Today we’d like to introduce you to Anitra Ashley.
Anitra, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
When I was a child, I remember I had a bookshelf and I would set my dolls up as If they were in a beauty salon, I couldn’t have been any older than 8. I would mix lotion and rubbing alcohol together and put it on my dolls hair as if it was a “ relaxer “, hilarious right ? So later in life, when I was in high school, I learned that our district offered technical programs for the students that were interested. But you had to obtain good grades, good record; no suspensions or serious incidents that would disqualify me from even applying to the program. The program only accepted 50 girls after going through an extensive interview process. I then began cosmetology school at the age of 16, my junior and senior years of high school, once graduating from high school, I was soon after a cosmetologist. After high school, I attended college, had a few struggles because I couldn’t understand why my focus just wasn’t in it. I attended Texas Woman’s University and came home in 2013 to finally work in my first salon. I then did online school while working and finally graduated from college in 2015, took a while but I got it done. But every since moving home in 2013, I have been working and grinding my but off in the beauty industry ever since.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It’s definitely not a smooth road. At times I struggled with should I really be doing this, is this for me? Will I ever get where I want ?? Will the clients pick up or will the clients even like me long enough for me to actually be their “ Stylist “. I have my days but I never quit. Every time I think about quitting I literally remind myself of how far I’ve come and I have NO room to quit. In the early stages, I even felt like I had to prove to myself and my parents that this is what I love and I WILL make this career work for me.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
When I first started working in a salon, all I pretty much did was Sewins. In college I build a small clientele and majority of them got Sewins. I would do relaxed hair sometimes but natural hair wasn’t a big thing at the time, it had just resurfaced but not everyone was on the natural wave yet. Now currently I do majority natural hair only, meaning chemical-free hair. A lot of my clients get silk press, I do a lot of silk press especially in the fall/ winter seasons. During the summer I do a lot of braids and Sewins, protective styles. But I will do all services year-round. Recently I’ve found myself loving to braid more because it keeps my creativity flowing. I am most proud of my company because I am starting to venture out into other areas of being a cosmetologist, I am expanding and venturing into cosmetics. I love lip gloss and lipsticks so I am starting my own line. I already sale a different array of strip lashes that I have been retailing now for a year or so. I am always pondering on how I can continue to grow my brand and how I will continue to grow my brand. I love cosmetics so I will be in this lane until I figure out the next venture. But will always remain a hairstylist ( as of now ) lol.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was shy. I really didn’t like speaking in front of people or really large crowds. I was a quiet child at times. I had friends always, never had an issue with making a friend. I loved outdoors and playing with my friends outside in the scorching Texas heat. I was a tomboy in a sense, never thought I’d be as “ girly “ as I am now. I was a basketball player starting around 11, played in middle and part of high school. I loved sports and remained to prefer active during my teenage years.
Pricing:
- Sewins – start at $150
- Silk Press – start at $70
- Box Braids – start at $175
Contact Info:
- Address: 835 station dr suite 121
Arlington tx 76015 - Website: Www.styleseat.com/idohairforever
- Phone: 817.946.0253
- Instagram: Idohairforever
- Facebook: Www.facebook.com/idohairforeverinsidec.michellehairstudio
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