Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Melnikova.
Hi Maria, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Maria Melnikova, and my journey in the beauty industry began almost 30 years ago.
I often say that I didn’t choose this profession — it chose me. Over three decades, I’ve grown from a practicing stylist into an international expert, educator, creator of patented coloring techniques, and now the owner of my own salon in Miami.
My professional path has always been driven by growth, innovation, and a deep sense of responsibility to both clients and students.
I’ve had the honor of representing major global brands, including Schwarzkopf Professional, and in 2018 I served as a jury member for the prestigious Schwarzkopf Hairdresser Awards — one of the highlights of my career.
For nearly 17 years, I taught advanced coloring techniques around the world, visiting 18 countries with masterclasses, and I launched four editions of my online education programs, which have been purchased and implemented by more than 15,000 stylists globally.
For many years I also operated the Maria Melnikova Academy in Europe, where students from around the world came every month to learn my signature coloring systems. Several of these techniques are patented — including in the United States.
Five years ago, I moved to the U.S. under an extraordinary ability visa.
I chose Miami — a vibrant, creative, and inspiring city that immediately felt like home.
This is where “Sorry, I’m a Queen” was born — my creative studio, my professional home, and the place where my experience, aesthetic vision, and philosophy came together.
The name “Sorry, I’m a Queen” has its own story.
At a press conference many years ago, Queen Elizabeth II was asked an inappropriate question and paused before replying:
“Sorry, I’m a Queen.”
In that moment, she said everything — dignity, confidence, and self-worth.
That phrase became the inspiration for the name of my salon, a space where every woman is treated like a queen and where individual beauty is honored.
When the salon first opened, we introduced Miami to unique and highly specialized coloring techniques not available anywhere else in the city.
But soon our signature expertise became something even more complex:
combining advanced color work with professional hair extensions — a skill few salons master due to its difficulty.
Today, “Sorry, I’m a Queen” has become a destination not only for clients, but also for stylists.
Hair extension specialists from Miami and other states come to our salon to color-match and select hair for even the most challenging cases. We carry an extensive collection of premium hair, and our team is known for solving complex color-matching scenarios that others avoid.
My path in the United States was not easy — entering a new market, building a brand from scratch, introducing unfamiliar techniques, and overcoming countless challenges.
But my passion for the craft, my dedication, and my belief in beauty as a form of empowerment carried me forward.
Today, nearly five years later, “Sorry, I’m a Queen” has a consistently full schedule, clients who travel from different states for appointments, and a recognizable style rooted in quality and artistry.
This salon is not just a business — it is my pride, my creative legacy, and a space where women feel beautiful, powerful, and seen.
And even after everything achieved, I still feel that the most exciting chapter is just beginning.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has been anything but smooth — but every challenge shaped who I am today and helped build the foundation of “Sorry, I’m a Queen.”
Moving to the United States under an extraordinary ability visa was both an honor and a huge responsibility. I arrived in a new country with a strong background, but no network, no clients, and no understanding of how the American beauty market operated. I had to rebuild everything from scratch — my reputation, my client base, and even my sense of stability. It was a humbling and transformative experience.
Another major challenge was introducing highly specialized European coloring techniques to a market that wasn’t familiar with them. Many clients and stylists were skeptical at first. I often had to explain, demonstrate, and prove the value of advanced methods that were not yet mainstream in Miami. It demanded patience, resilience, and absolute confidence in my craft.
Opening the salon also came with financial and operational risks. I created a premium boutique experience — intentionally not a high-volume salon — which meant that every detail had to be perfect. I invested everything into quality: the space, the products, the training, the team. There were moments of uncertainty, especially in the early years, when I questioned whether the vision would be understood or appreciated.
Another difficulty was combining two highly complex services — advanced blonding and professional hair extensions. This dual specialty is extremely rare because it requires precision, experience, and deep knowledge of color theory. Achieving seamless results demanded constant innovation, experimentation, and trust from my clients.
And of course, like any entrepreneur, I faced personal challenges: burnout, self-doubt, and the pressure of succeeding in a new country. But these moments taught me resilience, focus, and the importance of staying true to my mission.
Today, looking back, I see that every struggle helped me build something meaningful.
Nothing was easy — but everything was worth it.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work is the result of nearly 30 years in the beauty industry, and today I specialize in two areas that require a uniquely high level of expertise: advanced coloring techniques and professional hair extensions, especially in challenging color-matching cases. This combination is extremely rare, and it has become the signature of my salon, Sorry, I’m a Queen.
