Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Bennett.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
In 2013 I graduated from Southeast Missouri State with a degree in Journalism and Integrated Marketing Communications.
Upon graduation I didn’t have a job yet and I was still staying at home. I have a cousin who is a cosmetologist and made the suggestion to me to come and let her teach me a few things regarding hair so I could make some money on the side until I found a job.
My cousin taught me how to braid on a mannequin head and I remember I would just keep practicing and practicing until I got it right.
Fast forward two months later I took a one way train ticket down to Houston Texas to visit not planning on staying at all but sometimes life comes at you quick so I found myself in Houston not able to go back to St. Louis.
A week after realizing I had to stay in Houston I got a job as a braider at this Salon and I just remember thanking God that my cousin taught me how to braid two months prior.
Working in that salon was the start of doing and falling in love with hair for me. I moved to Dallas in 2015 and started cosmetology school in January of 2018 and it was the best decision I could have made for myself.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not been a smooth road at all I must say. I was very close to being homeless a few times while I was in Houston. I also suffered with depression and anxiety all while going through cosmetology school.
When you are in situations like that where you feel like the odds are stacked against you my biggest advice would be is to focus on things that you do have control over and keep going.
Write your goals out yearly, monthly, maybe even daily if you need to I feel when you have something to work towards if you just telling yourself to keep going towards those goals no matter what and see it through you can push through almost anything. You will feel good about crossing goals off your list no matter how big or small they may be.
Also, I feel what helped me was going to therapy. It was so refreshing to have someone in my life I could talk to with no judgments but also kept it real with me. Going to therapy made me recognize that I had trouble setting boundaries and had toxic people in my life that were not benefiting me.
When you learn to set boundaries in your life and rid yourself of any negative or toxic things be it people or jobs you see how less stressful your life can be.
What should we know about Crowned By Ash Nicole? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am a healthy hair care specialist. I specialize is natural hair care, growing hair, braids. Children’s hair, Microlink Extensions natural styles.
As a hairstylist, I pride myself on educating women on how to properly care of their hair and getting rid of that stigma that black women can’t grow their hair long. It’s also important to me to make sure I provide a quality service versus just doing hair for the money. It’s bigger than the money for me I want to educate people and help them achieve whatever goals they may have for their hair.
Looking back on your childhood, what experiences do you feel played an important role in shaping the person you grew up to be?
I think what has set me up for success in my childhood is that I had very positive examples of women taking care of business by any means necessary.
All the women in my family are go getters, they work hard and encouraged me to also do my best and at the same time to give back any way that I can.
I am a hard worker, I’m not afraid of the hustle or the grind. You can’t spell hustle without STL which is where I’m from. St. Louis the Show Me State.
I keep that mentality with me in the back of my mind. Nothing in life is worth having if you don’t work hard to achieve it. So whatever obstacles I may face they may make be stumble a bit but I always find a way to get through them.
Contact Info:
- Address: 13740 Midway Rd Dallas TX 75244
- Phone: 2814089691
- Email: a.bennett08@yahoo.com
- Instagram: Crownedby_AshNicole
- Other: https://www.styleseat.com/CrownedByAsh?utm_campaign=vanity
Image Credit:
Elize Photography on black and white photo, Danielle Brooke on photo of 4 girls, Ashley Bennett in remaining, unknown on steps photo
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