Today we’d like to introduce you to Nakisha Merrell.
Hi Nakisha, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My journey began as early as pre-teen, watching my aunt do hair and amazed at watching her, I knew then what I wanted to do, so the story of my life began. In high school, I was known as a kitchen beautician and I was pretty good my mom allowed me to style hair at home and she encouraged me to charge more because of that I was just proud people wanted me to do their hair, in high school my band director would let me use a practice room to style hair I would even style hair in the gym that’s how dedicated and how much passion I had for my craft. Right after high school, I attended South Georgia Technical College Cosmetology program where I had the opportunity to attend one of the best shows ever which was Bronner brothers and became even more excited at that point I wanted to do it all at that time, I didn’t know where I was going but I knew I had to leave my town where I grew up at to do it so I pushed even harder for my career so I graduated two years later and went back for a degree in business because I need this degree so I could learn the back in to operate my salon whenever I became an owner because I knew one day I would I graduated with a business degree. First salon my husband and myself set me up a small home salon, a couple of years later, we moved to Atlanta, after working in a couple of salons I appreciate the opportunities but I didn’t like how some salons was being ran and I couldn’t change there so me and some friends open up a suite and work it until we outgrew it from there I went out and I open my own storefront which is now Salon K Merrell and still going seven years later.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road, being a mother and wife trying to get to your goals, trying to start a business has caused Some storms in my life because I didn’t know how to separate the two relationships, but as I got older, I learned that you have to separate all relationships whether it be personal, family, friends and business to become a successful business owner. I called it the storm before the sun.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Salon K Merrell?
I am the Owner of Salon K Merrell, I am a Master’s cosmetologist and I am a mentor. In my business, I love a challenge. I am eager to teach but more eager to learn. I want my old team to be successful, so I designed my business on fairness and growth so I support my team on their business adventure in my salon everybody eats if there great, I’ll be great and that’s what makes everyone determined to come in and go hard because I’m always going hard that’s what makes me a brand all in itself dedication and hard work (lead by example). In my salon, I offer natural hair, cuts, weaving, braiding and makeup and a feeling of being home with family; it’s an experience.
How do you define success?
I define success as being uncomfortable, lonely, humbling, dedicated and sometimes even losing before you get to where you need be.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.salonkmerrell.com
- Instagram: Hairslayer_kisha
- Facebook: Nakisha Masterstylist Merrell
- Twitter: Salon k Merrell
- Yelp: Salon K Merrell
Image Credits
Family and Friends
