Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley McDaniel.
Hi Ashley, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
From a young age, I always knew I was born to be a creator. From fashion design to interior design, to party planning, to hair and makeup design, I knew design was my destiny. I received a senior superlative as most likely to become famous because I was known as very artistic and always designing clothes, or doing hair and makeup for my friends.
After graduating in 2002, I was unsure of what to do next. I enrolled in college for business and quickly realized cosmetology was where I needed to be instead. I then enrolled in a small trade school in McKinney TX, and being so young my priorities just weren’t where they needed to be, to be a successful hairstylist…yet. I kind of did life backwards you could say. I went on to work in customer service in the corporate world for 10 years and built a family of my own.
After losing my job in 2014, I decided it was time to finally go after my dream of being a cosmetologist and once again set out to finish my once started goal. But, that’s where fear and self-doubt ended up taking a toll on me. I went for about 6 months and gave it my all and won multiple awards and was part of the success team at Ogle North Dallas. Then, out of nowhere depression hit me like a ton of bricks. I took a leave of absence and spent the next four years in a dark hole unsure of where my future was going.
Depression is real and makes you feel as though you are so alone and such a failure. I pretty much slept my life away during the day while my kids were at school, and my husband was at work. I would wake up and pull myself together in time to make dinner and be as present as I could for my family in the evenings. It wasn’t until the spring of 2019 did I make a vision board to see my goals on paper. Once again, I found myself drawn to all things beauty and cutting pictures and words out of magazines that all pertained to hair and the beauty industry. I hung my vision board on my bedroom wall and looked at it for about two weeks, and decided one day, to make a call that changed my life.
On a random weekday, I enrolled back in school. I prayed to God to give me the strength to finish the schooling that I so desperately wanted to do. At this point, I didn’t know if I would even pursue a career in the beauty industry, but more so to prove to myself I could finish something I put my mind to. I didn’t tell anyone but my husband of course, and my mother that I was going back to school. In 2014, I felt I failed very publicly and wanted to avoid anyone knowing what I was trying to accomplish with the fear it might happen again. With God’s grace, day by day, I went to school. I wrote daily affirmations and scriptures on paper and hung them next to my vision board and said all of the affirmations out loud twice a day everyday.
I found myself getting stronger and believing what the paper said. I was worthy of success, I was worthy of happiness and I DID deserve everything my heart desired. And after a few short months, I graduated cosmetology school with my closest family and friends by my side. I did it! I finally did it.
God lead me every step of the way and not only did it make me believe in myself again but it made me not afraid of fear anymore. I decided I wouldn’t let fear lead my life anymore. I had a new sense of peace and freedom to do anything with God’s help. And my amazing husband’s support got me through the toughest times of my life. I knew I didn’t want to stop with getting my licence, so I took a job that scared the heck out of me. At high paced, well-known salon in Plano TX as a commission stylist starting out. I wanted to do something that scared me and pushed me out of my comfort zone. While that salon wasn’t a perfect fit for me, I am extremely grateful for the opportunity I had there and everything I learned along the way.
I found myself at a standstill again unsure of where to go and work next. Then covid happened. Being forced to stay home really made me realize how grateful I am to have the opportunity to reset artistically. Never being booth rent before, I wasn’t confident renting a space just yet and being stuck at home gave me the time to really find my confidence and make a plan of action. Once the stay at home order was lifted, I rented my first space in a salon close to home. There I was able to grow my clientele and it took off faster and bigger than I ever imagined. Everything I had always wanted was finally happening! And after being at that local salon for 6 months another opportunity opened a whole new door for me.
My best friend from high school was working with me at the time, who is Also named Ashley (lol), at the same salon and decided to open a salon of her own. With her not being a hairstylist, not only did she open a salon and spa for herself, but she made it possible for me to be a part of something amazing! We opened Envy Salon and Aesthetics Nov 2020, and I am the salon manager and she is the salon owner and is a microblading specialist and is currently in school to be an esthetician! Even though she doesn’t do hair herself, she trusted me to manage the salon and work in the environment of my dreams. What we have built together is only something I can describe as a dream come true. I would have never thought my best friend and I would be doing what we’re doing together.
She believed in me and gave me an amazing opportunity that I will be forever grateful for. Being able to grow my business, HairbyAshleyMcDaniel inside of Envy Salon and Aesthetics has been nothing short of amazing. I now see the plan God had for me all along. I wasn’t ready in 2002, or even in 2014. God led me right where I am today for a reason. It wouldn’t be the same success If I had done this any other way. I had to learn hard lessons, find myself, find my confidence and self-worth and not let fear win. And if it weren’t for my amazing husband Cody, supporting me and all my crazy plans and aspirations, I couldn’t have achieved what I have without him.
