Life & Work with Zakiya (Easy Breezie) Simmonds

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zakiya (Easy Breezie) Simmonds.

Hi Zakiya (Easy Breezie), so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I love answering this question! First of all, I’ve ALWAYS loved hair. I was obsessed with hair before I even knew I could make a living from it. As a young girl, I was known in my family for cutting up, perming (fake perms), and transforming every Barbie doll I had. Every time I would get a new one, I would TRY to resist cutting her hair, but I would eventually give in.

When I got to middle school, I started braiding ALL of my cousins’ and friends’ hair. It was the thing that I was starting to build a solid reputation for, “Zakiya braids hair.” It wasn’t until I got to high school when I actually considered CHARGING people. My mother encouraged me by saying, “I could braid like the professionals” and she highly insisted I start charging my friends. So I finally did it.

I was doing my braid styles on classmates for $20-40. Then I quickly started to become fascinated with extensions and color. Something about completely transforming someone was so intriguing to me! Once I started doing extensions, I never turned back.

I started with $35 sew-ins and gradually increased my prices every six months or so. My services went from $35 to $40 to $50 to $60 to 80, all as a student in high school. I didn’t need to find a job. I found myself paying for all of my Junior and senior dues by myself. I started taking MYSELF school shopping for the first time and I was addicted to this newfound freedom.

The brand GALAXI GIRL actually came from a college essay I had to write in order to be accepted into a prestigious art school in California. The assignment stated that we had to come up with a brand and talk about it in great detail: What was our market, advertisement strategy, demographic, esthetic, etc. I wrote the essay and my “brand” was actually named the “Galaxi Glitter Pallet.” (It was a glittery eyeshadow palette.) Long story short, I never actually completed the acceptance process but I ALWAYS kept the idea of “Galaxi” in my mind. Also, instead of going to college, I decided to enroll in Cosmetology School and became licensed in 2016.

The GALAXI GIRL and EASY BREEZIE brand is solid and indefinitely transforming with time. Thanks to my Photographer Carlos Stephenson, and my Graphic Designer Jay Ramsey, I was able to build and maintain such a BEAST of a brand, all of them!

Today, I’m a full-time Content Creator and LOVING IT. I teach hair techniques on YouTube continue to sell products from GalaxiGirlHair.com. PrettyScientist.com is a brand I started in early 2021 that promotes Spirituality through manifestation using the science of Alchemy. We sell Intention Oils, Love Attraction Oils, Money Attraction Oils, Sage, Palo Santo, Liquid Black Soap, and other products for the mind, body and spirit. I’m also extremely passionate about helping OTHER PEOPLE build their brands as well, so if you need a brand make-over, head to Instagram.com/Brand.Masterminds!

One thing I would tell ALL girls starting a brand is this: “Do not give up under any and all circumstances. Brands do not become successful overnight. It takes time, constant exposure, consistency, creativity, love and passion for your craft.” – Breezie

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the major struggles that came with building and developing GALAXI GIRL was trying to decide if I wanted to go in the direction of “managing salons” or “going 100% digital.”

I opened the GALAXI GIRL Hair Salon in 2017 and managed over 25 hairstylists between 2017 and 2020. After three years in the salon business, I realized that I loved hair, but I absolutely did NOT love the salon industry. I loved the salon industry when actually running the salon wasn’t my responsibility!

Being a salon owner, I’ve dealt with clients running out on tabs as large as $700 (a FEW times.) I’ve dealt with an endless amount of angry clients, lazy hairstylists, hairstylists not paying their booth rent on time, my OWN stylists stealing my clientele, and so much more!

After a few years of that, it just became overwhelming for me and I wanted to find a different way of expressing myself and making money. Thankfully, Youtube became an option for me and even though I did NOT know what would come from doing Youtube, I still went in that direction because it totally fulfilled me.

By the Grace of God, I obtained the opportunity to still do hair, but now, get paid from Sponsors not Clients. I didn’t have to deal with all the drama and people anymore and that was a game-changer for my entire brand and LIFE!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am currently a full-time Content Creator! You can find my platforms from Instagram.com/EasyBreezie and YouTube.com/c/EasyBreezie! I teach hair techniques on YouTube and also how to become successful in the Beauty Industry. I sell quality human hair extensions and hair products from GalaxiGirlHair.com.

I also passionately teach Self-Awareness through Astrology and Live Discussions on YouTube at YouTube.com/c/PrettyScientistt. PrettyScientist.com offers self-healing and manifestation products such as Intention Oils, Love Manifestation Oils, Money Manifestation Oils, Sage, Palo Santo, Liquid Black Soap and much more!

If I could describe myself in 3 ways, I would say: Beauty Guru, Healer and Public Speaker!

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The Hair and Beauty industry is CONSTANTLY growing and evolving. Hair and Make-up will never truly go away, it will only mutate into different forms of expression.

The only thing you have to make sure to do is be flexible and constantly create products and never get too comfortable with the service or product you provide. Your “niche” can possibly NO LONGER be in demand by the following year.

Pricing:

• Cosmetology School Visits: $2,500
• Women’s Empowerment Panel: $2,500

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: GalaxiGirlHair.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/EasyBreezie
• Youtube: YouTube.com/c/EasyBreezie
• Other: PrettyScientist.com

Image Credits
Photography: Still Going Designs Graphic Design: Thumpin Graphix