Life and Work with Kamilah Alim-Secret

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kamilah Alim-Secret.

Kamilah, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
From a very young age, I have always loved hair. I went with a friend to get her hair braided as a kid and after I went home and cut the hair off of one of my dolls hair and braided it into another doll’s hair. By the age of 13, I had styled my first client in box braids and from that point on, I have been fully engulfed in the beauty industry. I became a mom at 15 and outwardly, it looked like my life was going downhill fast but I was able to double my class load and graduate high school at 16. By 18, I had completed Cosmetology school and was on my way to becoming licensed. Fast forward, I am a work from home mom to four daughters. My oldest who is 22 just recently graduated from Georgia state and an accomplished makeup artist, my second oldest who is only 15 but already does makeup and knows how to lay a lace front, I can do nothing but praise God for this journey. After becoming pregnant with my second to last and being extremely high risk, I gave birth to two more daughters 18 months apart. I decided to reformat my business model in a way for me to stay engaged and on trend. I developed a luxury hair and custom unit brand called Afro Allure. Alongside the launch of my business, I vowed to get my personal life in order. I started a holistic journey, I started eating healthy, I got a personal trainer, loss 80 pounds and transformed my entire life. Essentially, I have learned that if your personal life is not in order, it will weigh heavily on your business.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This journey has been a roller coaster but what I know now is that you must be uncomfortable in order to grow. Being an entrepreneur is no walk in the park. There have been times where I just wanted to give up. When I moved from New York to Atlanta, I left my entire clientele behind. By sheer coincidence, a neighbor offered me a job at the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau where I stayed for about two years. Then, the recession hit and my entire department were laid off. I was fired with no notice on Valentine’s day 2008. The funny thing about that is Valentine’s day was my Grandmother’s birthday and she saw my gift very early on. She actually gifted me with a box of hair tools when I was 12 years old. I knew my plan was to go back to doing what I love and it all worked out in my favor. Many of the ladies that I worked for ended up being long-standing clients. My advise would be to stay the course and learn from every turn. God definitely gives you what you need when you need it, so even when everything seems to be going wrong, just understand that you have to become uncomfortable in order to grow.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
Being a stylist, I have always prided myself in my ability to do almost anything. I have been a barber, a braider, a loctician, color specialist, weave specialist, and now custom unit maker. I have always been able to keep a clientele even when someone wants a completely different look I am able to execute. Sew in weaves and crochet braids have been a big trend and as a businesswoman, I knew I needed to offer hair as well and be a one-stop shop.

Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
I feel like the cosmetology industry is extremely competitive and it could be really scary for someone starting off. Like being thrown into a booth rent situation without a real dependable clientele and really laking marketing skills needed to propel your business. Knowledge is power, so learn the skills but also learn the business. There is a difference in knowing how to do hair and knowing how to run a business. Once you are in a position of leadership, it is only right to reach back and help those trying to come up. Although there is a lot of competition, there is enough room and money for everybody once you target your market.

Pricing:

• 3 Bundles of Virgin hair $150 20″ and under
• 3 Bundles of Virgin hair and a closure $200 20″ and under
• 3 bundles of Virgin hair and a frontal $250 20″ and under
• Custom Units Starting at $175

Contact Info:

• Website: https://squareup.com/store/Afroallure
• Phone: 404-552-4420
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @AfroAllure

Image Credit:
L.Dali Kamal the shooter

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