Exploring Life & Business with Cecelia Kirby of SONG Studio Salon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cecelia Kirby.

Hi Cecelia, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been an artist for as long as I can remember. My professional journey began in 2003 when I started working as a makeup artist in California. I worked with Estée Lauder, Chanel, and others through that time. In 2006, I moved into a cosmetics coordinator role, which gave me an early understanding of branding, beauty, and business.

In 2012, after the passing of my grandmother, I enrolled at Regency Beauty Institute to earn my cosmetology license. It was both a personal healing process and the start of a new chapter. Shortly after graduation, I was accepted into a two-year intensive training through the Van Michael Council, where I worked alongside master stylists to learn precision cutting and advanced color theory. I took extra courses throughout to accelerate into master-level work, and I eventually became certified with Kevin Murphy, training closely with their educators and color experts.

My passion has always been in the artistry of transformation—and over the years, I’ve been lucky to have that work recognized. I’m now an internationally published stylist, and when I’m not working with clients at my private studio, SONG Studio Salon, I travel as a guest artist for Fashion Weeks in New York, Paris, and Milan.

In 2018, I became the Artistic Hair Lead for Fashion Week Studios, where I help build creative teams, educate stylists, and collaborate with designers to bring hair concepts to life on the runway. That role also inspired me to create an educational program for FWS—something I wish I had access to when I was first dreaming of this career. It’s designed to help passionate hair artists break into the fashion world, gain real experience, and connect with the industry on a deeper level.

This inspired me to build my own salon. A space where beauty is both luxurious and healing. At SONG Studio Salon, we offer transformation that goes beyond appearance. It’s about presence, purpose, and power. My goal has always been to elevate artistry and help others expand their career.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I feel so blessed but it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I believe all artists have carved a path for themselves with thousands of unseen hours molding their particular craft. I’ve learned the most from moments of loss, failure, and misalignment. That’s the whole point. When things are going well, you feel like you’re on top of the world—but when an opportunity falls through or something doesn’t go the way you envisioned, it can really shake your confidence. You start to question your worth or wonder if you missed something along the way.

Honestly, I’ve come to appreciate those moments. They’re potent invitations for growth and self-reflection which ultimately is the golden nugget of success. I’ve never walked away from a challenge in this industry without becoming a better artist or a more grounded business owner.

I am always seeking wisdom from industry mentors and peers. This is a unique industry full of extreme highs and lows. Ultimately, if you can stay humble somewhere in the middle, you become your brand. This is your magic and those who are meant to find you will.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Personally, I enjoy enhancing people’s natural beauty. This has been the spirit behind the work at SONG. Being able to take what I have learned internationally throughout my career a create a high-end color experience has been such a dream.

SONG specializes in ammonia-free color and intentional transformations. More than just a salon, it is a sanctuary—a place for anyone to explore a version of themselves they haven’t yet expressed.

In many salons, the experience can feel loud, fast paced and transactional. Over the years, I’ve found that most guests are craving something deeper. They’re not just coming in for beautiful hair—they’re coming to be seen, to feel pretty, to heal. SONG offers that space. Tucked into the peaceful foothills of Boulder, the studio invites guests to slow down and reset. With oracle cards, self-exploration books, and organic teas, the environment encourages reflection, ease, and connection. It’s a reprieve from the noise of everyday life and downtown. A space where beauty becomes a sacred act of transformation.

What sets us apart is our commitment to intention. I’m not here to fit into the beauty industry, I’m here to add value to it. From clean color practices to deeply personalized services, everything at SONG is designed to feel thoughtful and soulful.

SONG is also home to Intuitive Extensions, a custom extension method designed for all hair types. The line offers a full range of sizes and wave patterns to ensure inclusivity and accessibility. Growing up, my experience with extensions came from Black-owned beauty shops where you could buy a pack of hair, have it sewn in the same day, and walk out transformed. It was fast, affordable, and empowering. Today, many extension services have become exclusive and over monetized requiring long application forms/consultations, preset appointments, and high costs.

I created Intuitive Extensions as an answer to this. A cost-efficient alternative to longer fuller hair. Intuitive Extensions are rooted in the belief that high-quality hair services should be accessible, honest, and add value.

At the heart of it all, SONG is for the seeker. Whether someone is navigating a life transition, stepping into a new version of themselves, or simply craving peace and beauty—they can find it here.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
As an intuitive I am drawn to content that expands my understanding of the unseen. I absorb a lot of otherworldly material from spiritual channels and thought leaders to deep dives into symbology, shamanism, and biblical history. I’m fascinated by the intersection of spirituality, psychology, and mystery.

I love interviews with psychologists, human behavior experts, ex-CIA operatives sharing covert operations, and even stories from members of secret space programs. It might sound eclectic—and it is—but for me, learning is a form of nourishment. I don’t just listen for information; I listen for the story.

Does this directly impact my work behind the chair? Maybe not in a technical sense—but it absolutely shapes the way I connect with people. It leads to the most dynamic conversations, and I think that kind of curiosity makes for a richer, more human experience in the salon.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://SONGStudioSalon.com
• Instagram: Ceceliahair
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/songstudiosalon/

Image Credits
Silas Binkley