Today we’d like to introduce you to Don Smith.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Whew, chile! I moved to Atlanta in 2015 with my daughter after receiving my MASTER COSMETOLOGY LICENSE. I was born in Mansfield, OH then at the age of two, my mother moved me and my (3) siblings to Detroit, MI. When I came to Atlanta, all I had was a dream, hope and a little bit of faith that I’d make a better life for me and my child, but that’s all it I really needed. Being a single mother made this extremely hard I always felt defeated but it’s like I seen this all before bc my mother the real goat (LOL). She did everything for us by herself. My ambition and drive to do whatever it took kept me motivated to get to where I am today. I’ve filmed on love and hip hop, and season 6 of grand hustle, thats when I realized I got what it takes to go after *whatever* it is That I want. I have always had a passion for beauty and music growing up. I worked in a hair salon (The Weave Shop) at the age of 16 until I graduated high school making well over 1,000/week.
In 2016, I opened Exquisite Hair & Beauty Bar, where I serviced clients and sold hair Extensions, working out of a small suite in midtown which didn’t last long, I struggled getting clients in my chair and felt like I was offering $200 valued services for little to nuthin at all, but I never gave up. Fast forward to 2019, I tapped into music which was mind-blowing to most, you can find my music on iTunes and YouTube(MODEST TYPE). Exquisite Hair And Beauty Bar is now located in East Cobb where we offer all hair services, top quality Hair extensions from Brazilian to raw Indian, lash products, training classes and more. I’ve grown so much since then I Can honestly say that I’m glad I don’t look like what I’ve been through. I’m not perfect I Still get on my knees and thank the man above for all of my blessings because without him I would have been folded. Every time I fall, I literally get back up and try it again. I was once taught that “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail” I promised myself I’m going 100x’s harder “2020.”
Has it been a smooth road?
Absolutely NOT! See, I had to recognize the direction that I wanted to go to get to where I’m going. Without a clear vision, I knew I would never make it in this cruel world. So I had to cut out a lot of people, and things that weren’t going to get me there out. I made a lot of bad decisions and lost everything at one point that I’ve ever loved /worked hard for but I learned from all my mistakes in one thing for sure I can say GOD has never taken something I couldn’t get through . So to answer your question, my only struggle along the way was the people I surrounded myself with. The rest is what I needed to go through to help me build character for my journey. I have a big heart and I love hard and will literally carry those I wanna see successful on my back when really I’m the one that needed to be carried, I stopped picking people up and told myself “You gotta get there first” I’ll come back and grab the “real ones” everybody cant go I looked up and all I had left was my family so this is who I’m doing It for.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Exquisite Hair & Beauty Bar story. Tell us more about the business.
I came up with “Exquisite Hair And Beauty” back in 2011 when I decided I was going to hair school, its a company that stands on beauty and beautiful people we don’t stereotype, everyone is beautiful and welcomed when you step into my salon.you can just feel the good energy in the room. I’m not not just a hairstylist I’m a artist,therapist,mentor etc I’ve literally had clients cry in my chair after their service because they’ve never felt so beautiful, and I don’t just set you down and take your money I ask questions and get to know each and every last one of my clients, no one ever leaves without feeling like they’ve gained a friend or unsatisfied!. I specialized in weave installs such as frontals, lace closures, natural sewins, ponytails, coloring services and all-natural hair care services. As a company, I am most proud that I am still pushing no matter what. Booth rental is always available at Exquisite Hair & Beauty Bar for all the talented stylists in Atlanta looking for space to work. My ability to work well with so many different women is what sets me apart from others I never take things personal and I am always willing to learn from the people around me.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Over the next 5-10 years, I can see more people getting into the hair industry starting their own business at the rate that we’re going now and all the classes that are now being offered by all these skilled stylists out here. I mean, it’s a billion $$ industry why wouldn’t they!? I don’t think it’ll be that many big changes in our trends cause everybody just follow one another, but hey who knows maybe they’ll bring old school styles back, it’s like a cycle. I do think that more black women will start back wearing their natural hair and become more comfortable with themselves. In the next 5-10 years, I want Exquisite Hair And Beauty off the map in for the works to kno about us. I’m not letting up I got a lot more work to do!
Pricing:
- Lash Training classes starts off at $480
- Lash extensions range from $100-150
- Wig installs $150
- Natural sewins $150
- Frontal sewin $200
Contact Info:
- Address: Exquisite Hair & Beauty Bar 4101 Roswell Rd Unit 301 Marietta, GA 30062
- Website: www.shopexquisitebeauty.com
- Phone: 9015620330
- Email: exquisite.beauty.bar@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exquisite_beautybar/
- Other: https://exquisitebeautybar.as.me/schedule.php
Image Credit:
@AMP.QUALITY and @kidxkam
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