Throughout my career, I’ve developed and refined complex blonding systems, corrective color techniques, and multi-dimensional formulas that allow me to work with shades and transitions that many stylists consider too difficult or too risky. Some of these techniques are patented, including in the United States.
Because of this, clients — and even stylists — come to me for transformations that require absolute precision and deep understanding of color theory.
Another part of my work is education. For 17 years, I taught in 18 countries, trained thousands of stylists, and built my own academy in Europe. I’ve always believed that knowledge is meant to be shared, and today I continue this mission by creating advanced professional training programs, including online education for stylists around the world.
What I am most proud of is the trust my clients and colleagues place in me.
People fly from different states — and sometimes even different countries — specifically for my color-matching expertise and our extensive collection of premium hair for extensions. Stylists frequently visit our salon not only for education, but also to select hair for their clients when they face complex technical challenges.
What sets my work apart is a combination of four things:
✔ 1. Precision + Creativity
I don’t follow templates; I solve technical puzzles. Every transformation is individually engineered.
✔ 2. Dual Expertise
Very few specialists combine high-level color work with expert-level hair extensions. Achieving a seamless blend between natural and added hair requires mastery in both.
✔ 3. European Standards, Miami Energy
My techniques were shaped by years of work in Europe, but the spirit of my salon reflects Miami — bold, expressive, and empowering.
✔ 4. A Boutique Experience
I intentionally created a salon that is the opposite of “high volume.”
We work quietly, privately, and intentionally. Each client receives time, presence, and personalized attention — which is becoming increasingly rare in the beauty industry.
In the end, what sets me apart is not only what I do, but how I do it.
I treat beauty as both a craft and an emotional experience. My mission is to make every woman who sits in my chair feel seen, valued, elevated — like the queen she already is.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The beauty industry is entering one of the most transformative decades, and I believe we are only at the beginning of a global shift in how clients experience haircare and wellness. Just a week ago, I returned from Japan — I make it a priority to travel internationally at least twice a year to study new techniques, train with global experts, and stay ahead of professional innovation.
This year, Japan completely reshaped my perspective on where our industry is headed.
I had the rare opportunity to work inside a Japanese salon, observe their methods, and train directly with Japanese masters. Their approach is incredibly precise, deeply holistic, and grounded in the health of the scalp, the longevity of the hair, and the emotional well-being of the client.
Based on this experience and the evolution I’ve seen over the last few years, I believe several major trends will define the next decade:
✔ 1. Scalp health will become the new foundation of beauty services
What is considered a “premium add-on” today will soon become standard care.
In Japan, scalp wellness is treated with the same importance as skincare — and this mindset will absolutely take root in the U.S.
✔ 2. Multi-step spa rituals will replace basic services
Clients no longer want “quick and simple.”
They want an experience — Water Head Spa rituals, aromatherapy, layered treatments, and sensory relaxation. This is where the market is going.
✔ 3. Advanced diagnostic tools will shape personalization
Digital scalp analysis, hydration measurements, pH balance testing — Japan is far ahead in technology-driven customization, and I expect the U.S. to adopt these methods rapidly.
✔ 4. Gentle, science-backed formulations will dominate
The Japanese approach to formulation is very intentional.
The American market is now shifting toward clean, effective, professional-grade products, and this trend will continue to accelerate.
✔ 5. Hyper-specialization of professionals
The era of “do-everything” artists is fading.
The future belongs to experts who focus deeply on one or two specialties and become the go-to authority in their niche.
⭐ What this means for Sorry, I’m a Queen
My time in Japan fundamentally changed the direction of my salon.
Over the next year, Sorry, I’m a Queen will expand its service menu with exclusive Japanese-inspired rituals, advanced restorative treatments, and premium spa protocols — techniques that are not available anywhere else in Miami.
These new services will include:
multi-layered scalp and hair restoration systems,
innovative infusion and steam protocols,
personalized detox and nourishment rituals,
and authentic Japanese head spa techniques brought directly from Tokyo.
We plan to introduce these innovations in 2026, offering clients an experience previously accessible only in Japan.
The future of our industry is global, wellness-driven, deeply personalized, and emotionally immersive.
And I’m proud that Sorry, I’m a Queen won’t just follow these trends — we intend to set them.
Pricing:
- Advanced Color Techniques: $450–$1,200
- Custom Hair Extensions: $800–$2000
- Japanese Water Head Spa Ritual: $250
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sorryiamqueen.com/
- Instagram: @sorry_iamqueen
- Other: https://maps.app.goo.gl/DHcy1F4tVU5dXPsz8
Image Credits
All images should be credited to: Maria Melnikova (Sorry, I’m a Queen Salon)
