Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Diggs.
Danielle, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In 2010, I received my cosmetology license in Philadelphia, Pa. After four years of practicing weaving techniques and styles, I decided to shift my focus to natural hair, due to the lack of knowledge for kinky/curly hair in the black community. With little to no experience with natural hair , I began assisting at one of the top natural salons in Philadelphia. There I developed a full-blown passion for natural hair care and styling and was shortly after promoted to a stylist. Once l became accustomed to natural hair textures and techniques , I decided to take it to the “hair capital”, Atlanta. I uprooted everything and just went for it. No direction, no job, no money. Just vision of educating others about natural hair in Atlanta. I enrolled in cosmetology school once again to obtain my educators’ license. Shortly after graduating, I founded I Woke Up Curley LLC.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Some of the obstacles I struggled with were…
Being away from family and not having a support system.
Finding employment.
Building Clientele.
Going back to school.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am a natural educator/Stylist. I specialize in all things natural. I am most proud of the lives Ive touches by helping others to see the beauty that is deeply rooted within. Also, my team that comes together for the IWUC workshops. What sets I Woke up Curley apart is, we are a team of stylist, educators, product vendors and naturalist who each have a passion for educating others about curly and kinky hair textures and also the role they play in the “I Woke Up Curley” natural hair movement.
There are over 1500 accredited schools in the U.S. yet less than 5% are prepared to equip their students with the history and fundamentals of natural Curly /Kinky hair. I spent four years and a total of $22,000 on a cosmetology education which educated me on how to care for hair that wasn’t mine. During my experience as a natural hair stylist, I was extremely fortunate to have a mentor who shared my passion and love for natural hair care and taught me all I needed to know about the foundation of curly/kinky hair. Threw years of continuing my education as a natural stylist/educator, threw years of research, through trial and error, threw practical and theoretical experience, I have developed the principles of managing, maintaining, and growing Curly/kinky hair. I WOKE UP CURLEY is a curriculum that has been certified as a continuing education course by the state of Georgia. This curriculum provides stylist with the credentials needed for license renewal but has been condensed to give all naturals seeking guidance on the basic principles of curly kinky hair. This course is my contribution to my history, my peers, my clients, my students, and the natural hair community in hopes to spread the knowledge so not only do we wake up. We Wake Up Curley!!
If I had to start over, I wouldn’t change a thing. A lot of mistakes were made but I made it my business to learn from each and every one. And to redo the mistakes would mean to relearn the lessons and there’s no time for that so I improve as progress and keep moving forward.
Contact Info:
- Address: I Woke Up Curley LLC
2575 White Haven Dr #116, Marietta, GA 30064 - Website: https://i-woke-up-curley-llc.business.site/
- Phone: 2158008882
- Email: daniindaruff@gmail.com
- Instagram: i_woke_up curley
- Facebook: I Woke Up Curley
- Other: https://square.site/book/CZPMNSD2BK3EZ/i-woke-up-curley-marietta-ga
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