Meet Sess (Sess Lee Curls) Cannon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sess (Sess Lee Curls) Cannon.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
At first, I was inspired to do curly hair because of growing up with curly hair in a biracial home and my mom not knowing much about how to care for mine. I, of course, went from stylist to stylist hoping for answers to what I thought was my ‘problem’ with my hair. My mom being white she honestly didn’t know what she was doing, so some stylists judged her, others took advantage of her lack of knowledge, while some just experimented and hoped for the best.

In my elementary years into high school, I was in and out of different homes due to my dad passing and my mom struggling with drugs. I was able to take tidbits from each home I was in and apply what I could. I found out that I loved doing hair while still experimenting with my own but I haven’t quite figured mine out all the way. After being in college and working in accounting in a great company, I decided to go to cosmetology school and became licensed in cosmetology in 2010. Then licensed to educate in 2015.

In the midst, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder and eventually turned to clean living for remission instead of traditional medicine being that it was doing more harm than good. I then realized it was more than just curly hair I was passionate about, it was educating women about how to care for not just your hair but yourself from the inside out. I saw how amazing my curls were just by letting them be and feeding not just my hair but my body with REAL things. It was amazing and what I had been looking for for so long. That is when I found that good health is what makes the outside flourish whether it was hair or body or even spirit.

I was always passionate about creating an environment that was free of judgement but full of encouragement and real genuine care. So that’s what I did. I started Sess Lee Curls and have helped young girls who used to be me as well as encouraged women to feel confident with their own hair while giving them the tools to care for it beyond just styling. Having a precious curly-haired girl of my own just propelled me into this vision even more which started the invention of my hair product. My husband and I were led to Dallas in January of 2016.

Huetiful Salon, a natural hair salon that was in Atlanta and Chicago was opening in Arlington, and they were looking for Lead stylists to open the salon. I applied in November and my family, and I were in Texas on the first of January. With much fear and much faith we left our home in Illinois and came to Texas so I could expand. I worked for Huetiful from January to July of 2016 when I went on maternity leave. When I decided to come back to work, I decided to go out on my own, and open Sess Lee Curls salon in Arlington is specializing in only natural hair care, styling, and education.

I opened my books in November of 2016, and they immediately booked for the next seven-eight months. From that time to now, I am currently the Brand Education Director for CURLS natural hair products, a Panelist and speaker, mentor to other stylists in the natural hair industry, in the midst of a US hands-on styling tour, hand making my product FLOURISH that still sells in beauty supply stores in Illinois and in Texas, as well as on my website www.sessleecurls.com, international wedding stylist, mother to four children, a wife and a stylist still working behind the chair with no available openings until mid 2020.

And I know God is just getting started. Coming to Dallas, I wanted to bring professional hair styling for the professional woman who just wanted to wear her natural hair, have it look good and feel amazing while doing it. I wanted to bring professional education back to hair styling and make hair care a priority without double booking! To create an environment that women could get in and out, have healthy natural hair with styling options beyond just straightening and tailored regimens to fit each individual person. It was about creating experiences for people all while continuing to grow and push myself.

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?
There are always going to be struggles along the way to teach you and groom you for the next season. Every struggle has purpose in the lesson. One of my biggest lessons was learning you can never become successful alone. It takes having a team and allocating necessary things to people who specialize in those things. Getting an accountant, a lawyer, a banker and allocating money correctly, so you are not just styling hair but really running a business.

We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I am a licensed hair stylist and educator specializing in providing professional care for textured hair. I do not do relaxers or any other texture-altering chemicals. In my chair not only will you get styled in something that compliments YOUR style and YOUR lifestyle, you will also get educated on the process to get you to your goals.

I am most proud of the organic grind it took to get here. I didn’t have luck nor did I have to compromise my integrity or credentials to get people in my chair. Even if that meant passing up on things that could have given me 15 minutes of fame I knew those things never last. Pure hard work and being obedient to God and his direction for me over my own was the formula.

I believe what sets me apart from others is honestly the education and the experience I create for those in my chair. I am a natural hair stylist who truly does natural hair. You get natural styling options with the purpose of reaching a personalized goal that we have crafted for you and your hair. You get professional care for your textured hair.

I am passionate about educating and creating an environment that makes you better after being in it. Whether it’s your mood, your knowledge, your perspective, your look or even your belief. I also believe that if I can get my clients hair healthy as it can be then styling comes easy. It’s the caring-for that has been missing.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
There is no such thing as luck for me! You have no idea how much I’ve prayed.

Contact Info:

• Address: 4101 S Cooper St Arlington Texas
• Website: www.sessleecurls.com
• Phone: 3096437309
• Email: sessleecurls@gmail.com
• Instagram: @sesslee_curls
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sess.barrett
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sess-lee-curls-arlington

Image Credit:
lavishlyluxstudio.com

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