The self-described “hair extension legend” loves making his celeb clients “feel more beautiful one hair flip at a time”

From Virginia to Detroit to Los Angeles, Alex Pardoe’s hair journey has taken him across the United States and propelled him to salon stardom. Pardoe, or “Pardashian,” as he often refers to himself, has honed his expertise in hair color and extensions, and those skills have led to his work being featured in “magazines, television, and on red carpets, and on some of the most beautiful women in the world.”

Like many self-care entrepreneurs, Pardoe faced his share of obstacles — including the closure of his Detroit salon during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s how he became one of the A-list’s most sought-after stylists and recovered from a devastating setback.

The rise of a wunderkind

Originally a Virginia native, Pardoe moved to Detroit in 2012 after graduating high school to attend cosmetology school. His first styling job was at a major salon chain, but Pardoe was determined to grow his personal brand. He quickly amassed an Instagram following and partnered with influencers to further extend his reach. His list of clients steadily grew, along with his income.

In 2017, the 23-year-old Pardoe was ready for the next step. Along with two business partners, he opened Aesthetic Hair Co., hoping to use the new salon as a platform to train the next generation of stylists. “I grew so quickly that I wanted to be able to provide a platform for other hairstylists to grow really quickly,” he said in a 2019 interview with CNBC. Meanwhile, he created his own line of hair care products for additional income and brand recognition. By the age of 25, he was making $280,000 a year, and the future was only getting brighter.

An unexpected setback

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the city of Detroit especially hard. The unemployment rate increased fourfold, and Aesthetic Hair Co. wasn’t immune to the economic fallout. It was time to make some hard decisions.

“Having to lay off my employees was one of the most difficult decisions that me and my business partners have ever had to make,” Pardoe said. The salon shut down (though it’s since reopened), leaving Pardoe without his primary source of income. While his “budget for white wine and White Claw just skyrocketed,” he cut down on other expenses and invested in real estate to sustain himself financially. His line of products continued to bring in income during this period, showing that those savvy brand-building moves in his early 20s paid off.

Even though he was able to stay afloat, it was time for Pardoe to start a new chapter. And what better place to do that than La La Land?

How a change of scenery led to a Hollywood-style comeback

Founded by Los Angeles hair legends Neil Weisberg and Tracey Cunningham, Mèche Salon, a Boulevard customer, has been a favorite of the Beverly Hills crowd since opening in 2012. In 2021, Pardoe joined the team in Los Angeles and brought his eye for color and extension expertise to the distinguished salon. His specialty is “creating looks that exude beachy, effortless beauty with lived-in, sun-kissed color” — and his own golden blonde tresses can attest to that.

Pardoe fit right in among Mèche’s talented stylists and colorists, quickly growing his client list to include A-listers like Megan Fox, Lindsay Lohan, and Mariah Carey. He remains dedicated to salon education, regularly offering virtual classes on topics like advanced hair extension techniques. His personal philosophy is “with hair color, less is more. And with extensions, more is more.”

In just over a decade, Pardoe has experienced the exhilarating highs and crushing lows of the salon business. Now that he’s made his home at Mèche, his star is still on the rise — and wherever the next chapter leads him, he’ll be there with flawless hair.