Inspiring Conversations with Sri Metaeo of Metaeo Couture Studio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sri Metaeo.

Sri, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey in the beauty industry started about 16 years ago, but it wasn’t something I had always planned for myself. When I came to the United States 20 years ago from Indonesia. I honestly wasn’t sure what I wanted to do as a career. My husband was an amazing cheerleader and a big source of guidance for me, and with his encouragement, I decided to enroll in a local cosmetology school.

At the time, I was working while going to school, and somewhere along the way, I started falling in love with the journey. After graduating, I quickly realized that having a cosmetology license didn’t mean I knew everything I needed to know behind the chair. That was when I learned one of the most important lessons of my career: education doesn’t stop when you finish school.

I became passionate about continuing education, learning new techniques, attending classes, and constantly working on my craft—and that is something I still do today.

After about eight years behind the chair, though, I reached a point where I felt burned out and had lost some of my motivation. I realized I wasn’t missing the beauty industry; I was missing a bigger purpose within it. I discovered that one of the things I loved most was teaching, mentoring, and helping other stylists grow.

That realization became the heart behind Metaeo Couture Studio.

I wanted to create more than just a salon. I wanted to build a place where our team could learn from one another, grow their careers, support each other, and create an amazing experience for our clients. Education has always been a big part of our culture. We’ve hosted many in-house classes and have also invited other stylists and educators from our local beauty community to come together, share knowledge, and learn from each other.

And I definitely didn’t get here alone. Along the way, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have amazing friends who have supported me, encouraged me, and cheered me on through every stage of this journey. My husband, my friends, our team, our clients, and the people in our community have all played a part in helping Metaeo Couture Studio become what it is today. Sometimes the people who believe in you and cheer for you are exactly what you need to keep moving forward.

Today, Metaeo Couture Studio is built around three things that are very important to me: our team, our clients, and our community. I’m still learning, still growing, and still behind the chair, but now I also have the opportunity to help the next generation of stylists find their own path and purpose in this industry. For me, that has become one of the most rewarding parts of the journey.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. Like any journey, there have been plenty of ups and downs, mistakes, challenges, and moments when I questioned myself.

One of my biggest struggles has probably been learning to tell myself, “You can do this.” Most of the time, I was my own biggest critic. I expected a lot from myself, and sometimes I was so focused on what I could have done better that I forgot to recognize how far I had already come.

Becoming a salon owner brought a whole new set of challenges. I had to learn that being a good hairstylist and being a good business owner are two completely different things. There is so much you learn along the way—leadership, finances, building a team, making difficult decisions, and understanding that not everything is going to go according to plan.

I’ve also learned that mistakes and difficult seasons don’t necessarily mean you’re failing. Sometimes they are the experiences that teach you the most. I’m still learning not to be so hard on myself, to trust the process, and to remind myself that I don’t have to have everything figured out.

Having my husband, friends, team, clients, and community cheering me on has made a huge difference. Sometimes they believed in me during the moments when I had a harder time believing in myself.

Looking back, I think those struggles have helped shape the kind of owner and mentor I want to be. I want the people around me—especially the young stylists I mentor—to know that it’s okay not to know everything yet. Keep learning, keep showing up, and give yourself some grace along the way.

As you know, we’re big fans of Metaeo Couture Studio . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Metaeo Couture Studio is a boutique, team-based hair and beauty salon in Downtown Kennesaw. We specialize in customized hair color, blonding, dimensional and lived-in color, grey blending, precision haircuts, smoothing treatments, curly certified, bridal hair and makeup.

But what I really want people to know is that we are more than just a place to get your hair done.

When I created Metaeo Couture Studio, I wanted to build a space where clients feel comfortable, cared for, and heard, while also creating an environment where stylists can continue to learn and build a real career. Education is a huge part of who we are. Trends and techniques are always changing in our industry, so our team continues to take classes, attend industry events, practice our craft, and learn from one another. We also host education in our studio and love bringing other beauty professionals together to learn and grow.

I think what sets us apart is our team culture. I never wanted the salon to feel competitive between stylists. We work together, help each other, share knowledge, and celebrate each other’s growth. Every stylist is at a different stage of their career, and I love being able to mentor them not only in their craft, but also in building their confidence and understanding how to grow a sustainable career in this industry.

Community is another important part of our brand. Our local businesses association has supported us to get to know the community better, and we believe in giving that support back whenever we can. Whether it’s donating to local organizations, participating in community events, supporting schools and teachers, or contributing our time and services, I want our studio to be a business that is genuinely involved in the community around us.

Brand-wise, I’m most proud of the culture we are building. Of course, I’m proud when someone leaves our studio loving their hair, but I’m equally proud when I see one of our stylists master a new skill, reach a career goal, or become more confident behind the chair.

At the end of the day, beautiful hair is what we do, but taking care of people is really what Metaeo Couture Studio is about—our clients, our team, and our community. I hope when someone walks through our doors, they can feel that.

What’s next?
For the future, I’m really focused on growing Metaeo Couture Studio with purpose. I don’t necessarily want to be the biggest salon—I want to build a strong salon with the right people, a healthy culture, and a team that truly wants to grow together.

One of my biggest goals is continuing to develop our education and mentorship program. I love helping newer stylists transition from graduating cosmetology school into the real world behind the chair. There is such a big gap between getting your license and actually building confidence, mastering your craft, understanding your numbers, creating a clientele, and building a sustainable career. I want Metaeo Couture Studio to be a place where stylists have guidance through that journey.

I’m also looking forward to continuing to grow our current team. I want each stylist to have their own goals and career path—not everyone’s version of success has to look the same. My role is to help give them the education, tools, opportunities, and support to get where they want to go.

As our studio grows, I would love to expand the education side even further by bringing more educators into our space, hosting more classes, and creating opportunities for beauty professionals in our area to learn and connect with one another.

And, of course, I want us to continue being involved in our local community. As the business grows, I hope our ability to give back grows with it.

There are always new ideas in my head, but I’ve learned that growth doesn’t always mean doing more or getting bigger. Sometimes it means doing what you already do even better. That’s what I’m most excited about—continuing to build a salon where our team can grow, our clients feel taken care of, and we can make a positive impact in the community around us.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.metaeocouture.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/metaeocouturestudio