Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Johnson.
Hi Danielle, 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.
My love for all things beauty has been around for as long as I can remember from pretend make-up to life-size barbie heads full of hair that I could braid and play with. But nothing lit a fire under me as much as it did when I fell pregnant at 17 years old, and I knew it was time to make sure I did everything I could to give my baby a good life. All I could think about was that I loved anything beauty, so I went to tour Paul Mitchell the school, and I knew that was where I was meant to be. A year later, I graduated, and I had this burning passion for being a salon owner. I took on an internship immediately after graduating and learned customer service skills, and trained under master colorists at one of the top salons in Dallas. 5 years later, I knew it was time to start venturing off and being an independent stylist and learning the behind-the-scenes of running a business. I moved south of Dallas and opened up my own mini salon suite. Two years later, I took the risk and opened my very own Olivia Jayde Salon with 10 hair stations and 2 individual lash rooms in the heart of Downtown Waxahachie, TX.
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?
Being a young mom and enrolling in school to start a career to set you up for life is never smooth. I would do 12-hour days at school and work at Applebee’s being a server in between. I have always had such a great support system. My mom and dad helped us by taking our little one to and from school most days out of the week and giving up all their Saturdays to make sure we had the help we needed to succeed and set up for our future. Once I moved on to getting my full-time job in Dallas, I took on an internship that was not just physically draining but mentally and emotionally draining. Looking back on my internship and colorist job in Dallas, I am forever grateful for all of the experiences I took on and would not be the strong, hardworking, and dedicated stylist I am today without that being a part of my journey. Down the road, once I had my salon suite, I got into an ATV accident, causing me to shatter my humorous bone into multiple pieces that shocked my radial nerve and sent my arm, hands, and fingers into full paralyzation. Hearing the news that the feeling could take 9 months to come back or never at all, I thought I would never do hair again.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Olivia Jayde Salon?
Olivia Jayde Salon is an up-and-coming salon located in Downtown Waxahachie. We have 10 hair stations. 2 individual lash rooms, and a spray tan room. The style of our space is 70s-inspired; we have multiple unique murals throughout our salon as well as neon signs and bright colors everywhere you look. The girls in our team gladly offer a wide variety of beauty services such as fashion colors, hair extensions, custom lived-in colors, lash extensions, up-do styling, and more. Our team believes that our focus on professional customer service and personalized services sets us apart from others as we strive to make a positive impact on our guests from when they arrive to the moment they leave.
What was you like growing up?
I remember growing up, I was always the loud and exaggerated little girl, but I have always been a girl who has known what she wanted. Whether it be making YouTube videos on how to do makeup or trying to be creative making a random website, I always put 110% into it. Looking back from where I am today, everything makes sense on how I got here. Everything beauty and creating my own business have always been floating around in my brain for as long as I can remember.
Contact Info:
- Website:oliviajaydesalon.com
- Instagram: @oliviajaydesalontx
- Facebook: oliviajaydesalon
