Today we’d like to introduce you to Abby Stoltzfus.
Hi Abby, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began my career as a hairstylist in 2002. For the first decade, I trained, grew, and built my career back East before relocating my family to California’s Central Coast in 2012. I quickly fell in love with this community—the authenticity of the people, the support among local businesses, and the relationships that have grown into lifelong friendships.
When I moved to the Central Coast, I began working alongside Michele Crafton at Mod Studio in downtown Paso Robles. For more than a decade, we shared clients, color formulas, backroom conversations, life changes, and even the challenges of the COVID shutdowns.
In 2023, another dream met an opportunity when Michele passed salon ownership on to me. It felt like a natural next chapter—taking something that had already been built with so much care and continuing to grow it as Salt + Moxie Co.
Today, I have the privilege of serving both our stylists and our community as a salon owner while continuing to work behind the chair. Salt + Moxie is deeply rooted in connection, beauty, belonging, and creating a space where people feel genuinely seen and valued. I’m incredibly grateful that the community I fell in love with more than a decade ago is now the community I get to build a business within and serve.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. Moving our family across the country to follow a dream felt like a huge leap of faith, and later, stepping into salon ownership required a completely different kind of courage.
One of the biggest challenges was learning how to run a business, not just work in one. I had spent years becoming a great hairstylist, but ownership asked me to grow in entirely new ways. I had to educate myself on branding, marketing, finances, leadership, hiring and firing, supporting a team, creating a vision, and making decisions that stayed aligned with my values and integrity.
A lot of that growth also meant learning to trust my own instincts. I didn’t always have the answers, so I became very intentional about asking for help. I hired a marketing and branding specialist, went to therapy, invested in online education, and learned as much as I could about business models, taxes, and the financial side of ownership.
I also couldn’t have done it without the people around me. My family has supported and encouraged me through every season, and my coworkers gave me the trust, patience, and room to grow into this role.
Looking back, my present self is really proud of my past self for taking the risk, doing something new, working through fear, and being willing to learn as I went. The challenges stretched me beyond being a hairstylist and helped me become a stronger business owner, leader, and person.
We’ve been impressed with Salt + Moxie Co. Salon, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Salt + Moxie Co. is a boutique hair salon in downtown Paso Robles built around connection, thoughtful service, and great hair.
We specialize in natural, wearable hair that works with real life—soft blondes, dimensional color, gray blending and coverage, curly hair, and haircuts that are designed to grow out beautifully. Our approach is less about chasing trends and more about helping each client feel like the best version of themselves.
What I think sets us apart is the experience and culture we’ve created. We are a multigenerational team of stylists with decades of experience, and there is a genuine sense of support and collaboration in our salon. We share knowledge, encourage one another, and really value the relationships we build with our clients. Many of those relationships span years and even generations.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that Salt + Moxie feels true to who we are. I never wanted to create a brand that felt overly polished or disconnected from the people inside it. I wanted it to feel warm, beautiful, professional, relaxed, and human.
A salon appointment can be about hair, but it can also be about confidence, transition, connection, and being cared for during different seasons of life. We get to see women through so many of those seasons, and that is something I never take for granted.
More than anything, I want people to know that Salt + Moxie is a place where both clients and stylists are valued. We care deeply about our craft, but we care just as much about the people in our chairs and the people working beside us.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to trust my gut and stay grounded in my values, even when I don’t have every answer yet.
I’ve also learned that hard work matters, but leadership matters just as much. Supporting the growth of the people around me has become one of the most important parts of owning Salt + Moxie. When your team feels supported, encouraged, and trusted, it creates a stronger business and a better experience for everyone.
I really believe in the idea that a rising tide lifts all boats. There is room for all of us to grow, succeed, and do meaningful work without competing with one another. Creating that kind of environment has become foundational to how I lead.
Looking back, some of my best decisions came from trusting my instincts, doing the work, and choosing collaboration over competition.
Pricing:
- Haircuts 75-125
- Color 100-300
- Hilighting 150-300
- Curly Haircuts 150
Contact Info:
- Website: https://saltmoxieco.com
- Instagram: @saltmoxiesalon
- Facebook: Salt + Moxie Co. Salon
