detail. We wanted it to feel elevated but approachable, beautiful without feeling intimidating, and calm without ever feeling cold. We wanted guests to feel relaxed the second they walked in.
We are also proud to be a collective. Every artist here has their own style, specialties, and loyal clientele, but we genuinely support one another. There isn’t a competitive atmosphere, it’s collaborative. We celebrate each other’s wins, share ideas, and want everyone, both our clients and our artists, to succeed. I think people can feel that authenticity.
What I’m probably most proud of is that we’ve created an experience people remember. Yes, we want our clients to leave with beautiful hair, but we also want them to feel cared for. We want them to slow down for a couple of hours, enjoy the view, have meaningful conversations, laugh, relax, and leave feeling like they spent time in a space that genuinely filled their cup.
At the end of the day, Kindred isn’t just a place to have your hair and nails done. It’s a destination. People come for the artistry, but I think they come back because of how the space makes them feel. That’s something Brooklynn, Natalie, and I have always protected, and it’s what continues to make Kindred such a special place.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I’m someone who likes to think things through, ask questions, and make decisions with intention. But I’ve learned that some of the most meaningful things in life require you to take a leap before you feel completely ready.
Opening Kindred was definitely one of those leaps. Brooklynn, Natalie, and I believed we could create something that reflected our values and the kind of experience we wanted for both clients and beauty artists. There were no guarantees it would work, but we trusted each other, trusted our vision, and decided it was worth taking the chance.
Since then, there have been plenty of other moments that required courage, investing back into the business, making difficult decisions, protecting the culture we’ve worked so hard to build, and sometimes choosing the harder path because it aligned with our values.
For me, risk isn’t about being fearless. It’s about believing in something enough to keep moving forward, even when you don’t have all the answers. Some of the best things in my life have come from stepping outside of my comfort zone, and Kindred is the perfect example of that.
Looking back, every challenge and every leap of faith has helped shape not only our business, but who we’ve become as people and as friends. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that growth almost always lives on the other side of a little uncertainty.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kindredabeautycollective.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kindredbeautycollective?utm_source=qr&igsh=OTk0YzhjMDVlZA==
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/H83Lus-3WW
