Today we’d like to introduce you to Ayonte Davis.
Hi Ayonte, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always had a love for doing hair. I used to try to do my mom’s since I was five. Called myself “braiding” her hair and got a comb stuck in her head. Ever since I knew I was going to be a hairstylist. Over the course of years, I’ve taken courses to help me learn new hairstyles and try to find which best fit me. I’ve taken wig install, ponytail, nail, and braiding classes. I thought I would find my passion in those, but I didn’t. Last year after I graduated (2021) I started to take doing hair seriously. I started off doing braids. I thought since knotless was trending and I knew how to do them why not? Over the course of three months, I started to slowly build clientele. My business was growing, but I knew braiding wasn’t my passion. It started to become a job because I didn’t love what I did. It had gotten so bad to the point I wanted to completely stop doing hair. Then, I enrolled myself into cosmetology school (September 2021). It prevented me almost actually being able to do hair because of the long hours. Well, at the time I was mainly known for doing braids.
Due to me being at school from 9-5:30 I had to try to get a regular job. Well, that was actually quite hard for me considering my age and most people want daytime workers not night. Well after two months of doing no hair and barely making ends meet. I took a leap of faith in February 2022 went on leave from school, quit my job, and became a full-time hairstylist. I didn’t have any clientele at the time. Then, around this time is when I started to really introduce myself to doing faux locs. At first, I didn’t know what I was doing. I had people bashing me, filing disputes, asking for refunds, and etc. Even after I told them I was still a beginner learning. After two months of perfecting my craft that’s when I created “Pretty Looks by Ayonte”. All my clientele went from braids to locs in a matter of two months. I am beyond grateful with how fast my business grew and is still growing. I am still perfecting my craft and learning new services to add. Although some people thought my decision was crazy, I’m happy with my outcome. God had a plan for me that I didn’t know was in the making.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nothing about this journey has been smooth. Some of my struggles was not knowing if I had enough gas to make it to school. Having people I knew was talking about me but was supposed to be my friend.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a faux locs specialist. I am mostly known for my soft locs styling. People love to come and get crazy updos using their locs. You treat them as if they are real locs. What sets me and my brand apart is I do hair with my heart. I love doing locs and my work reflects that. Each of my clients knows I take my time with everything I do.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Taking risks comes with owning any business. If you don’t take risks, lose money, and have to regroup after you fail then you’ll never get anywhere. You can’t choose to stay in the same place you were two months ago and think you’re going to elevate. It’s just not going to happen. You have to be able to take that risk and learn from it. When I quit my job where I was barely making $200 every check after slavish myself I knew I had to take a risk. If it wasn’t for me taking that risk/leap of faith, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Pricing:
- 18” Soft locs (Everything included) $190
- 36” Soft locs (Everything included) $240
- Small 24” Soft locs (Everything included) $290
- Lilly locs (Everything included) $210
- Pretty Locs (Everything included) $220
Contact Info:
- Website: https://prettylooksbyayonte.as.me/schedule.php
- Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/prettylooksby_ayonte/
- Facebook: Ayonte Davis
