Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Douglas.
Hi Ashley, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
Growing up I’ve always had a passion for hair and all things beauty. My first client was my mom she was the one who taught me how to braid when I was around 12 years young and let’s just say that I wasn’t so enthusiastic about it lol. I started doing box braids, kinky twist, and even pinch plaits the worst. I started doing hair for her friends and anyone who would let me practice on them I became so obsessed with hair I watched youtube videos and even enrolled in dual enrollment at Evans high school with Mrs. Nicholson. I never finished back then but soon that all changed when I turned 25 ran into my high school cosmetology teacher at Publix and expressed my desires to finish cosmetology school. I was in luck she told me she was over the cosmetology program at Westside Tech and told me to come up to the school and enroll so that’s exactly what I did. I got my license November 7, 2018 and I was so proud I finally accomplished my goal of becoming a Licensed cosmetologist. I began my journey at Hair Cuttery and it was great learned to cut men’s hair, color, and blowouts. But the pay wasn’t enough so I had to move on around Feb 2019 I started working under Salon owner Michelle Lundy at Xpose’ Hair Loft and I was learning more about ethnic hair and how to run a salon business. I loved working here I was getting into lace wigs, closures, sew-ins, color and cuts, braids, and silk pressing kinky curly hair. I was happy here but I needed to grow more into my own boss and I wanted to make more money. I was a commission stylist making 50% of my income. By the summer of 2019, I moved to a salon located in pine hills Florida where I stared to build a name for myself. I felt good I was making 100% of my income and there were walk-ins daily but things took a plot twist in March 2020 when salons were forced to close due to Covid 19. I began mobile styling and taking Clients from home for about a year and a half I had to make it happen. March 2021 I was talking with my Friends mom and she told me she found a spot that would be perfect for me. I wasted no time and I went to see the location the next day, I spoke with the property manager and completed all requirements to become the owner of the space and in no time, I was an official salon owner! My dreams became a reality and I got what my heart desired the most… to be my own boss!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
There were many obstacles along the way Covid 19 was a definitely a major shift for me. I had to balance my children in virtual school while working crazy hours. I worked odd jobs to bring in more income, I worked at target overnight in the beauty department, was a server at longhorn for about a month, and even did a few bartending gigs. I found those options to be no success because it took my focus off of hair and drained me to the point, I didn’t have work-life balance. I had no energy to post content which made viewers think I stopped doing hair altogether. I lost clients from not being in the salon and some people moved on but that never stopped the show. I took some losses but I always kept persevering. I spent hundreds of dollars taking continuing education courses and traveling to gain knowledge and provide the best services to my clients. Dealing with rude customers and even scammers were also a challenge but I created strict policies to keep clients like this away. I also had to learn how to say no, create work-life balance to have work hours that accommodated me being a single parent. No matter the challenge I never lost sight of the goal and what I wanted for myself as a young entrepreneur. There are plenty of ups and downs but I am thankful for them because without adversity I wouldn’t know how to handle the side of business no one ever talks about.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Licensed cosmetologist services include knotless box braids, microlinks, silkpress, relaxers, wigs, steam treatments, and more.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love the feeling I get from providing good customer service to my clients. I dislike when clients cancel appointments without notice because it throws my day off and I lose out on money and time. I love how much my clients trust me with caring for their hair.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://AshleyReneeTheSlayStation.as.me/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theslaystation_/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqLhl9lAAq6sW1f2OZphlDQ
Image Credits
Marley Bingham
Shanna
