Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine McMillan.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started out as a cosmetologist, doing what I loved and building close relationships with my clients. Over time, I kept noticing the same patterns showing up, thinning hair, scalp irritation, shedding, texture changes, things that clearly went deeper than just hair. I would send clients to their doctors hoping they’d get answers, and more often than not they came back frustrated, still struggling, and feeling dismissed.
I’m naturally very curious, and honestly a little stubborn when something doesn’t make sense. If the answers weren’t out there, I wanted to understand why. So I went back to school to learn how the scalp and hair actually function, how hormones, nutrition, stress, inflammation, and overall health all play a role. That education completely changed the way I saw my work.
Today, what I do sits at the intersection of beauty, science, and care. I still value the intimacy of one-on-one salon appointments, but now my goal is to help people understand what their hair is trying to tell them and guide them toward real solutions. I love creating a space where clients feel safe, heard, and curious about their own bodies again, because that’s where real change starts.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Learning, when you’re doing it honestly and deeply, is never a smooth road. There were plenty of rabbit trails, moments of confusion, frustration, and wrestling with ideas that were bigger than my experience at the time. I often found myself sitting in the discomfort of not knowing yet, while still feeling responsible for the people who trusted me.
One of the biggest challenges was realizing that there isn’t always a clear or linear path, especially when it comes to women’s bodies and hair loss. The information can be fragmented, outdated, or overly simplified, and that meant I had to learn how to filter, question, and connect the dots myself. That tension, as uncomfortable as it was, created the most growth.
Those challenges shaped the way I work today. They taught me patience, humility, and the importance of staying curious. I don’t believe you ever really “arrive” in this field. There is so much we still don’t fully understand, and I think that’s what keeps me engaged. I’ll never stop learning, because the more I learn, the more I realize how much there still is to discover.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Scalp Garden is a space created for people who know something isn’t quite right, but don’t want to be rushed, dismissed, or given a one size fits all answer. We specialize in scalp health and hair restoration, but what we really do is help people understand their bodies better and feel like themselves again.
What sets Scalp Garden apart is how deeply personal the experience is. Every appointment is one on one, unhurried, and rooted in education. We look at the scalp as living skin, not an afterthought, and we take the time to connect the dots between hair changes, hormones, stress, nutrition, inflammation, and life stages, especially for women. This isn’t about quick fixes or trends. It’s about creating a plan that actually makes sense for the person sitting in front of me.
The space itself feels calm and intentional, more like a retreat than a clinic. Clients often tell me it’s the first time they’ve felt truly seen and listened to when it comes to their hair concerns. That’s what I’m most proud of, building something that feels safe, nurturing, and empowering, while still being grounded in real science and results.
I want readers to know that Scalp Garden is for the curious, the thoughtful, and the tired of being told “everything looks normal” when they know it doesn’t feel that way. It’s a place where questions are welcome, education is shared freely, and hope is rebuilt gently, one conversation at a time.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is to slow down and really listen, to people and to my own intuition. The answers are rarely obvious or fast, especially when it comes to the body. Hair loss and scalp issues are almost never just about hair, they’re about life, stress, hormones, nourishment, seasons of change, and feeling safe enough to be honest about what’s really going on.
I’ve also learned that it’s okay not to have every answer right away. Curiosity, humility, and patience create better outcomes than certainty ever could. When you stay open, keep learning, and allow space for complexity, you can actually help people in a deeper way.
Most of all, I’ve learned that being seen and heard is often just as healing as any treatment. When someone feels understood, their shoulders drop, their nervous system softens, and real progress can begin.
Pricing:
- Know Your Roots, one on one scalp and hair health deep dive, $175
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.scalpgarden.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scalpgarden
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16nFWoq2tb/
- Other: https://maps.app.goo.gl/fxwnEzXd5scat99w7?g_st=ic
Image Credits
Blue Prints Photography
