Our latest #BeautyBoss is Lacy Gadegaard West, Founder and CEO of LACED HAIR Extensions. As a seasoned hair stylist with nearly two decades of experience, Lacy Gadegaard West knows a thing or two about the industry. In 2010 she founded LACED Hair Extensions, a business that has since expanded into so much more. The brand offers hair extension products and accessories, online and in-person education courses and a full-service salon specializing in hair extensions. On top of that, she also runs LACED HAIR Foundation, a nonprofit organization to empower women suffering with hair loss, a struggle she knows personally all too well.

Gadegaard West has been perfecting LACED Academy for years, offering students the tools needed to master the craft of hair extensions. Unlike most competitor’s, LACED provides instruction on multiple methods of hair extensions, giving hair stylists a full range of offerings to market. LACED specializes in numerous different hair extension methods including hand tied wefts, machine sewn wefts, tape-on, interlaced tape-in, I-tip and keratin bond, and clip-in options. With countless options in color, length and training courses to choose from,  LACED has become a one-stop shop for all things hair extensions.

We caught up with Gadegaard West, who shared the inspiration behind the brand, best advice, wellness tips, and more.

When was LACED HAIR Extensions founded? What’s the meaning behind the name?

LACED HAIR was originally founded in 2010; ironically, I named LACED HAIR Extensions after myself and the term ‘Laced’ is a word used in the extension community. I thought it was kind of clever at the time! 

What inspired the creation of the brand?

I’ve been a hairstylist for almost 20 years and in the beginning, I wanted hair for my extension clients. I wanted amazing quality hair along with beautiful colors and I couldn’t find them in the marketplace. I thought, I can just do this myself!

What are your favorite products from your brand?

Honestly, it’s hard to pick a favorite product because we have so many different colors and so many different methods, and they all are perfect for whatever change you’re wanting with your hair. I have been loving my laced by hand, Hand tied wefts, as well as my interlaced tape-in extensions. The colors are so amazing and the amount of fullness my hair now has is incredible.

Wo inspires you?

So many women in business inspire me. I know how hard it is to be a woman, to work and try and build a brand, and try to raise babies while not always getting respect. I especially felt the struggle when I first started my business. I am so proud of women everywhere for following their dreams and really breaking through that glass ceiling, becoming CEOs, incredible entrepreneurs and also being mothers.

Secret to success?

The secret to success would honestly be to just not give up. There’s been a million times where something didn’t go as planned—whether on a personal level, with my business or something in manufacturing. Many times throughout my career, it would have been easier to give up and start something else. Honestly, you can’t fail if you don’t quit. Just keep going. You got this! 

Beauty secrets?

Do something that makes you feel confident, no matter what. This is an interesting question because while I am in the beauty industry, I have seen women completely change their look again and again and sometimes too much. There's nothing more beautiful than a woman who feels confident and that is something that extensions do for women. I am lucky to see it happening every day—clients walking out of the door with beautiful hair and renewed confidence.

Wellness tips?

This is an important one for me. I have an autoimmune disease called multiple sclerosis. I have to take time for me or my body will force me to by literally shutting down. I try to eat healthy, I’m 100% gluten-free, and luckily I live in Utah where I get to enjoy the outdoors almost on the daily. 

Best advice?

You can’t do it all. Literally, you can’t. So do what you do best and hire out the rest, even if it’s a housekeeper or someone to help with your Instagram. Think of the opportunity costs of you doing some of these things, it’s not always worth it!

How do you like to relax?

Relaxing doesn’t come easy, it’s something I’ve never been good at. Raising my sons and now having a new baby, I have to really make time for me. Vacation is the only place I can truly escape the pressures of work. If I can’t travel, then a long bath and a trip to my favorite yoga studio are favorite go-tos.

For more information, visit lacedhair.com and follow on Instagram: @lacedhairextensions, @lacedhairsalon, @lacedhairfoundation, @lacygadegaard

[Images courtesy of LACED Hair Extensions]

Alisha Racker’s beauty career has spanned over a decade as she's worked as a master esthetician, skin care PR-pro and freelance writer. She lives in the beautiful mountains of Salt Lake City with her husband and daughter.