Today we’d like to introduce you to Lyndsay Maderis.
Hi Lyndsay, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I definitely didn’t take the traditional path into the beauty industry! I spent my early career working in healthcare, including the American Red Cross and pharmaceutical and surgical sales. On paper, I had a successful career, but the stress was taking a toll on me, both mentally and physically. I was experiencing hair loss myself, and it had a much bigger impact on my confidence than I ever expected.
I remember walking into Sally Beauty looking for clip-in extensions, hoping to find something that would make me feel like myself again. That experience planted a seed. I started thinking about how many other women were quietly struggling with their hair and how powerful it could be to help them.
At 33, I made a pretty dramatic career change and enrolled in cosmetology school. I wasn’t interested in simply doing hair. I wanted to specialize in solutions that could genuinely change how people felt about themselves.
Hair extensions quickly became my passion, particularly Great Lengths keratin bonds. I loved the artistry and technical precision, but what really hooked me was the emotional side of the work. Watching someone look in the mirror and recognize themselves again never gets old.
Eventually, I founded Thairapy PDX with a vision of creating something different. I wanted a salon where exceptional technical work, education, inclusivity, sustainability, and genuine care could all exist together. A place where clients felt safe, heard, and celebrated, and where stylists had opportunities to build meaningful, sustainable careers.
Today, Thairapy PDX has grown into two locations in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington. I’m still behind the chair, but I’m also a salon owner, educator, content creator, and Great Lengths Brand Elite ambassador. I’ve had opportunities to connect with stylists around the country and advocate for better education and more responsible extension practices.
I’m also a single mom, which adds another whole dimension to entrepreneurship! Balancing motherhood, running a growing business, and continuing to work with clients is definitely not always glamorous.
My journey has had plenty of unexpected turns, and I’ve learned that success doesn’t necessarily mean following the path you originally imagined for yourself. Sometimes it means having the courage to start over.
At the heart of everything I do is a pretty simple belief: Hair is a big deal! When we can remove something that’s affecting a woman’s confidence or taking up her emotional energy, we give her more space to focus on everything else she wants to accomplish. And I believe women who feel empowered can do incredible things in the world.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth road? Not even close! But I think some of the most meaningful things in life come from taking the difficult road.
One of my first lessons was learning to check my ego at the door. I went from a successful career in surgical sales, where I was educating neurosurgeons, to sweeping hair off the floor for $10 an hour. Talk about humbling! I was 33 years old, starting completely over, and suddenly at the very bottom of an industry I knew almost nothing about. It was a massive adjustment, but it taught me that no job is beneath me and that sometimes you have to be willing to start at the bottom to build something extraordinary.
And honestly, that was just the beginning!
As a salon owner, I’ve navigated multiple robberies, salon floods, and the enormous uncertainty of running a business through a global pandemic. There have been moments when it felt like every time we recovered from one challenge, another was waiting around the corner.
Beyond the unexpected disasters, one of my biggest challenges has been figuring out how to build a salon business that works differently from the traditional industry model.
I wanted to create a workplace where talented beauty professionals could have both independence and security. That meant navigating the complexities of a hybrid business model rather than operating exclusively as a traditional commission salon. It meant figuring out how to offer things that aren’t always standard in our industry, like health insurance and a 401(k), while still keeping the business financially sustainable.
Those decisions come with real costs, complicated logistics, and plenty of trial and error. But I’ve always believed that hairstylists deserve the opportunity to build lasting careers, not just make a living behind the chair.
I’ve also had to learn how to lead people through uncertainty, manage the financial realities of a growing business, and make decisions that affect not just me, but the livelihoods of an entire team. Being a great hairstylist and being a great business owner are two very different things, and I’ve had to work hard at both.
On a personal level, I’ve navigated major life changes, including becoming a single mother, while continuing to grow my business. Balancing motherhood, leadership, and my own work behind the chair is an ongoing exercise in prioritizing what matters most. Some days I do it beautifully. Other days, I’m just doing my best!
What I’ve learned is that resilience isn’t about being fearless or having everything figured out. It’s about being willing to adapt, ask for help, admit when something isn’t working, and keep moving forward.
I’m proud of the business I’ve built, but I’m especially proud that we’ve continued to evolve without losing sight of why I started it in the first place. I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives, and that includes both the clients who sit in our chairs and the professionals who stand behind them.
Success looks very different to me today than it did when I was teaching neurosurgeons. And I wouldn’t trade that perspective for anything.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Thairapy PDX is an inclusive, carbon-neutral luxury salon with locations in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington. We specialize in customized hair extensions, hair loss solutions, and dimensional color, with a particular focus on Great Lengths extensions.
What sets us apart is our philosophy of “Hair with integrity.” We prioritize the long-term health of our clients’ hair over trends, shortcuts, or quick profits. Our work combines technical precision with genuine care, whether someone wants beautiful, full hair or is navigating hair loss after chemotherapy.
I’m equally proud of the culture we’ve built for our team. Through our hybrid business model, continuing education, health insurance, and retirement benefits, we’re working to create sustainable careers in an industry that hasn’t always offered them.
Ultimately, I want Thairapy PDX to be known for exceptional hair, ethical practices, and making people feel seen, supported, and confident. Because as I always say, hair is a big deal!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Thairapypdx.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thairapypdx?stkn=OTV2dWF2ZzFyczI0
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EkkMSGyQH/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@thairapypdx?_r=1&_t=ZP-9AMusT9I60d
