Today we’d like to introduce you to Kiana Carter.
Hi Kiana, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
As far back as I remember, I have always had an interest in doing hair, makeup, and nails. My teacher from daycare often tells a story about how I, as a toddler, “curled” her hair with Legos and would get mad if she took them out.
I spent a lot of time not embracing my curls and always tried to straighten my hair. I think a part of that was because I never found anyone that could properly cut my hair. I searched and found a curly salon in Roswell – it was over an hour drive, but, the way my curls looked after that first appointment, I was hooked.
In high school, my goal was to become a forensic pathologist, but I ended up earning my CNA license and going to college for nursing. After realizing I wasn’t happy in school and going to CurlEnvy Salon multiple times as a client, my stylist asked if I wanted to be her assistant. I happily accepted and after a while, I knew that was what I wanted to do as a career. I wanted others to know what it felt like to truly love their curls and not be traumatized by bad haircuts. I made the decision that I would go to cosmetology school, but I was so worried that my parents would be disappointed. It was the exact opposite, they fully supported my decision and told me that being happy in a career was more important.
I continued to work as an assistant while I was in school at Paul Mitchell. When I graduated, I took up a stylist position at CurlEnvy Salon. I had moved back to Newnan, and the drive was a lot to do 5 days a week, so I got a suite closer to home and took clients a couple of days a week. It was surprising to me how quickly my client base expanded, and I outgrew the suite pretty quickly.
I had made it a long-term goal to have my own space and once I knew the suite was no longer going to work for me, I saw a space available in Downtown Newnan that would be perfect! I was terrified of taking that huge leap, but it has been even better than I could have imagined. I still take clients in Roswell, mostly because I love the clients that I have there and I truly, truly love and adore my CurlEnvy crew. I owe so much of my success to my salon family – they helped shape me into the stylist l am today.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has definitely not been an easy road.
My biggest challenge came just over a month after I started school. On July 28, 2022, my brother was killed in a motorcycle accident. I was absolutely devastated. There were very strict rules about absences from school and I did not want to defer, so I had to continue on.
Grief combined with my own mental health struggles made so many days difficult to even get out of bed. I pushed myself to keep going day after day. My family was my support system; even in their own grief, they encouraged me and kept me going. I hope that my brother is smiling down saying, “Good job, Kiddo.”
I have also struggled with intense social anxiety since I was in middle school. This is not exactly a profession where silence is an option, so I face that fear every time a client sits in my chair!
Believing in myself and the fear of failure has been another challenge. I am my biggest critic, and even knowing that in this field, there will be times when a client is not completely satisfied, I want to do what I can to give every person in my chair the best experience they can have.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Curls By Ki?
My salon is meant for those seeking to embrace their natural hair texture. I specialize in haircuts, hair coloring, and hair styling techniques for curls, coils, and waves. It is also a private salon, to give clients that one on one time and my undivided attention, as well as giving them the space to talk as much or as little as they want, without being judged. What sets my salon apart from others is that I do not offer relaxers or perms, working with only the natural texture that grows from a person’s head. I also don’t believe that receiving care for your natural hair should cost you a whole month in rent, so I keep my pricing as fair as possible. I am most proud of how comfortable clients feel in my salon, and the smiles that light up their faces when they leave.
Pricing:
- New Client Curly Cut – $100
- Weekly Wash and Style (4wks) – $126
- Curly Wash and Style – $45
Contact Info:
- Website: https://curlsbyki.glossgenius.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curls.byki/
- Other: https://share.google/txqWPSpomiHFFVc2h
