Amanda Is A Hairstylist And Makeup Artist Who Founded This Beauty Parlor On Wheels For Weddings And Special Occasions
The website of Little Rosie and Co., a beauty team on wheels, is emblazoned with the quote, “Do everything with so much love in your heart that you would never want to do it any other way.” Owner Amanda Cocanougher is living, breathing, little vintage camper-toting proof of this uplifting phrase. Her drive and passion are directly inspired by the people who helped to build and who benefit from her business.
Originally from Burgin, Kentucky, Amanda has been using her creative skills for others since she was in college.
“I went to college, not originally to do hair, but I decided in college that that was the passion I had. I always found myself doing girls’ hair in the dorms. It just happened to work out that way. It was a creative niche for me. I ended up enrolling in cosmetology school, and I did hair in my little home town for about six years.”
Amanda now specializes in wedding hair and make-up. When she began looking for the next step in her career, she decided to give Nashville a try.
“I moved to Nashville by myself and stayed down there for about 5 years. I worked at a couple different salons but it just wasn't quite enough. I wanted to do something a little bit more.”
While contemplating the next creative challenge for her career, Amanda was inspired by the idea of using a small camper trailer.
“I gave my mom the idea about buying a little trailer and fixing it up. I wasn’t quite sure how it incorporated into doing hair at that point, but I figured the more I fixed it up the more ideas that I would get. We found a little 1965 Barth travel trailer off Craigslist [for] $600, and my step-dad and mom got to working on it.”
“Everybody thought I was out of my mind when I first bought this trailer. It was disgusting. Rusted. There were mice living in the oven. [But] I never saw it as old and dingy. When I saw it, I saw the potential that it had. I just thought it would be such a cute, cool idea. And I knew it could be done, because my parents are the most handy people I’ve met in my life. They can fix anything old and make it look new.”
In 2015, Little Rosie & Co. was born, with Amanda’s little pink trailer as the focal point.
Though her creative passion had found a new niche, Amanda hit a roadblock when she looked into the logistics of owning a mobile salon in Central Kentucky. Per the Kentucky Board of Hairdressers and Cosmetologists, salons have to be brick and mortar buildings, with a physical, static address. The current laws restrict Amanda from doing most hairdressing from inside the trailer. She can bring it on location, but the majority of the cosmetology has to happen somewhere else.
“The laws of State Board don’t get updated that regularly. Here in Kentucky we’ve had the same laws, rules, and regulations for years. It puts a damper on those who want to step outside of the lines and keep up on how things have changed.”
However, Amanda wouldn’t let these restrictions rattle her. She’s actively seeking ways to change the current legislation--by having petitions signed and writing letters to local government. In the meantime, she’s busy keeping up with the demand for the trailer.
“So, I had to get creative with it. I wanted to set myself apart in any way that I could. So I thought, I could always take this little trailer with me on location and let it be a photo prop.”
What began as a photo prop has become much more. Amanda’s little pink trailer has now become a fixture on location at all the events which she works. She rolls her little trailer up to kids’ birthday parties--where she conducts mini-makeovers--and to lavish wedding venues--where a bridal party may use the trailer to set up a mimosa bar.
But what type of event is her favorite to bring the trailer to?
“Charity events for sure. I love that people get so much joy out of it. And it’s something small. It’s nothing that really cost a lot of money.”
Amanda was even thinking of others when she began thinking about a name for her business. Her mother and stepfather were integral to building the Little Rosie & Co. brand by renovating the trailer, and that weighed heavily into Amanda’s decision.
“I couldn’t figure out what to name it. I wanted to be creative with that. I wanted it to have a purpose. I decided to name it after my mom. Her middle name is Rose. And everybody always calls her Rosie. So I decided to call it Little Rosie and Co.”
Amanda doesn’t work alone, either. She’s quick to give credit to her “Rosie Girls”--the other creative women who help to build the backbone of the Little Rosie & Co. business. Some are volunteers, some are friends from Nashville, and some are currently in cosmetology school.
For the foreseeable future, Amanda and her Rosie Girls want to keep bringing the Little Rosie & Co. joy to Central Kentucky and the surrounding communities. Long-term, they want to spread the joy even further.
“I would love to expand. I would love to franchise someday and have Rosies everywhere. I’m actually getting ready--me and one of my Rosie girls--are getting ready to open a Rosie & Company salon.”
Located in her hometown of Burgin, Amanda’s salon will be a home base for the business. It is scheduled to open within the next few months. Any visitors in the area should be sure to stop by and visit to see for themselves how Amanda’s hard work and big heart have gotten her where she is today.
And she wouldn't have it any other way.
“A lot of work and a lot of love went into it. I was fortunate and blessed to have an opportunity like this. I just want to give back to people. It brings a lot of joy--it brings a lot of joy to my life, and I like to share it with people.”
Kailyn Clay
A graduate of Trinity Christian College in English & Political Science, Kailyn has written for Brilliance Publishing & GEMS' Girls Clubs among others. She enjoys hiking and cooking.
Make Sure To Check Out:
Little Rosie & Co., the two wheeled mascot to Amanda and her beauty team. From it's vintage charm, to it's outstanding team of beauty experts, she's ready to roll into any wedding, special event, photoshoot, or volunteer opportunity.