Written by Christina Norris
It’s that time of year - March! Not only does spring start, with beautiful colors outside, but it’s also Women’s History Month. This month, we strive to celebrate, empower, and listen to the women around us. The decades-long fight for women’s rights has granted women the ability to follow their dreams and own businesses, among many other rights.
Fun Fact: Ecoslay is among the many products of a woman pursuing her passion!
For Women’s History Month, we recently spoke to two female hairstylists who are passionate about their craft and want to share their inspiring entrepreneurial journeys with you.
Aakhua Au Naturale (@nefer_amen)
Aakhua, who runs Aakhua Au Naturale, focuses on promoting the wellness of natural hair for people of African descent. She specializes in styles like locks, cornrows, and creative scalp designs, encouraging people to embrace natural hair without feeling pressured to cover or alter it. Her approach is not just about styling hair, but about promoting self-love, wellness, and authenticity. She sees hairstyling as an “energy transfer” and a way to help people feel beautiful and confident in their natural state.
Aakhua's hair journey is deeply rooted in her mother's influence. Growing up, she watched her mother, a hairstylist for over 30 years, spend hours carefully styling her hair, instilling a sense of beauty and self-love in her. Despite initially saying she would never do hair, Aakhua says she was influenced by a premonition made to her mother during pregnancy - that she would become a renowned hairstylist who would help people worldwide.
Aakhua uses a donation-based system in Costa Rica, where she currently resides, to make her services accessible. She enjoys creating intricate designs, such as cornrows, and sculpting divine symbols on her clients' scalps.
K. Renee Hair Studios (@kreneehairstudios)
Kendra is the owner of K Renee Hair Studios, which is located in Marietta, Georgia. She specializes in curly hair styling from slight waves to tight coils. She is passionate about educating people on how to maintain and style their curly hair.
Kendra grew up in Thornton, a suburb of Denver, Colorado, which she described as a "homogeneous" place with little diversity. As a biracial woman (her mother is German, and her father is Jamaican), she struggled with her hair, making her feel different. She was often made fun of and given nicknames. Kendra used relaxers from a young age and experienced traumatic haircuts and salon visits. These early experiences made her feel ashamed of her natural hair and pressured to change its appearance to look "presentable" or "professional," especially when she later worked in the tech industry.
After Kendra made the transition to hairstyling, K Renee Hair Studios emerged from Kendra's experience in a toxic salon environment. After feeling taken advantage of and wanting more control over her work, she decided to become an entrepreneur. Her goal was to create a space where she could set her hours, determine her pay, and build the kind of professional environment she wanted. By starting her studio, she could focus on educating clients about curly hair care and helping them embrace their natural hair texture.
Kendra now runs an intimate, one-on-one studio in Marietta, specializing in all types of curly hair and offering personalized styling and coloring services. She enjoys doing hair coloring for curly hair, helping clients achieve colors they never thought possible while maintaining their hair integrity.
The Impact Hairstylists Have On Our Lives
Finding a hairstylist you trust can be difficult sometimes, but it is truly worth it once they're discovered. A good hairstylist is someone with whom you can share your hair and communicate and grow. Clients' feelings and smiles once they have well-done hair are always beautiful!
These female stylists bring unique perspectives and solutions to the marketplace, fostering diversity and inclusivity in business. We strive to celebrate them and the many other women who foster creativity throughout the year.
Tips On Finding a Hairstylist and Consultations
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Know what style(s) you’re looking for and what you like.
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Look up inspiration photos! They can give you an idea of what you and a stylist want.
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Communicate your hair needs. Your stylist needs to know if you’re tender-headed or allergic to certain chemicals.
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A good stylist cares about your wants and vision. They also have a good professional attitude!
Pro Tip! If you need assistance finding a hair salon, we recommend visiting https://absolutelyeverythingcurly.com/find-a-salon/.
