Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasmine Terrell
Hi Jasmine, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey into hair and becoming a hair stylist started young. When I had the tools, I always did things to my hair that seemed “different”. I remember a set of mini curling irons that a family friend bought me in elementary school. I would put my hair into a bun, using a sock, and leave a bit of hair out in the middle to spiral curl. I would wear my bun with a faux flower scrunchie and match it with my clothes. After a while, the other girls started doing the same thing. I was a little trend setter.
By the time I got to eleventh grade, I started to do other people’s hair too. They trusted me to do anything to their hair and started paying me too. It wasn’t until much later that I realized that being a hairstylist could be more than just a hobby for me.
As a young adult, I attended hair school and soon after went to work as an “assistant” for a hairstylist with a thriving business. I was all too eager to show off my skills and learn from her. I found out very quickly that the hair industry is much like ’13th grade’. People can and will take advantage of your eagerness to do learn, do well, and exploit your labor. I lasted 6 months before I left. It’s important to be sure of yourself and find someone who wants to help you grow. After a short stint at a chain salon, I worked in a dedicated space a home to accommodate my family life.
During that time, I used social media to network with other beauty business owners and beauty enthusiasts. After a few tries, I was successful in creating a thriving Facebook group. DMV Beauty Lovers is 5 years in and is “bot-free”. I have had many opportunities come my way from its success. I have collaborated with other beauty professionals and made real allies in the industry. With that being said, I started a new group called Dallas Beauty Lovers and will continue to maintain both. It is my hope to restore some faith in finding local service providers and like-minded individuals to discuss what we’re passionate about.
It wasn’t until 2022 that I returned to a salon full-time. It was such a wonderful experience! It made me believe that a healthy salon environment was possible again. If I weren’t already set to relocate to Dallas, I would have stayed at Salon D Renee in Baltimore. I was able to focus on refreshing my portfolio, niching down in my craft, sharing a few skills, and made new friends. I specialize in natural hair care, realistic hair extension solutions and custom hair color. Most recently, I have focused my energy on launching a wig line. It’s hard to be in in two locations 1300 miles apart, so this wig line helps me to meet the needs of my existing clientele too. In the future, I hope to join a salon again, whether it is preexisting or one of my own. I miss the comradery and being able to connect with people in person. Collectively, we have gotten very comfortable with being detached.
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?
My most recent set of challenges has been relocating to a new city. Everything is bigger in Texas. I have fallen in love with the area. I am working on making my mark here and networking. I have found myself having to adapt. The way I used to get referrals won’t work here because I’m brand new. I’m open the making those changes and exploring other possibilities.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in natural hair care, realistic hair extension solutions and custom hair color. Most recently, I have focused my energy on launching a wig line. I believe that customer service and genuine relationship building is lacking in the beauty industry at this moment. Those are core values necessary to have a sustainable business. People make the business. I’m very proud of my ability to connect with others online.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Once I understood that no matter the accomplishments, we are all “equals”, it was easier to find a mentor. I find that confidence, genuity and being open are the most important factors to connecting with others. Networking takes real effort.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://blacksapphirehair.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/jas_didthat
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JasTerrell/
- Other: https://linktr.ee/blacksapphirehair
Image Credits
Model: Quanisha Ellis
MUA: Tamara Barnett
Photographer: Naaman Brown
