Today we’d like to introduce you to London Stephens.
Hi London, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I come from a family of entrepreneurs. My mom Veronica and dad John, both worked in corporate. Each having respective graduate degrees in health care administration and human resource management. They were also entrepreneurs in the sense that they both owned and operated a barber and beauty called Back2Basics and a salon called Epiphany Hair Salon in Columbia, SC. Over the course of roughly 12 years, I’ve seen my parents own an operate two successful salons. Growing up in the salon atmosphere I started off greeting guests, sweeping the salon floors, and answering the phones all by the age of nine. By age twelve, I had more responsibilities such as shampooing the clients, prepping them for services, scheduling their return appointments and on the business side of things; learning how to manage our salon revenue, the importance of advertising to maximize profit and business taxes. This fueled my love for not only the creative aspect of hairstyling but also the business side of owning a salon. All of this led me to pursue my dreams of becoming a hairstylist and salon owner.
None of it came without the struggles of surviving beauty school and passing state board, working under other salon owners whom were at times tyrannical and unprofessional towards me. Even instances where I repeatedly had not been paid wages I earned in a timely fashion. Imagine going weeks without pay at a high-end Atlanta salon, crazy right? Well, none of those things discouraged me enough to give up on my dream of owning a salon someday. After seven years of working for other salons, I finally had the clientele and bravery to step out on a limb and open a suite. In 2021 I went under contract and built a salon suite in the Buckhead area. I named my business Laid Extensions Studio. We specialize in growing beautiful tresses, natural hair care, healthy hair color and undetectable hair extensions which we also sell. My clients are absolutely amazing, and our connections transcend beyond just the salon chair. I truly care about not only their hair but them personally and the feeling is mutual. My girls go above and beyond for me and not many other hairstylists can say that. I think that’s a testimate to walking in your purpose and having an impact on the people that sit in my chair. It’s truly a blessing!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Some of the struggles that can come along with being in the beauty industry can be the ebbs and flow of clientele. Learning how to market properly on social media, identifying your niche market and staying relevant and up to date with the ever-changing industry. Managing your finances so that if a slow period occurs your more than capable of taking care of the salon’s overhead costs. When I started out, I worked at two well-known salons in the Atlanta area. I was a commissioned stylist at both and only took home 60% of my earnings. That taught me how to allocate my money effectively and also find additional ways to increase clientele and income.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We specialize in growing beautiful tresses, natural hair care, healthy hair color and undetectable hair extensions which we also sell. My clients are absolutely amazing, and our connections transcend beyond just the salon chair. I think that really sets me apart from the rest because your experience isn’t just a service, it’s a comforting and welcoming atmosphere. We serve champagne, bottled water, snacks and other refreshments as well. All of this adds to the overall experience and allows my clients to leave feeling completely taken care of.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love the presence of our black community in Atlanta. There’s so many networking opportunities and potential to grow especially as an entrepreneur. What I like the least about the city would probably be the traffic lol. I’m sure I’m not alone on that one!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://laidextensionstudio.as.me/schedule.php?fbclid=PAAaY6QkdBgkcy2bWcAmgnCOLUHDeeGhNzjS5hwXwSmvDPOIatQqsE0mBvzTs
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/londonlaidit?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@londonlaidit-laidextension1802