I now know I can do anything I put my mind to, with hard work and dedication, lots of prayer, and support. Depression doesn’t have to be forever. Anxiety can be faced and you CAN prevail. I often share my story with my clients when they share they are going through a rough time because I don’t want anyone to think they are alone in feeling that way. It’s not just you, or me. We all have hard times. And it’s okay to get down in life, you just can’t stay there. There’s always a way out and help. You just have to make the decision to get help and make the necessary changes to make it happen. One day at a time. Sometimes one minute at a time. But I’m living proof you can live your dreams and you can be the best version of yourself.
I have reached all my goals on my vision board, and now I’m in the process of making a new vision board. And setting new goals for myself and my business. I want to expand my Beauty business and be an educator to help others who aspire to create and be in this amazing industry. I’m currently working on getting all the planning and details together to have my first in person training class on blonding and color theory.
Being a color and blonding specialist I get asked often if I offer courses or tutorials. While I have always had a fear of public speaking, lol I will overcome this fear and I am so excited to help teach all the artists who were just like me and looking to be inspired! 💗 It’s never ever too late to start over and follow your dreams. It may have taken me almost 18 years to follow mine, but here I am. And I’m not going anywhere!
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?
Fear of failure can be debilitating. Feeling like I wasn’t good enough to be successful made me quit my passion over and over. I am done letting fear win. Good things come when you do things that scare you. Take the chance, it may just be amazing. Change is good! And remember you didn’t come this far just to come this far. And one of my favorite quotes is “the comeback is always greater than the setback!”
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a color and blonding specialist at Envy Salon and Aesthetics in Van Alstyne Tx. I specialize in blonding the safe and healthy way. My technique of blonding is a method known as low and slow. By using low volume developers, I am able to achieve the brightest of healthy blonde. I’ve spent countless hours of continued education perfecting my craft. From blonde to any color really, I can make hair dreams a reality if the hair is in the proper condition to do the service. If the hair is compromised, I educate the client on proper home care and come up with a plan of action to get the hair where it needs to be health wise to have the hair of their dreams.
I love making others feel beautiful, and when I see one of my clients cry after an appointment of happiness, it makes it all worth it. I know I’m doing exactly what God’s plan was for me to do. I’m most proud of my journey to get where I am. My journey has made me humble and while I know I have a gift, I am not selfish with it. I want to help other stylists who are lost or unsure of what to do next. Hairstylists are only taught so much in school, it heavily relies on continuing education to be successful in this industry and drive. Success won’t be handed to you.
You have to go out and get it and I love helping other artists who have the same drive I do. Gives me purpose to see others succeed and grow. I want everyone to be successful! I’m not a mean girl, you can always sit with me and we will learn together! And I’m most known for my blonde tribe which I call the “Blondetourage” (lol), I saw that term used on a show in the early 2000s on Bret Michaels rock of love bus show and have loved the fun term ever since! 😊
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
I was told “No” a lot when starting out. I would ask to shadow other stylists and was turned down, a lot. But I took it upon myself to read about techniques and watch countless tutorial videos on professional sites. I invested in myself and my craft. I went to hair shows and they changed my life.
I saw those strong artists inspiring on a stage and knew I wanted to do that as well. But my best advice to a new stylist, is find an advanced stylist that offers apprenticeship programs. And decide what you want to specialize in. I knew I didn’t want to do men’s cuts or Perms all day so I chose to specialize in the things I loved doing most, color and blonding! I cut hair everyday, but color is my passion. Find a mentor that will allow you to ask questions and get hands-on experience. And a commission position is a good way to start out for a short time. Give you a chance to get familiar with a salon setting and build a clientele. I did have some amazing stylists who did say “yes” to letting me shadow them. And I picked their brains and asked A LOT of questions, lol. Being the perfectionist and overthinker I am, I’m grateful for their patience to answer the million questions I had starting out.
I wish I knew and remembered that everyone has to start somewhere. The best stylists in the world were new at one time. It won’t always be so scary and hard. Give yourself some grace and know you will be amazing and it will get easier.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.facebook.com/EnvySalonandAesthetics/
- Instagram: ashleymcdanielhairstylist
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acmcdaniel
Image Credits
Margarita Leon
Andrea Wagnon
