I'm coming into this business with many years direct experience within this industry. My personal interest has extended back 15 years on a more leisure basis. Keeping abreast to the latest trends of hair and hair care. I was introducted to this hair extension game from a very young age. I was rocking clip-in ponytails back in 95'. I was installing extensions to rock stacked curls in 96' ......... I was doing all of this when most girls were still wearing braids like Brandy. Those were the days when bamboo earrings and chaparrita's was it! You know the days ........ gold ball that were turned into flowers and pinned in your pony to make it look fly. lol..... that was the saying back then. I go way back!
At 16 years old my hair game went from bold to more of a refined look..... I moved to pin curls and 12" weaves. At this point I knew what I wanted to do as a career....... I wanted to learn the skill and craft of hair styling. So......... I went to work at a local beauty salon assisting the hairstylist and owner with booking of hair appointment ordering of products and sometimes washing and roller setting of client’s hair. Just to get some experience.
Being exposed to this field gave me a good feel for the industry hence furthering my interest in this business. Family and friends would describe me as a creative and crafty individual that always prides herself on looking good and most important having the best hair and hair styles possible.
After years of having this interest and working at the salon, I realized that as a hair stylist there are benefits and downfalls in the hair styling industry.
In Toronto hairstyling in the black hair community was one of the top choices and must do career choices in 1998. Everyone wanted to be a hairdresser. The field was overwhelmed. I also realized that hairstyling had long hours, limited breaks and the saying “When it rains it pours” was very true. When the money was coming….. it was coming. But when the money wasn’t coming it truly wasn’t. Hairstyling had its ups and downs and sometimes inconstant moments. So, when it was time to choose a career, I went with something more traditional. A nine to five job. Being a single parent, this was the choice that I had made to provide for my child and offer stability and a steady income. My dreams were put on hold.
Nevertheless I chose a different career path, I always had my mind on the dream. Although I was not a professional hairstylist or licensed, during college I supported herself and my child by styling hair for friends and family members making a decent living. In 2001 within a short period of time I was known for weaving and making wigs. That is when I was truly exposed to the world of hair extensions.
Weather it was reading hair magazines, visiting the local beauty supply stores or making wigs, I was hooked. All eyes were always on people’s hair and hair extensions. Just by a quick glance I could tell quality verses “cheap” hair extensions or installations. In hair magazine I could notice if even a strand of hair was out of place, where there were mistakes and what would made it look better.
So, I had a new dream……it was still in line with the old one however this would be a more lucrative and exciting business opportunity.
In 2011 I aligned myself with a well-known virgin hair company as a Sales rep. This is where I started to get a better understanding of the hair extensions industry…. What worked verses what didn’t work. The customer service, the product, the proper hair care, the manufactures, the targeted market, marketing, sales, demand and profit.
I believe that I’m truly knowledgeable about this industry, hence the eagerness that lead me to starting this business. I can truly say that this was something that was 15 years in the making.
