Today we’d like to introduce you to Kiara Ross.
Hi Kiara, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It seems like just yesterday that I was introduced to the beauty industry! Early on, during my routine salon appointments with my mother, I would watch stylists work on their clients. Eagerly, I would also practice on my Bratz doll, which I tended to carry everywhere! I quickly picked up on the technique of braids, and as I got older, I would do my friends’ hair — the rest is history. From that point, I started doing hair in my mom’s living room. With much time and patience, I now have my own suite located in Dallas.
Hair and beauty is my passion; I put my heart and soul into my art. I tried to leave it behind once I started attending Sam Houston State University, but before I knew it, I grew steady clientele on campus. After graduating and relocating back to east Texas, I was not able to thoroughly provide the services that my clients desired. What I looked at as a setback actually lead me into my next project: The Dream Kollection. I created my brand, The Dream Kollection, with the idea of achieving the looks of your dreams through creatively styling natural hair, weave extensions, installs, and braid techniques. Traditional styles are nice, but having the versatility to express yourself through different hairstyles is a little bit more empowering!
The Dream Kollection is based in East Texas, but our love spreads nationwide! We specialize in providing an experience to each woman who aspires to be the best version of herself. Whether she is the bold and sassy lady who wakes up to chase her far-fetched dreams, or whether she is the introvert that just loves to take selfies while looking presentable on a daily basis — No matter what your goal is, we are here to cater to your beauty needs and desires!
I moved to Dallas in 2019 for a job as a microbiology tech. I accepted the job to follow a career path in the science realm and quickly learned that it was not something I wanted to do for my entire life. Although I was afraid to venture out and take on braiding in Dallas originally, I eventually built a family within my clients, and I am grateful that they believe in me. I enjoy engaging with my ladies and gents, and knowing that they support me in my craft is definitely a feeling beyond words! When I relocated, I put my all into The Dream Kollection, and it has opened a multitude of opportunities for me. Soon I will be launching a self-care collective that focuses on heightening personal self-care routines, from the luxury of your own home. My advice to anyone is to always keep God first, follow your dreams, and do what is set in your heart with good intentions, you can never fail!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The journey to success is never smooth, but I have thoroughly enjoyed having to take the alternate route. The biggest challenge for me was relocating. I relocated to Dallas in October 2019, a couple months shy of the beginning of the pandemic, and shifted the dynamic of being able to do hair drastically. In the beginning, I was comfortable traveling to accommodate my clients back home but soon realized that I would have to focus that is energy into attracting new clientele in Dallas. I was working overnight as a microbiology technician in a lab, and during the day I passed out flyers and business cards, utilized social media outlets and just told anyone that would listen that I was available to service their hair needs. Right when my business began to pick up, we were faced with the limitations of social distancing due to the covid outbreak. However, I continued to push my business and I am still here today with even greater aspirations for my company and personal life!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in braid styles and extension installs. My favorite style to do is knotless braids because no matter what size you get, they will always be versatile and pretty.
Here recently, I have been making my own products for hair, skin, and body wellness. I appreciate what my body allows me to do daily and I want to increase self-love awareness in the world so that more people are appreciative of their bodies, too!
I am most proud of the way I am able to execute my business, work at the lab (clinical laboratory for diagnostic testing), and still maintain a healthy balance of fun and personal time. I feel like my work ethic distinguishes me from others because I go hard all day, doing a multitude of tasks, and still find joy in my day without complaining. I have learned that celebrating small positives and wins in the tasks you complete daily will motivate you to keep going and strengthens your focus within your goals.
Pricing:
- Knotless / Box Braids – $200-$300
- Extensions Installs – $120 & up
- Straight backs & Feed-In Braids – $65 & up
- Bonnets / Hair Care Essentials + Accessories – coming soon!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thedreamkollection.com
- Instagram: @keyydidit
- Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/pretty.keyy16
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCP4LNNdXrK-iN6KU5LtR8QA
Image Credits
@neimanflournoy5
@theylovekeyy
