Some of the nation’s best stylists have planted roots in Bellevue. Walk through the doors of the Leigh Edwards & Co. salon in One Bellevue Place, just past the stunning floral wallpaper and beyond the movie star-quality chairs, and you’ll find Kelly Clarkson’s brow gal, Blake Shelton’s hair stylist, and even a hair wizard from rural Tennessee who gave me the best blowout I’ve had to date.
Owner Amanda Craig Borksi has formed a team of experts specialized in a variety of beauty services.
“In 2021, I rebranded to ‘Build a Team So Strong No One Knows Who The Boss Is,’” she shares. “I believe that if you build your team’s confidence along with empowering them, clients will feel the leadership and positive energy in the salon.”
When I arrived at the salon, I was greeted with a string of smiles and a crisp ice water in a trendy little goblet (it’s the little things). It was like being immersed inside a Pinterest board – both for the stunning decor, where no detail was left unnoticed, and for the impeccable, effortless fashion each stylist donned. It can only be described as cool.
I was holding my tangled head a little higher before my service even began.
McKaya Bright spent some time walking me through the blowout process, chatting about my hair type, and explaining which products she planned to use to target my specific needs. We decided on a full-blown Victoria’s Secret treatment because… why not?
To the sink we went for a shampoo that felt good for both my hair and soul. With adulthood forcing so much stress and responsibility, it’s a gift to give up control for a moment. Being able to lie back, let the warm water wash over you, and enjoy the childlike delight of someone playing with your hair is, in my opinion, worth the service all its own.
But the real magic began when McKaya reached for the hair dryer, carefully brushing, coiffing, pinning, and curling my hair with such precision that she announced she’s a perfectionist.
“You’re going to want to film this,” she said as she unpinned my final few curlers. If my head was held high before, it was through the roof now. I was runway-ready, my hair falling in place so perfectly you’d think it was AI. But no, it was authentically me I was staring at, just with a little more volume and a lot more confidence than usual.
But, oh, we did not stop there. Me and my hair ventured to a separate room to learn about all things eyebrows with Ginny King, a 20+ year industry veteran who recently relocated from Los Angeles to Middle Tennessee. Ginny is a wealth of knowledge, taking time not just to shape my brows, but also to explain what products and techniques are best for me.
In addition to waxing, plucking, lash lifts, brow lamination and shaping, and tinting, Ginny offers powder brows, a semi-permanent cosmetic tattoo that’ll save you from filling in your brows for a year or more. It’s an innovative service that can be tough to find in this region. It’s a less invasive brow tattooing technique than microblading.
With plenty of bounce still in my hair and my eyebrows now perfectly sculpted with a touch of tint, I truly felt like a million bucks. So much so, I selected a sparkly pink jumpsuit to wear out to dinner on a Thursday!
As a writer, I enjoy learning the backstory of brands and businesses – where the passion comes from, trials and errors, and the winding road that leads to where the owner is today. But being able to experience something first-hand brings a whole new appreciation, and Leigh Edwards & Co. has found a new fan in me.
“We love being part of the Bellevue community, and we have felt supported since joining One Bellevue,” Borski concludes.
To explore services, meet the team, and book an appointment, visit leighedwards.co.
Leigh Edwards + Co is located on Highway 70 South in One Bellevue Place, adjacent to Sprouts. The salon is open Tuesday-Saturday with extended hours until 9 p.m. on Wednesday. There's also a location in Belle Meade at 73 White Bridge Pike.