The Family Legacy of My Father’s Mustache

Carrying Mister Wayne’s Vision into the Next Generation

For the family behind My Father’s Mustache, the business has never simply been about hair. It has always been about people, purpose, and continuing the legacy of a man known throughout the Upper Cumberland as “Mister Wayne.”

Long before luxury salon experiences became commonplace, Mister Wayne was creating something different in Cookeville. In the 1970s, he opened the city’s first unisex salon and built a business rooted in connection, mentorship, and community. Alongside raising four daughters, he built a foundation that would eventually become a multi-generational family legacy. Today, two of those daughters, Debbie Fletcher and Brittany Fletcher Elmore, continue carrying his vision forward through My Father’s Mustache, while the values he instilled in all four daughters remain at the heart of the business. Their work has helped transform the salon into a nationally recognized company, earning Salon Today 200 recognition for the past four years and the Upper Cumberland’s Rising Star Company of 2024.

“That has meant everything to us,” Brittany shared when reflecting on continuing what their father started. “Daddy always said, ‘We don’t just cut hair, we change lives.’ That is our motto today.”

More Than the Hair Business

That philosophy continues to shape every part of the business. While My Father’s Mustache now employs more than 30 individuals and serves thousands of guests each month, the heart behind the salon remains deeply personal.

“He taught us we were not in the ‘hair’ business. We are in the people business,” Debbie explained. “It is the experience you give someone that makes them want to return. We focus heavily on making every guest feel valued, seen, and cared for.”

That people-first mindset became even more meaningful during the uncertainty of 2020.

“When COVID hit and we had to close our doors for several months because of restrictions, we realized how blessed we are to work in a profession where we get to have such a close relationship with another human being,” Brittany and Debbie said. “We have the power to touch others not only by enhancing their looks, but rejuvenating their mind and spirit too.”

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the business continued growing, increasing by 76% during that season, something they credit to both faith and the loyalty of their clients and community.

Investing in Future Generations

Education has also remained a major part of the company’s mission. Continuing Mister Wayne’s passion for mentorship, the salon now serves as a nationally and state-recognized training facility offering apprenticeship programs in cosmetology, barbering, nails, and aesthetics.

The legacy is already extending into a third generation with Debbie’s daughter, Mattie Dalton, following in the family’s footsteps as a barber stylist. The team also partners with Workforce Development programs and Vocational Rehabilitation initiatives, helping individuals explore careers in the beauty industry while overcoming challenges and building meaningful futures.

A Legacy Still Growing

Recently, the business entered a new chapter by moving into a newly purchased 3,000-square-foot space, a milestone they say represents the fulfillment of a dream their father once had for the company’s future.

“We started in a 1,000 square foot building on a hope and a dream,” Brittany and Debbie shared. “Now we’re in a space with 3,000 square feet that we built from the ground up and a reality of ‘We did it.'”

For My Father’s Mustache, legacy is not measured simply in years of business. It is found in the generations they continue to mentor, the guests who return year after year, and the community relationships built along the way. What began with Mister Wayne decades ago has grown into something much larger than a salon. It has become a culture centered on connection, mentorship, service, and helping people feel seen, valued, and confident long after they leave the chair.

For more information, visit the My Father’s Mustache website.

By Chelsea Dartez | Edited by Andrew Buckner | Photos by Addie Lee