Today we’d like to introduce you to Yolanda Dupree.
Hi Yolanda, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
From a three-year-old girl declaring to my mother that I wanted to be a hairstylist to 31 years later, being a salon owner, celebrity hairstylist and creator of Adnaloy Love Luxury Haircare products and Yolihair Wigs and Extensions, this has been an exciting journey.
I honestly credit God for my gift and all that I’ve accomplished. I have endured great times and times that I experienced great failures. I’ve had some amazing people that have taught me unselfishly and opened doors for me.
Learning excites me. I’m not perfect but I fight fear with both fists and I push forward. We can’t let fear stop us from moving to the next level. My faith is everything to me. I pray over my clients, celebrities, this article, lol. God guides my hands and speaks instructions to me. The most important thing is for me to be myself and make no apologies for it. I love people. I love talking to them and lifting them up, styling their hair is a bonus.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’ve learned patience. The road has not been easy. I lost my first salon because I was impatient. I didn’t set a proper foundation for it, like filing paperwork and making sure that I could handle the financial obligations. Family is extremely important to me. My husband and I have four children so raising them while trying to be a career woman was tough. There were times when I needed to work but couldn’t because they were small and they needed me at home. Then, there was the period of time when I traveled for work and I missed things on the weekends. We had to be intentional with making our lives work together so that we stayed connected. I wanted them to know that being successful wasn’t easy but it was obtainable.
As I moved forward in my career, I learned to trust myself, not be afraid to shift and I also understood that not everyone would agree with me but it was ok anyway. It’s ok to be different as long as you’re true to yourself.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in hair loss and regrowth. Several of my clients suffer with Alopecia. It’s super important to me that clients are comfortable and trust me. My job can go from a client being excited about an upcoming wedding to a client in tears from getting a serious health diagnosis. I cater to the woman in the chair, no matter what’s going on in her life, I must be able to adapt in order to serve and meet her where she is at the moment.
I believe that I’m a great hairstylist, but I believe that I’m known most for how the client feels when they leave my chair. I will literally dance to celebrate and/or stop everything to pray. I love people and motivating them is a part of their service. The salon space was chosen and designed with them in mind, it’s a safe haven.
I love it when I have full creative freedom to create beautiful styles, especially for bridal work. My adrenaline goes through the roof and the amazing thing happens, art is formed.
I’m very proud of my haircare products. It was a dream that I had early in my career and these last years has taught us that life is short so I went all out to birth Adnaloy Love Luxury Haircare. Adnaloy (Yolanda spelled backward) Love is me in a bottle. It’s a line of 13 products that reflect my personality and my commitment to using the best products in order to have beautiful hair.
What sets me apart? That’s simple, I never give up on myself. I will find a way to accomplish my dreams with God’s guidance.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I see clients expecting even more personalized services. Salons should focus on delivering a full relaxation experience. They should have areas where a clients can de-stress and relax before their service. I can also see more clients wanting in-home services for convenience.
There are more people that now understand the value of having a coach /mentor in order to grow and expand their businesses. As well as those that are just getting started. My newest venture, Dream BIG Salon & Business Coaching was created to be a bridge and safety net for aspiring business owners. Not only do I have 31 years of experience in the beauty industry, I’m also the author of seven books, one is a best seller and my husband and I are nonprofit ministry leaders. I desperately want to pour my knowledge into those that are ready to grow. Having a coach can help people move forward faster on their entrepreneurial journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shehasyolihair.com
- Instagram: @shehasyolihair
- Facebook: @shehasyolihair
Image Credits
A Muna Love Affair – photographer Latoya Photography LLC
