Our latest customer story features Jenna Morehouse, solo stylist and owner of KUSH Hair Salon in Davenport, Iowa, and is one of determination, being true to yourself, and building client relationships that last. Read on to learn how Jenna built a thriving salon and secured success, single-handedly.
Every stylist remembers the moment they fell in love with the industry. For Jenna Morehouse, owner of KUSH Hair Studio in Davenport, Iowa, that moment came before she ever realized it was her calling.
“I went to cosmetology school before starting college,” she says. “I wanted to be a talk show host, lol. I figured it’d be a solid job while I worked toward a degree. Something flexible, useful, and adult enough to keep me out of trouble.”
But once she got behind the chair, she knew she wasn’t going anywhere. “I loved how fast it moved, how personal it was, how satisfying it felt to make someone look sharp and feel better,” she says. “Turns out, it wasn’t just a side job. It was meant to be.”
Owning Her Space
Jenna eventually decided to build something entirely her own. “I opened KUSH Hair Studio because I wanted a space that reflected my standards, not someone else’s branding.”
More than ten years later, she’s still thriving as a solo stylist. “I’m not interested in chasing trends or building a team. I’m here to do excellent work, protect my peace, and serve my clients with consistency,” she says.
And if her clients have anything to say about it, KUSH Hair Studio is “Highly Recommended!”
I’m not interested in chasing trends or building a team. I’m here to do excellent work, protect my peace, and serve my clients with consistency
Lessons From the Chair
For Jenna, growth didn’t happen overnight. “Building a clientele takes years,” she explains. “And just when you think you’re full, you realize you’re not.”
With 80% of her clients being men, her schedule stays packed. “Someone else might do a few color-and-cut combos and call it a day, while I can have ten or more appointments. It’s fast, focused, and stacked.”
Strength Through Sobriety
The biggest turning point in Jenna’s story came when she got sober. “Before that, I was surviving: showing up, doing the work, but running on fumes,” she shares. “Once I got clear, everything sharpened—my standards, my boundaries, my business. Nearly six years in, sobriety isn’t just part of my story. It’s the reason I’m still standing.”
Her honesty, both with herself and her clients, is what makes her chair such a safe and grounded space.
My clients come back for the vibe, the honesty, the space where they don’t have to perform. When they sit in my chair, they get to be whoever they actually are. And I meet them there
Connection Over Perfection
Most of Jenna’s clientele are men, and those relationships run deep. “For a lot of them, I’m the longest female relationship they’ve ever had,” she says. “We’ve been through breakups, job changes, kids, moves—you name it. There’s something solid about that kind of trust.”
It’s not glamorous or scripted. It’s real.
“My clients are the reason I’m still here. They showed up when I had nothing but a chair and a plan. They’ve seen me through sobriety, relocation, and many more obstacles. They never flinched. That kind of loyalty isn’t something you market. It’s something you earn.”
Building a clientele takes years… That kind of loyalty isn’t something you market. It’s something you earn
A Salon Like No Other
If you ask Jenna what makes KUSH Hair Studio stand out, she sums it up in three words: “It’s a vibe.”
“My clients don’t come back because I’m on time, because I’m not,” she laughs. “They don’t come back because I’m organized, because I’m not. They come back for the vibe, for the honesty, for the space where they don’t have to perform. When they sit in my chair, they get to be whoever they actually are. And I meet them there.”
Simple Tools, Smooth Flow
Running a one-person studio means Jenna needs tools that support her, not slow her down. “I don’t need a system that does everything. I need one that does the right things well. DaySmart keeps my schedule clean, my client info tight, and my operations smooth. It doesn’t get in my way. It just works.”
With that kind of behind-the-scenes support, Jenna can focus on what she does best—serving clients with authenticity, consistency, and a little edge.
I don’t need a system that does everything. I need one that does the right things well. DaySmart keeps my schedule clean, my client info tight, and my operations smooth. It doesn’t get in my way. It just works
If you’d like to learn more about Jenna and KUSH Hair Salon, check out this link.
Feeling Inspired?
If you’re dreaming of creating your own thriving salon (or are looking to work smarter, not harder) DaySmart Salon can help. It has everything you need to manage bookings, track payments, and stay organized without the chaos. Start your 14-day trial free trial today and see for yourself!