Rising Stars: Meet Lisa Smith of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Smith.

Hi Lisa, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I didn’t get here overnight.
Western Roots was built through years of showing up — even in seasons that felt heavy, lonely, and uncertain. Hair became more than a job for me. It became my creative outlet, my safe place, and a way to help people feel confident, seen, and loved.

I started with a passion for lived-in color and creating hair that felt effortless, beautiful, and realistic for everyday women. Over time, that passion slowly turned into a brand — one rooted in authenticity, connection, and making every client feel at home in my chair.

There were long days, sacrifices, self-doubt, and moments I questioned myself, but I kept going. I built Western Roots client by client, appointment by appointment, through trust, consistency, and genuinely caring for people.

My journey also shaped me personally. Walking through loss and hard seasons taught me resilience, compassion, and how important it is to create a space where people can come as they are and leave feeling lighter.

What started as “just doing hair” became something so much bigger — a brand, a community, and a dream I built with grit, faith, creativity, and the support of the people who believed in me along the way.

Western Roots is a reflection of who I am: a little western, a little wild, deeply rooted, and built with heart.

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?
Building Western Roots hasn’t been a smooth road. There were seasons filled with uncertainty, grief, burnout, self-doubt, and moments where I truly didn’t know if I was capable of carrying everything on my shoulders. Behind the pretty hair photos were long days, financial stress, personal struggles, sacrifices, and learning how to keep going even when life felt heavy.

I’ve had to rebuild myself while building my business at the same time. I learned how to push through hard seasons, trust myself more, and keep showing up even when things weren’t perfect. Every setback taught me something — how to be stronger, softer, more compassionate, and more determined.

Western Roots was never built from things coming easy. It was built from resilience, late nights, hard lessons, faith, passion, and refusing to give up on something I loved.

That’s why this business means so much to me. It’s more than hair — it’s proof that even through struggle, and uncertainty, something beautiful can still grow.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Western Roots & Co. is all about creating lived-in hair that feels effortless, natural, and grows out beautifully. I specialize in dimensional blondes, brunettes, and my signature Western Roots lived-in color that gives that soft, blended look without feeling high maintenance.

What sets me apart is the experience I try to give every person who sits in my chair. I want my clients to feel comfortable, heard, and leave feeling like the best version of themselves. Building this brand definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, so I think a lot of the heart behind Western Roots comes from the struggles, growth, and passion that got me here.

More than anything, I’m proud that Western Roots feels genuine to me. It’s not just about pretty hair — it’s about creating a space where people feel confident, cared for, and at home.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was always very creative, emotional, and independent. I’ve always loved making people feel good about themselves and creating things that felt beautiful and meaningful. I was definitely a little stubborn, strong willed, and sensitive all at the same time.

My parents were always my biggest words of affirmation growing up. They made me feel beautiful, capable, loved, and like I could do anything I put my mind to. I think that’s a huge reason why I love what I do now. I try to give my clients that same feeling when they sit in my chair — not just through hair, but through making them feel confident, seen, and cared for.

Life also forced me to grow up pretty fast. Walking through loss and hard seasons at a young age shaped me into someone resilient and compassionate. I think that’s a big part of why creating a safe and welcoming space means so much to me now. Hair became so much more than just a job — it became a way for me to help people feel beautiful the same way my parents always made me feel.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://westernroots.glossgenius.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisaclarkhair__
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18dpCc9oBt/