Today we’d like to introduce you to Ali Crouch.
Hi Ali, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Ever since I was a little girl and got my first botched haircut, I knew I wanted to be the kind of stylist who made people feel better walking out of a salon—not worse.
In middle school, I was cutting all my friends’ hair, giving them scene bangs and choppy layers with zero formal training. I’d even cut my own bangs regularly because I didn’t trust a stylist to do it right. So when I found out I could attend my local career center for cosmetology during my junior and senior year of high school, I jumped at the chance. I already knew traditional college wasn’t for me—and I didn’t want the debt that came with it either.
In cosmetology school, I quickly became the go-to girl for balayage and bold, fantasy colors. I’ve always had an eye for art, and hair just became another medium for me. Even when I was still learning, I led with confidence because I never wanted my clients to feel unsure or uncomfortable in my chair like I did.
After graduating, I got my license and started at a chain salon right away. I was bamboozled into believing they cared about my growth—but quickly learned I was just a number. I always knew I was meant to lead, but chain and commission salons have a way of convincing you otherwise. At my first salon, I spent years building a clientele, only to have every single client taken from me because of non-compete contracts.
My next salon was smaller, still commission-based, but came with its own set of problems—leadership issues and small-town politics. I was literally moved to the back of the salon because my conversations about LGBTQ+ rights and current events making some clients uncomfortable. But salons are supposed to be safe spaces—places where people can express themselves, connect, and feel seen. Instead, I found myself being told to shrink who I was to fit into someone else’s brand.
And I’ll admit it—I probably was a “difficult” employee by their standards. I’m honest, self-assured, and not afraid to speak up. But most commission salons don’t want feedback or conversations. They want compliance. Eventually, I was fired from that small-town salon—which ended up being the best thing that ever happened to me.
At the time, I was embarrassed. But deep down, I knew the universe was forcing me to take the leap I wasn’t ready to make on my own. That’s when I opened my first salon suite: Lunar Loft. It became my sanctuary—a space where my clients could show up fully as themselves and where I could offer real, meaningful connection. But over time, the solitude got to me. I missed being part of a team.
That’s what led me to my next venture—salon ownership.
Every experience I’ve had up to this point has shaped my mission: to create a space where everyone feels comfortable, safe, and truly seen. And from that dream, The Koi Collective was born.
At Koi, every stylist knows they can come to me with anything—no judgment, no pushback. We’ve built something real together: a space where identity is celebrated, where growth is supported, and where no one is asked to dim their light to fit in. My team is made up of the most wonderful people I’ve ever met, and this space is everything I ever dreamed of—and more.
At The Koi Collective, I didn’t just want to open a salon—I wanted to reimagine what salon culture could be. A booth rental space where artists have freedom and autonomy, with the kind of support and education typically only found in commission salons. Our backbar and stylist essentials are included in rent, and I invest deeply in ongoing education—both by hiring educators and by encouraging our team to attend industry events and keep growing. I love teaching. I love mentoring. And more than anything, I love helping stylists realize they can build something powerful without giving up who they are. Koi isn’t just a salon. It’s a home for creatives, for misfits, for leaders in the making. It’s everything I wished existed when I was just starting out—and now, it’s real.
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?
There were moments I had to completely rebuild my clientele from scratch—more than once. I’ve had to dim parts of myself just to fit into salon cultures that didn’t value individuality or inclusivity. I’ve been fired, underestimated, and boxed in. For a long time, it felt like I was just bracing for the next thing to go wrong. But all of those experiences pushed me toward building something of my own. Now, for the first time in my career, I feel calm. I feel safe. And I’ve created that same sense of security and belonging for my team and my clients. I fought hard for peace in my career—and it was worth every step.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are proud that our space offers connection, community, and real conversations. Our clients know they can come in and talk about anything without fear of judgment. We’re true girls’ girls (and everyone in between), and we lead with kindness, authenticity, and empathy. No one here is just a number. We build genuine relationships with every person who walks through our doors, and we make sure they leave feeling seen, heard, and celebrated
Services offered-
•Haircuts
•Curly Cuts
•Kids cuts
•Clipper Cuts
•Vivid hair coloring
•blonding
•grey blending
•grey coverage
•tinsel
•bridal and special occasion styling
We use R and Co products and each stylist has a variety of different hair color brands to fit each clients needs.
We are known for blonding and vivid coloring
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
We love working with different brands. We would love to collaborate with different companies to sell local and made products in our salon. We would love to team up with other creators for giveaways as well!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thekoi.co/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.koi.co/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559777230757&name=xhp_nt__fb__action__open_user
- Other: https://www.google.com/gasearch?q=the%20koi%20collective%20reviews&source=sh/x/gs/m2/5#ebo=3
