Meet Emilienne Ngo Yepga of Amillion Hair & Extensions in Cobb County

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emilienne Ngo Yepga.

Emilienne, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My name is Emilienne Ngo Yepga. I was born in West Africa (Cameroon) and migrated to Switzerland with my family when I was a teenager. Once in Switzerland, I was faced with not only culture shock, but I had to learn a total new language (German/Swiss German) while learning the basics of English in high school. I quickly learned to adapt to my new way of life while modeling part-time, although I didn’t particularly like the food and the weather!

After graduating high school, I took a year’s sabbatical from my studies to travel. I travelled to New York and New Jersey, where I fell in love with the beauty industry. I think it was in New Jersey that my host family took me to the mall, where I fell in love with the way American women did their hair. I remember telling my host mother that I would become a hairdresser and hoped to own my own group of salons one day. At that time, my English was so terrible, she probably thought I was not being very serious.

At the end of my vacation, I returned to Europe and my modeling career, where I did a lot of runway work in Paris, Germany and Switzerland. My sabbatical year was at its end and so I had to find an apprenticeship or go to College. I decided to attend a private business school and a few years later I graduated with an Executive Assistant Diploma. Securing a good job as an executive assistant in Switzerland required fluency in at least in 3 or 4 languages. I already spoke French, German and some English, but my Spanish was very weak so I went to Spain for a while and improved my Spanish tremendously. It was while I was in Spain that I discovered the wonderful world of hair extensions, and although I loved modeling, I had three great desires that were impossible for me to resist: I wanted to work in the beauty business, I wanted to be an actress and I wanted to do them both in the USA.

After working in a Law Firm in France for one and a half years, I applied and was accepted to the famous Lee Strassberg Acting School in Los Angeles. Although I had no prior experience acting, my assumption that my experiences modeling and being a former candidate for Miss Swiss would help me be accepted to Lee Strassberg proved to be correct. I packed all my belongings, moved to Hollywood, and attended the acting school for one year then graduated. Ironically, my experiences left me jaded as I realized that most successes in Hollywood depended on who you knew and not your acting abilities. Given that I was not much of a fan of auditioning either, I soon yearned to explore a path that would give me more satisfaction in life. I knew that I didn’t want to go back to working behind a desk, and so I decided to go back to school yet again… this time for Cosmetology. Within a year, I had my Master Cosmetology License and three years later, I went back to school to get my instructor license. I opened my first hair extensions Studio in West Hollywood after less than four years in the industry.

Business was good but I felt like something was missing. I felt like I needed a change of scenery for a variety of reasons. In 2015 I packed up again closing my studio and drove to Atlanta, where I didn’t know anyone. Moving to Atlanta was a great decision in my life; it was not easy but it was definitely worth it. I now teach at Empire Beauty School and I run my own Hair Extension Studio in Marietta. My ultimate goal is to open a beauty school for less fortunate children around the world. Opening a school in Africa would be the realization of one of my life’s dreams… until then, I am happy teaching here in the U.S. and occasionally volunteering with Atlanta Mission to feed the homeless.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Business is Business. It has not been a smooth road and it won’t be or everyone would be doing it. But the challenges are well worth it. Building a solid clientele was not and is not easy. Running a business while hoping to expand. A lot of nights when you can’t get your eyes closed because you are thinking about the business.

Please tell us about Amillion Hair & Extensions.
I specialize in Hair Extensions as well as long hair cut and color (Highlights). I do all types of Extensions: Weaves, Micro links, Infusions, Tapes in, Brazilian Knots. Just to name a few.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I was born in a small village in Cameroon and grew up there. It takes a village to raise a child that an African saying and I definitely felt it. All the love and attention. So being the center of attention and feeling that unconditional love is my best childhood memory.

Pricing:

• Basic Weave start @ $ 225
• Microlinks $3/strand
• Tapes in Extensions $250 & up
• Braidless Sew In $250

Contact Info:

• Address: 2000 Powers Ferry Road S.E Marietta GA 30067 Suite F
• Website: Styleseat.com/Emiliennevybb
• Phone: 2138405603
• Email: amillionhair@gmail.com
• Instagram: Sleekhair101
• Facebook: Amillion Hair & Extensions Salon LLC
• Twitter: Amillion Hair & Extensions Salon LLC
• Yelp: Amillion Hair & Extensions Salon LLC

Image Credit:
Emilienne

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