Today we’d like to introduce you to Lena Berry.
Lena, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am originally from a small town in Indiana and I am a 3rd generation Master Cosmetologist. I relocated to Georgia in 2017 based on spiritual guidance. My grandmother and mother were both in the cosmetology field before I came along. Doing hair was something that was second nature to me, it is definitely an inherited gift. I was never mentored or coached by my mother or grandmother. At a young age of around 10 or 11 years old, I would go into the bathroom and experiment on my hair for hours upon hours and the results would be family and friends asking me to recreate the style on them. That was really the beginning of my journey into entrepreneurship in the beauty industry. I can remember being 12years old with a full schedule of family “clients” with my grandmother always at the top of the list. My grandmother suffered from Alopecia and had about 70 percent hair loss, she was a very well kept woman and she only trusted me to view her in her most vulnerable state. The styles and techniques I needed to create and come up with for my grandmother paved the way for the amazing work and talent I get to share with other women I encounter daily dealing with the same issue.
I now specialize in nonsurgical hair loss replacement and I’ve had the honor of serving woman throughout the United States as well as in the United Kingdom. In honor of my late grandmother Magalene, I created the MAG Wig Collection so that I could reach more women that wanted the salon look which included my specialized cutting techniques and designs- without having to come into the salon.
Alright, 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?
No, my path getting where I am today was a little patchy to say the least. Going back to the early days, the “first” time I attended cosmetology school was right out of high school I was 18 or 19 years old with a newborn child. I attended full-time for the full year and quit one week before I was scheduled to take my exam for licensing. The reason I threw in the towel was basically because I didn’t feel prepared and I knew I would fail, and to be truthful, I’d rather quit than tell my family I failed the test. Long story short: The school I was attending was short on students that were on the senior level which meant they didn’t have enough students to service the “paying guest”. When I started, the school staff realized right away I was already pretty good at doing hair, this meant I would be the go to student to be pulled from class daily to work the floor. Working the floor meant I was doing hands on services that was already second nature to me. Most people would think, well Lena it sounds like an easy pass when it’s time to graduate because you can “do hair” already, and that is completely false. Cosmetology is so much more than just “doing hair”, it is a lot to learn in a short amount of time and if you have not studied the textbook portion of it for the entire duration of your enrollment, you will more than likely fail the exam. However, being young and excited to be the go to person, I didn’t realize what had been done until it was too late to undo it. As I mentioned earlier, I had a newborn which meant I needed to figure things out quickly. I immediately went out into the workforce and left my dreams of being a hairstylist behind. I would occasionally do hair every now and then when time would permit.
Fast forward 19 years later, I resigned from a corporate job I worked for over ten years and I went back to Cosmetology school this time I was determined to enroll in what was considered to be the best of the best, I studied and took in as much textbook information as possible. I graduated in less than a year, passed my exam on the first try, relocated to Georgia, struggled for three years with finding where I fit into the whole scheme of things because Georgia was fast-paced and not what I was accustomed to. I worked at 4 or 5 different salons within my first two years. But I kept going, determined to find my fit and make my mark. I surrendered to the process and trusted the journey.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a nonsurgical hair loss replacement specialist and Master Cosmetologist. I have transitioned from working mostly hands on with clients dealing with hair loss to offering cranial prothesis or wig units online. Every unit is custom designed, styled and cut as if you were sitting in my chair, I use the same professional grade products I would if you were to come into the salon-I don’t believe in skimping, I use the best on every unit. I am the creator of the MAG Wig Collection which is an extension of Hair Baptism Studio and we are known for our award-winning pixie cut wigs and amazing hair care services. Each style is distinctly created.
I pride myself in being able to give off a warm, loving energy which allows women to open up to me in such a vulnerable way. I’ve had clients that told me their husbands didn’t know about their hair loss issue because they kept it hid…for them to share it with me gives me a sense of gratitude. I am grateful to GOD for the gift and for allowing me to carry it through.
My salon motto has always been A Judgement Free Zone and I think that has always set me apart.
What makes you happy?
Creating makes me happy, and not just hairstyles. I am a very creative and artsy individual, I get lost in creating no matter what it is. I am an introvert so creating is sometimes my outlet…..It’s my happy place
Contact Info:
- Email: contact@hairbaptism.com
- Website: www.hairbaptism.com
- Instagram: @hair_baptism
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsziEdalMrWnLKoZ6jMU_IA
