As a child, Noel Hicks loved doing her Barbie ® and baby dolls’ hair. “I gave them a lot of fun haircuts,” she says, laughing. “Then throughout high school, I wanted to do hair. Nothing else ever really caught my attention.”
Right after graduation, she went into beauty school, completing that in 2012. Her next goal was working with musicians, and what better place to go than Nashville? “I moved from Indiana to Nashville in 2013 and I've been here ever since.”
Hicks was originally hired by a company that worked with upcoming musicians, and she was able to help create their looks before they went on to bigger record labels. “That was really fun, and I also worked on some local fashion shows too, but I missed being in a salon.” After going back into salons and working for others, she still wanted more. Her dream was to one day open her own salon, but owning and running a business was intimidating. “I decided to start small, and opened my own solo suite. I loved it.”
However, she could only grow so much in such a small space. “Solo suites are usually about 140 square feet,” says Hicks. “I was there for about two years and I started in a single suite. A year later, I expanded into a double suite. After that, I was ready to go bigger.”
In July of 2024, she opened Elite Collective in Franklin. “After working in salons for over 13 years, I wanted to take the positives from my experience and develop my own culture," she says. Hicks also carefully chose her team. “In our Nashville community, there are so many amazing and talented hair and makeup artists, so it's been really great to be able to build a space that is such a positive environment for these artists to be creative. I'm very grateful for the team that I have.”
Elite believes in giving every client a luxurious experience. “The moment you walk into our salon, you’ll feel a sense of calm and comfort - we’ve created a space where luxury meets warmth,” she says. “Our team is here to welcome you, making sure you feel at home from the start. We offer a full-service drink menu and snacks, along with beverages from our amazing neighbors at Red Bicycle. As a small business owner, supporting local businesses means so much to me, and I love bringing that sense of community into everything we do.”
Once clients meet with their stylists, they will go through a detailed consultation before any services are performed. At this point, clients get to enjoy a tailored experience, from salon services to relaxation in the shampoo area. They’ve created a one-of-a-kind experience.
There is also a retail area for clients to shop. “We carry an Italian brand called Davines, which is what we call a farm-to-table hair care line because all of their products are grown on their farms in Italy,” says Hicks. “It’s a healthier alternative to hair care.”
Elite Collective is a full-service luxury salon, but it does specialize in hair extensions and color. Hicks is certified in hair extensions and also certifies stylists within the industry to perform this service.
It’s not just putting in the hair, she explains, but really inspecting clients’ scalps, hair follicles, and hair density to make sure extensions are a good option. While they might be suited for extensions, they may not be a good fit for a certain method.
“Every application is not going to be the same on every client's hair,” she says. “We have to know what type of method and what type of hair to use. Once we determine that, the customization for the full install begins, from coloring, blending and application.” She says people don't realize there is such a science behind an extension install.
Of course, once the extensions are in, caring for them properly is a must to make them last and look great. “Every install we do is a package install, which makes it easy for our clients since it includes a take-home kit with the proper shampoo and conditioner, a leave-in spray, and oil to properly maintain the hair. We also send clients a PDF file that gives tips and tricks on how to care for their extensions at home.”
Elite Collective offers another form of luxury with its Glam Team, which consists of 17 artists that handle bridal work, production work, and events styling. “On top of owning a full-service salon, I have an amazing team of independent hair and makeup artists who create timeless looks for specials events,” Hicks says.
While busy being an entrepreneur, Hicks is also a partner to Joey Locker, an entrepreneur himself, and mom to four-year-old Christopher, or C.T., as they’ve nicknamed him. “I want to show my son what it means to chase your dreams,” she says. “He and Joey have been my biggest inspiration, as well as my family and friends who have supported me through it all. I’m thankful that they pushed me to go this extra mile in my career.” EliteCollective.co