Rising Stars: Meet Kristie Carter Simons of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristie Carter Simons.

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?
As a child I’ve alway admired beauty from doing my dolls hair, makeup, clothing to going to the salon getting my hair done and feeling really cute when I got out of the chair. But to be honest I never wanted to be a Cosmetologist. To me being a cosmetologist wasn’t grand or enough money for me lol later on I found out I was wrong. From middle to high school I’ve always cut/styled family and friends hair and was often told by my family your going to do hair when you grow up. My response would be I’m not doing hair that’s not a money making job!. Took business and fashion classes my junior and senior yr I knew I wanted to attend college to become a Fashion Buyer for a major brand. The deeper I got into my major I became less interested college life ended very fast. I felt so bad coming from a house hold of 4 me being the youngest college and professional careered siblings single mom that gave her all. I said let go to Cosmetology School and see what it’s about since my family thinks I should. From the first day of school I fell in love this was my calling everything came easy for me academically/clinically. I was pregnant with my first son while in cosmology school so I had to make it work which was easy because I had a gift. After. graduating from Dudley Beauty College in 1996, I started doing hair at my mom house. I got really busy so I went into a commission Salon.. I didn’t like it, because I wanted my money that I worked hard for not to give a percentage to a $1 million company.
I went to a Booth Rental Salon and worked at that same salon for 12yrs which helped shaped me into the stylist I am today. I started as a shampoo assistant, months later a both renter yrs later a manager, and 12 yrs later a salon owner, Being an independent contractor in a salon with a team of great talented ladies was awesome experience, I’ve showcased in magazines and hair shows this energy brought my attention to the different levels of glamour in the beauty industry. I then opened and own Art of Radiance Hair Studio in Columbia, SC . That was when I became more creative took my business to another level. Editorial Hair for Fashion Weeks in different states, runway hair.. With Relocating my salon to Peachtree corners ,Ga. I traveled monthly to California to worked as an brand ambassador for Wella.. I’m now a Hairstylist for Film/Tv in Atlanta, Ga . As of 30Yrs being a Cosmetologist with appreciation and loving the road that God has chosen for me in my profession I know there’s much more for me to experience.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My challenge was me learning how to sit still and wait on God. From doing what I wanted, to how I wanted, to when I waned as a person and my career. I had to understand the different in Gods time and my time. As I grew in my career as a hairstylist I was still doing what I wanted to do. I had to learn patience. I had to put God first I had to respect myself and my business. Being a young, single mother in your hometown, can bring a lot of negativity so I had to focus on the life that I want for my son and I which outweighed all obstacles. In my later years while living home in South Carolina my mother end up passing, so that’s when I made the hard decision of moving to Georgia to pursue more in my career

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in healthy hair first. My love is cutting.design looks. I’m excited and love to see a client eyes/body language when they look in the mirror and see the finished look. I’m known for giving great service and professionalism. What sets me apart is my consistency in business

Any big plans?
I’m looking forward to adding on in the future,multiple businesses and investments outside of the beauty. industry..

Contact Info:

• Website: Art of Radiance Hair Studio
• Instagram: @kcsartofradiance
• Facebook: The Art of Radiance Hair Studio