Today we’d like to introduce you to Zaina Cook.
Hi Zaina, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Hair styling began as a game for me in middle school. I think every girly-girl picks up a doll and unravels some hair at some point in her childhood but my set up was different! I would line them up in order and work on one at a time, talking to them like we had a real working relationship. One day my dolls would all be going to a party and the next time they each would be doing something different, so variety was my focus. “How can we enhance what they have or mix it up all the way with a new ‘do. ” I know it sounds crazy but I played like this with my dolls well into my pre-teen years. Once I started middle school, my friends became my dolls and I would invite them over after school without my mom’s permission and do everyone’s hair for fun. More than hair styling, I liked to host! So I would be giving away all my snacks and we would watch music videos, whatever needed to get the vibe right. I just loved always being the reason my friends were having fun.
Fast forward to my mom kicking my friends out, charging me for a water bill that I had inflated with my free guest and I decided at 13 years old that I would start making money from my experience and that is when it became a business. Now that my friends were uninvited as a group, I was too old for dolls so I became my own client and started braiding my hair for fun. They loved my braids! “Zaina can you do mine?” My mom was cool with me making my own money as long as I did not increase her water bill, so that eliminated all shampoo and I became a braider. The girls would come to my house after school every other day, paying me anywhere from $25-60 for braids. They would refer to their cousins, moms, etc and I was braiding almost everyday after school. Rollin in a stack at 13!
In high school, I enrolled in the Cosmetology elective program and fell in love! Of course I had already been styling hair, graduated to sew-ins by then but the professionalism and limitless possibilities of the industry compelled me to explore more. I loved my instructor, Mrs. Fowler because she saw how great I was and she saw my passion. Fowler became my mentor and actually landed me my first salon job as an assistant. I worked freelance as an assistant for about five years, at 3 different salons around Atlanta and learned so much from each one. I would never recommend assisting that long but that’s just how much I love learning! Through my years as an assistant I learned what it was like to be valued, to be undervalued, to take criticism and to build professional relationships. One of the stylists I was assisting eventually kicked me out of the nest, told me I was using her as a crutch. I was scared to be independent! I enrolled in Atlanta Tech’s cosmetology program when my son was two and received my master cosmetologist license in 2017. I tried hair styling in several salons with other stylist, from booth rent, to commission, to some other made up misclassifications and could not seem to find a comfortable fit for me and my clients and that is when I moved into my own suite.
Even though I was scared of being alone (bored really) I was now in control! I set my small suite up nice, got my music, decorated to my taste and added my mini wine bar. I knew that I wanted to create a professional setting, not only have fun at work but I wanted my guest to be comfortable and feel relaxed. It’s literally a vibe. They came, the saw and they stayed! My business actually grew in the pandemic and I was able to lease a larger space and grow my team. I developed systems and structured the team to assure that each experience resembles the last, no matter who the stylist is because I never want to jeopardize the integrity of my purpose.
Today I enjoy teaching just as much as I love learning and I’m excited about the progress and growth of my team! They are professional, passionate and great with people. We are going to be like the Chik-fil-A of hair salons!
Alright, 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?
One of the biggest challenges to being a salon owner is establishing a proper team! Now we live in a day where everyone wants to be an entrepreneur, everyone is a creator or an influencer. Everybody wants to be the Chief and not too many Indians. It’s like having all the puzzle pieces and just trying to put them together to create the vision! I can’t tell you how many assistants I have tried that absolutely did not work for us! But this journey is teaching me each time how to restructure our interview and onboarding process. Teamwork is our most important asset at Z Chic Salon and it seems like many salons are every man for himself! I am realizing that what I am trying to create does not really exist yet and so it is hard to see the bigger picture for a lot of stylist.
Another thing I struggle with is balance of a personal and professional life. I am a single mother and often feel guilty for dedicating more time to my salon at times than I do for my son. That is something that I am always trying to improve because as much as I value the success of my business, I do not want to sacrifice these moments with my baby. We will get home sometimes after work and I’m sending emails or conducting phone interviews, etc and he wants that space so I have to multi-task a lot or be very accountable of my time so that I can be present. But he still ask for stuff all the time and wont stop growing so it’s a battle!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Z Chic Salon + Extensions?
Z Chic Salon + Extensions is a luxury salon founded by a master cosmetologist, me, Zaina Cook. In 2015, the salon was established by just one passionate hair stylist that does it all! In the last five years, the salon has since grown into a team of highly trained and skilled cosmetologists who value quality and customer service.
Our mission at Z Chic Salon + Extensions is to provide a relaxing, personalized experience through a team of highly skilled and creative professionals. Teamwork is our most valuable asset which ensures our clients are always number one, and we strive to exceed our guest’s expectations. We believe every women has the power to create her own happiness and inspire confidence in herself and others.
We retail all products from Redken and Essations that we use at the salon on our guests, but we also keep an on-hand supply of premium quality raw Indian hair extensions readily available for all of our installs. I take pride in the fact that much research was done to achieve access to great hair! I initially started selling hair because I was tired of clients complaining that they did not know where to buy quality extensions and also not having hair that blended with the hair of my clientele, It never made sense to me to burn your hair out trying to blend it with hair that looks nothing like it! I was like, “why don’t we just use hair that looks more like ours?” Problem solved!
As the owner of the salon, I specialize in high-end hair color applications such as balayage and dimensional blondes. I also am a microlink master, using different beaded techniques to enhance the natural hair. Our stylists perform an array of services from shampoo treatments and silk presses to quick weaves, sew-ins and frontal or wig applications. I am proud to have a great team that is solid and understands my vision of a great salon experience.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I love reading b0oks and learning about finances, Rich Dad, Poor Dad is one of my all time favorites because it helped me to learn investments and prioritize purchases based on residual value. I have yet to start Think, Grow, Rich but I am blessed to have a circle that puts me on! Podcasts I listen to include The Beauty Business and Thriving Stylist. I also have a business coach who owned a salon for over twenty years and became a millionaire by selling shares of it to her employees! She’s dope!
Pricing:
- The Natural Install $195+
- Bundle + Install Package $395+
- Bundle + Microlink Package $650+
- Silk press $75+
- Frontal Wig Install $265+
Contact Info:
- Email: zee@zchicexperience.com
- Website: www.ZChicExperience.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/@zchicsalon
- Facebook: facebook.com/zchicsalon
Image Credits:
@22Productions
@Jasmine.Raiford
@LydiaCymone
@BarkeiaBeauty_
@PromiscuousHair
@thecolor_goddess
