Today we’d like to introduce you to Domonique Johnson.
Domonique, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Born in Washington D.C, I always knew I would have a passion for doing hair. Since the early age of five, I can remember styling my baby doll’s hair and thinking that they were hair models. No matter what time of day it was, if you saw me, I had a doll in my hand. Not because I would pretend it was human and create some factitious life about it, but because whenever I had downtime, I needed to do its hair. One would say that I was obsessed. So obsessed that I eventually started collecting baby dolls, and recreated hairstyles on them that I had seen in some of my favorite magazines. Still to this day, you could find a room full of dolls with fancy hairstyles that I created in my childhood home.
Eventually, my craft developed and I stopped doing baby dolls’ hair and started doing real friends’ and relatives’ hair. I considered myself to be a professional, even though I was only 11. I was the girl in the neighborhood that was always on the front porch doing hair, and I LOVED it! You couldn’t tell me I didn’t know what I was doing. When I got to highschool, I continued doing the hair of my relatives and friends, but news about me doing spread quick and decided to start my own hustle by doing people’s hair for a small fee. I was famous for doing straw curls and other natural hairstyles… Once I graduated high school, I proceeded straight to cosmetology school where I learned the ins and outs of how to do hair. I thought I was the best at my craft until I went to cosmetology school. There was so much that I didn’t know, and I even picked up a love for braiding from an instructor that would stay after hours to teach me different braiding styles.
Post graduation, I began working full time at children’s salon where I became a master braider. After working at the salon for five years, I decided I wanted expand my brand by venturing out in a way that I never thought possible, so I moved to Atlanta, Georgia. I wanted to be apart of a network of stylist that had as much passion for hairstyling as I did. Moving to Atlanta was the greatest the decision of my life because it’s the hair capital. Since I’ve been here, I was able to make a name for myself and meet people that I have been able to learn from.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Moving to Atlanta with no guaranteed job or clientele was probably the best, but hardest decision of my life. I don’t have family in Atlanta, nor did I know anyone. My support system was on existent. I struggled the first few months with trying to figure out the best way to get my foot in the door. I knew I wanted to do hair, but I couldn’t get started right away without familiarity of the city. Because of this, I settled for any job I could find that would help pay bills. The first year of being in Atlanta I wasn’t happy and actually contemplated going back home to D.C. It wasn’t until I spoke to a close friend, that I was reminded that nothing comes easy and that if I wanted something in life, I would have to go get it. Nobody was going to hand me anything. This was all the motivation I needed. I started networking, which I hated at first because I’m an introvert, but networking allowed for me to meet people that would soon help me get to exactly where I needed to be.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
My business focuses on the evolution of braiding. I started with traditional braiding and evolved into creative braiding techniques that sets myself apart from your average salon. I am a master braider who specializes in Feedin cornrows, Boho feedin braids, Bohemian braids, Knotless braids, Crochet locs, Goddess locs and traditional youth braids
I am most proud of my start-up and continuous progress on advancing my skill sets and becoming a well-known braider in the Atlanta area. I started by assertively finding influencers on Instagram to help promote my business and from there I was able to go to meet and greets and do consultations with clients that led me to my big break.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1735 Defoor pl nw, Atlanta GA
SUITE U - Website: THEBRAIDGODDESS.AS.ME/
- Phone: 7706660393
- Email: domonique1219@ymail.com
- Instagram: THEBRAIDGODDESS_
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
