By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
When Caylee Mankins was four years old, it was not uncommon for her to spend at least a few hours each afternoon in her Granny Mankins’s hair salon. Mind you, this was back in the day when stylists and cosmetologists were called “beauticians,” and salons were referred to as “beauty shops.” Caylee smiles with love for her grandmother when she describes being allowed to experiment on her Granny’s face by applying makeup, all the while trimming the hair of her troll dolls and having to learn that the “cut” was permanent. Caylee also got good at “rolling” her grandmother’s hair, and spent time after school in Granny’s shop until she was 15.
Over time Caylee helped out a bit at the shop, doing shampoos and simple things. Once upon a time, Dan Mankins of Premier Structures Incorporated in Athens (and also Caylee’s dad) let her cut his hair. They both laughed when they spilled the beans that it was Granny who had to fix the haircut. Granny is now gone, and these are the memories that truly make life sweet for her son and granddaughter. I am quite sure she would be proud of her Caylee.
Caylee graduated from West Limestone High School, and has always loved animals. As a devoted dog lover, Caylee thought about being a veterinarian, and she took some general classes at Calhoun. Maybe it was her Granny’s DNA, or fond memories of the shop, but Caylee found that between 2015 and 2016 she watched a ton of YouTube videos on everything that had to do with hair and makeup, and thought, “I could do that.” So, she did. She graduated from Paul Mitchell and works at Salon Le Jules, located at 26978 US Hwy 72, Suite B. She joined the Salon Le Jules crew in November of 2022.
It seems that every stylist has a particular thing that they enjoy doing, and for Caylee, it is color. Her Instagram account is called, Colors By Caylee, and she greatly prefers doing things that are subtle and more natural; more enhancing of beauty, rather than wilder stuff. The Colors By Caylee site has a large selection of photos that showcase her work. There is everything from cascades of waves that go down to the waist to precision chin-length pageboy cuts. There are a few blue, pink, or plum highlights here and there, but nothing dayglow. Caylee enjoys adding highlights when she can.
Caylee’s second most favorite thing to do is cuts. Everyone knows that stylists are “therapists in disguise,” and over time Caylee has found herself in the middle of finding good compromises between parents and kids. She told me, “I have to figure out what the mom wants, what the kid wants, and how to make it work.” In one situation where parents were locked in a battle with a daughter, Caylee suggested a low-maintenance perm with soft curls, and both the girl and parents were happy with that choice.
Speaking of “hair therapy,” Caylee has learned over the years to read her clients and offer a salon experience that matches their energy. “Some people when they come in just don’t want to talk. They want to be quiet and left alone,” Caylee says. She then added, “I understand that.” She also said, “I’ll talk if they want to talk.”
Caylee does facial waxing along with brow waxing, and enjoys creating a spa experience for her clients. From time to time she offers specials along with “thank yous” for those who give referrals.
Several of Caylee’s clients are men, and most know exactly what they want, but not always. Teen-aged boys especially are still trying to “figure things out,” and Caylee enjoys the process of finding the perfect cut for a young gentleman and then making it happen. Sometimes dads and sons come in together, and Caylee has seen those times turn into special memories. It is true that “everyone feels good when everyone feels like they look good.”
I asked Caylee why I should choose her to care for my hair, and she said something that over the years and having conducted several interviews with cosmetologists I have never heard a stylist say: “I respect my clients.” In this day and age, having someone respect you, meet you where you are, perhaps offer suggestions but never pressure, and do their very best to more than meet your needs is a welcome rarity. If this sounds like the type of hair stylist that would be a good fit for you or your family, then call Caylee directly or book an appointment online.
By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
