Today we’d like to introduce you to Bee Smothers.
Bee, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
It all started with some soul searching near the end of my junior year in college. I was a psychology major and I was beginning to panic because I didn’t have any real post-graduate plans. I no longer saw myself as the child psychologist I wanted to be growing up. As I went over other career options in my mind, the idea of having to go through more schooling was an automatic “no” for me. I couldn’t think of anything I was passionate enough about to pursue.
I asked myself, “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?” and “What do you think you would be happy doing?” I have always been a very strong-willed person, so the first thing I could think of was that I had to be my own boss. The next question was, “What type of business would you open?” I started to think of things that I was already naturally good at and it literally never dawned on me until that moment that I wanted to be a hairstylist and own a salon one day. I had been doing my friends and family’s hair for years but never thought to make a career out of it. So, there was the plan. I would finish college and enroll in cosmetology school.
I embarked on my journey to becoming a salon owner in March 2011, enrolling in cosmetology school at Aveda Institute Atlanta. From there, I worked at several different salons which have all provided me with education and skills to get me to where I am today. I decided to step out on faith and start my own business when I grew tired of working in someone else’s salon and being forced to do things their way. I began to dread going to work every day, so I knew something had to change. I officially became a business owner in March 2016 when I opened my first salon suite. Working for myself in that way allowed me to understand more of the business side of things and helped me transition into opening my own storefront in July 2019.
Has it been a smooth road?
There have definitely been several challenges along the way. One of the biggest obstacles I faced was a lawsuit filed against me by the salon that I left to start my own business. Just one month into working in my new salon suite I was served with the lawsuit that forced me to move to a location 10 miles away from my former employer. I had seven days to move out of my suite and find another one that worked for me. I spent the rest of the year (my first year in business) fighting the lawsuit until a settlement was reached. I can say that God was by my side throughout that whole ordeal and he meant every bit of it for my good. For me, It gave real meaning to one of my favorite bible verses, Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon formed against you shall prosper…”
I realized that God’s plan for my life was greater than my own. He forced me to think on a larger scale and also to take away some lessons that would help me in the future. I believe that any obstacle we face is meant to grow us. It’s up to us to be open to allowing that growth to take place.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Bee Defined Salon Studio story. Tell us more about the business.
I created my brand, “Bee Defined” to serve as a promotion of self-love, with the mission to encourage young girls and women of all ages to define their own beauty and not succumb to societal standards.
I’ve always considered myself to be a multicultural hairstylist because, to me, hair is hair and I can do it all. However, I specialize in natural hair, precision cuts and color, with tapered natural haircuts being one of my most requested services. Healthy hair always comes first!
I want my salon, Bee Defined Salon Studio, to be the exception as it relates to salon professionalism and quality of work. I take pride in setting my business apart from other salons by truly catering to my clients’ salon experience from start to finish.
I am proud to be in a position to make a difference in someone’s life on a daily basis. Through my work, I hope to continue to uplift, empower, and unify women. I will be working on salon and community events in the near future to help carry out my mission. It is so much bigger to me than just doing hair.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The beauty industry is forever evolving. I am happy that natural hair is being celebrated as much as it is now and I believe it will continue to be a dominant force in the industry in years to come. I believe stylists will want to gain more knowledge about all hair types and textures, and popular product brands will no longer cater to just one type of hair. These are things that I do see happening now but I also see how it is met with resistance by many. Soon, those people will have to get on board.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3153 Sugarloaf Pkwy Ste 113, Lawrenceville, GA 30045
- Website: www.bee-defined.com
- Phone: 6783955025
- Email: beedefined@gmail.com
- Instagram: @beedefined
- Facebook: beedefined
Image Credit:
Victor Rodriguez/VMR Images, Demi Digitals Photography
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