Today we’d like to introduce you to Kali Jordan
Hi Kali, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I knew I wanted to be a hairdresser after my first experience in a real high quality salon. When I was 15 my parents were desperate for me to stop skipping school so they agreed I could do any hair color at any hair salon that I chose if I would just go to school and get perfect attendance for the rest of the year. I sent an email to Lambs Eat Ivy in Thornton Park that literally said “can you dye my hair blue?” I got my hair done for about a year there and I just absolutely fell in love with the whole experience. I got my hair done by a guy named Greg who smoked cigarettes, cursed and talked about whatever he felt like and wore whatever he wanted. He spoke to me like I was his peer and not just a little kid. I just knew that’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to be just like Greg. I went to beauty school right after high school but I was more focused on going out and having a good time at that time than I was pursuing a career. It wasn’t until I had my first child that I decided to get serious about life and found myself assisting at the best salon ever, Bravado Elite Salon in Rockledge. During my time away from hair I had learned the crochet method for installing and maintaining dreadlocks and dreadlock extensions. I had locked and maintained my own dreadlocks for about 5 years or so when I started working at Bravado. When I started posting about having openings for hair appointments people started asking me if I did dreadlocks so my clientele started to grow. Pretty soon I found myself doing dreadlocks more than any other hair services. I decided to move my business to Orlando in 2021 to be in a more populated and diverse area. I opened a salon suite that I called Salon 22 in Baldwin Park that was open for 3 years. September 2024 I moved my business to Maitland and opened a different salon suite that I call Roots & Rituals. My dream for the new space is to be everything that Salon 22 was to me and to others, but the grown and sexy version. I have goals to grow a team and build a boutique salon that focuses on holistic beauty and wellness. But for now I’m perfecting my craft and getting my name out there.
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?
Gosh, no. Looking back I want to say it was easy but it always feels like that once you’re on the other side of a hurdle. I opened my business in Orlando in February 2021 and became a single mom in March of 2021. When I opened the business I was working very part time and I didn’t even have the clientele to cover the overhead. At the time doing hair was just a passion project essentially but overnight it needed to provide for me and my 2 kids at the time. Getting clients isn’t easy especially when you’re new in the area with not a lot of previous work to share. But I spent money and I took courses and I did the work and I was able to market myself and start building a clientele. Learning how to use social media was also a big struggle of mine. I still struggle with it now as it’s always changing. It can be hard to remain consistent virtually when you’re so busy in reality.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a licensed cosmetologist and professional loctician. I own a boutique salon suite located in Maitland Florida where I specialize in crochet dreadlock installation, maintenance and extensions as well as hand tied hair extensions. I have been behind the chair for 7 years and running my own business for the last 4 years. I am most proud of being able to say that I help women to feel more themselves. Anyone can make someone’s hair nice but it’s really talent to make someone feel good in their own skin. I think what sets me apart from others is my attention to detail as well as my ability to gain trust with my clients.
How do you define success?
Being happy and fulfilled in life. Reaching goals you have set. At the end of my life I want to look back happy at the full life I’d lived instead of wishing I had lived more.
Pricing:
- Dreadlock Services $75/hour
- Hand tied hair extension installation $350 and $175 for move ups
- Hand tied hair extensions $400+
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vagaro.com/rootsandrituals
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kali.thestylist?igsh=MTNwNXR5ZDVzOWN6aw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17vS7RAW19/?mibextid=wwXIfr
