Community Highlights: Meet Ashley Cliatt of Blended Elementz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Cliatt.

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?
From a 15-year-old styling hair in Rome, Georgia, to a woman entrusted with five growing businesses, my journey has been built on faith, resilience, and a deep desire to serve. My name is Ashley Cliatt, and this is my story.

I am a licensed Master Cosmetologist, Hair Extension & Wig Specialist, and Certified Cranial Prosthesis Specialist with over 20 years in the beauty industry and more than a decade as a business owner. What began as a simple joy of doing hair for friends after school has grown into a calling—one that allows me to pour into others, create opportunities, and impact lives in ways I never imagined.

Blended Elementz Virgin Hair Boutique
In 2015, I opened my first storefront—a modest space in downtown Rome. From those humble beginnings, Blended Elementz Virgin Hair Boutique has blossomed into a trusted name now celebrating over 10 years in business. We specialize in 100% raw Indian and Cambodian hair, premium virgin hair, wigs, and professional extension methods. My vision has always been for Blended Elementz to reflect its name: a space that embraces and celebrates women of all backgrounds.

BE Suites
In 2023, I was blessed to reinvest my savings into purchasing my first commercial property. From that, BE Suites was born—a set of luxury salon suites designed to help other professionals step into ownership and independence. Now in its third year, BE Suites has become more than a business; it is a platform where creativity, entrepreneurship, and community can thrive.

BE Restored Wig Studio
Out of my certification as a Cranial Prosthesis Specialist came BE Restored Wig Studio, a space where I could serve those experiencing hair loss due to cancer, alopecia, or other conditions. While this work continues year-round, October—Breast Cancer Awareness Month—holds special meaning for me, as I devote additional time and resources to walking alongside survivors and those in treatment. These medical-grade wigs, often covered by insurance, restore not only hair but also dignity, confidence, and hope.

In 2024, I was honored to join the Wig It Forward initiative, further extending my reach in supporting patients through their most difficult battles. To be part of something bigger than myself has been one of the most humbling experiences of my career.

Unity Eats LLC
Beyond the beauty industry, I launched Unity Eats, a family-run food truck that doubles as a ministry of service. Whether handing out free snow cones to children or partnering with local sponsors at community events, Unity Eats is rooted in fellowship, gratitude, and giving back.

Hair Extension & Wig Specialist
At my core, I remain a stylist. I specialize in healthy hair care, precision color, and advanced extension methods—including clip-ins, tape-ins, sew-ins, microlinks, I-tips, and K-tips—as well as custom wigs and natural hairstyles. Every client who sits in my chair is unique, and my purpose is always to make them feel seen, valued, and beautiful.

I also share my knowledge as an educator, offering professional hair extension certification courses to help other stylists expand their skills and build thriving businesses. Teaching has reminded me that success isn’t just what you achieve—it’s what you help others achieve too.

⸻

Community, Mentorship & Recognition

For the past eight years, I’ve hosted the Annual Back-to-School Giveaway, equipping hundreds of children with backpacks, supplies, and treats. I’ve also participated in Career Fairs at Rome Middle School and Rome High School, where students stopped by my booth to ask about hair extensions, entrepreneurship, and career opportunities. Those small conversations reminded me how much representation and encouragement matter.

I’ve had the honor of mentoring women and men in business, and one of my most meaningful moments was being invited by a mentee to speak at Georgia Southern University in Savannah. Standing before those students and sharing my journey was both humbling and unforgettable.

In 2024, I received the Ruth Ann West Beauty Award at the 3rd Annual Black Excellence Awards Show. That honor reminded me that while hard work and perseverance matter, it’s ultimately grace, community, and faith that carry us forward.

⸻

Closing Reflection

If there is one lesson my journey has taught me, it is that true success is not about recognition, titles, or even accomplishments—it is about the lives you touch and the love you leave behind. I am deeply humbled by the trust placed in me by my clients, my students, and my community.

My prayer is to keep building with integrity, to keep serving with compassion, and to remain a vessel of excellence in everything I do. My chair, my suites, and my heart remain open to anyone seeking not only beauty, but also confidence, healing, and hope.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been all smooth, but every challenge has shaped me into the entrepreneur I am today. One of the toughest moments came during COVID-19 in 2020, when beauty businesses were labeled “non-essential” and forced to shut down. Like so many others, I faced the uncertainty of keeping my business afloat. Instead of giving up, I pivoted and focused on wigs—building a strong wig line that not only carried my business through the pandemic, but also revealed my deeper purpose in serving clients experiencing hair loss.

Another challenge I’ve faced is overcoming assumptions. As a Black woman in the beauty industry, many people expected my brand to cater only to Black clients. But I’ve always been a well-rounded person who connects with people of any ethnicity. From the very beginning, my vision with Blended Elementz was to create inclusivity and diversity—to serve women of all backgrounds with the same level of quality, care, and luxury. That hasn’t always been an easy road, but it’s one I’m proud to walk, because the name “Blended” represents unity, not division.

These challenges tested me, but they also strengthened me. They pushed me to think bigger, reach wider, and stay true to my purpose of building a business that empowers everyone.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Blended Elementz?
Blended Elementz is a 10+ year luxury beauty brand built on skill, passion, and innovation. We specialize in 100% raw Indian and Cambodian hair, premium virgin extensions, custom wigs, and professional installs of every extension method—from clip-ins and tape-ins to sew-ins, microlinks, I-tips, and K-tips. Alongside extensions, I also provide natural hair styling, precision color, and advanced wig customization, ensuring every client leaves feeling confident and beautiful.

What sets Blended Elementz apart is our blend of artistry and compassion. As a Hair Extension & Wig Specialist, I am consistently trusted for my expertise in delivering flawless installs and for providing solutions to women experiencing hair loss through cranial prosthesis wigs. My vision has always been about inclusivity—Blended represents beauty for everyone, across all walks of life.

Today, Blended Elementz has grown into more than a salon—it is a brand family that includes BE Suites for beauty professionals and BE Restored Wig Studio for medical wig clients. At every level, my mission is the same: to restore confidence, create opportunity, and redefine what beauty means.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The greatest lesson I’ve learned on my journey is that talent may open doors, but discipline, faith, humility, and consistency build the legacy. Doing great hair gave me my start, but it was my resilience—reinvesting every dollar, sacrificing when others celebrated, and showing up when it wasn’t easy—that allowed me to grow from a small storefront into multiple thriving businesses.

I’ve also learned that your name and reputation are priceless. Skill will bring clients in, but integrity, humility, compassion, and the way you treat people are what keep those doors opening long after the chair is empty.

And perhaps most importantly, I’ve learned to embrace every challenge as preparation. From surviving COVID shutdowns to breaking through industry expectations, those hard seasons taught me endurance and vision. They transformed me from a stylist into a trailblazer with purpose, compassion, and a movement bigger than myself.

Pricing:

• Tape-In Extensions: $250+
• Micro-links: $300+
• I-Tip Extensions: $600+
• K-Tip Extensions: $900+
• Cranial Prosthesis Wigs (Medical-Grade): Available by consultation only

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.BEVHair.com
• Instagram: @blended_elementz_
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BQjkNXqg7/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-cliatt-a2530a388