Meet LaToya Washington of Hairvigorous Beauty & Barber Salon

Today we’d like to introduce you to LaToya Washington.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Since a little girl I’ve always wanted to be a hair stylist. I guess I can thank my grandmother for that. When I was younger she would always ask me to comb her hair while she took a nap. I wouldn’t just comb her hair I would style her hair. Once I became a teenager I started doing my sisters & neighborhood friends hair. After high school I went to a technical college to study business management. Which I didn’t finish I quickly got bored. So I quit and enrolled in hair school. After completing 1800 I graduate took my state board exam and became a master cosmetologist. I went straight into a salon to work from there I built my clientele up pretty good. I then decided I wanted to relocate to atlanta because Atl was the place to be if you were in the hair industry. Once I relocated I don’t know why but I got nervous and was scared to step out because it was so much competition here. But I ended up at a salon. Which wasnt a really good experience we could only work the hours that the owner worked. We would have days that we would show up and no one was there. I left that salon and decided to get a 9 to 5 were I would pass out business cards to try and recruit clients To work from home. I met a lady that I was trying to recruit as a client. She told me she was a stylist and that she owed a salon. She then asked me was I licensed and then asked what I was doing working a 9 to 5. She then proceeded to say real stylist don’t punch a clock. She then said when your ready to work in salon call me. I was hesitant at first. After following each other on social media she inboxed me and asked me to stop by her salon. I stopped and loved the atmosphere. She offer me a booth but I still wasn’t sure if I was ready. I went home a prayed about it. I ended up moving into her salon the next week. After working there several years she decided to close. I then decided to step out on faith and open my own salon. (Hairvigorous beauty & barber salon. I decided to bring in two of my closet coworkers turn sisters that I met while working in the salon. As of December I will officially be open 6 years. After been open 5 years we open the barbershop next door to the salon. I also have my own all natural hair growth. I make wigs by sewing machine and also teach wig making classes.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely wasn’t a smooth road. 11 months after opening the restaurant next door to us caught on fire which caused damage to our unit. This forced us to close from November to April the next year. This cause us to have to go and rent a booth from another salon

We’ve been impressed with Hairvigorous beauty & barber salon, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a family oriented business. We take pride in giving the best service/ experience you could possibly have. We love each and every one of our clients. That’s why we have finger food Fridays to show appreciation to our clients. We try to do that at least once every few months. We are the largest salon/barbershop duo on the southside. We have some of the best staff delivering quality work at decent prices. We specialize in healthy hair care!!!!! We have a variety of stylist, barbers, & braiders that take pride in services clients and making their days.. We service all hair types. No job to small for my team

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My business partners Antika & Schrell we make one heck of a trio… All of us play a major role in running such a successful business. Our staff because they could choose anywhere to work but they chose Hairvigorous and for that I’m grateful. Also my husband, children, sisters and clients have been some of my biggest supporters.

Contact Info:

• Website: Hairbylatoyadenise.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/hairbylatoyadenise & instagram.com/hairvigorous_beautysalon
• Facebook: Facebook.com/hairbylatoyadenise & facebook.com/hairvigorousbeautysalon