Meet Gwinnett County Master Cosmetologist and Salon Owner: Alexis Nicole Howell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexis Nicole Howell.

Alexis Nicole, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Well, hair used to just be something that I liked doing for my mom, sister and I. It was never anything that I could see myself doing as a career or long term. Growing up you heard people saying you should be a doctor, lawyer, teacher, etc. you never heard anyone say you should be a hairstylist.

I graduated from Central Gwinnett High School in May 2007 and enrolled at Mercer University as a Chemistry major. I wanted to be a pharmacist. The summer before my freshman year my father lost his job. Even though my parents had no idea how they were going to afford sending me to Mercer they never shot down my dreams, and they did all that they could to get me into the school.

After my first freshman semester, I had a balance that I could not afford to pay and I had no other choice but to leave the college and return home. Because of the unpaid balance, I was also unable to enroll in any other college/ university.

After coming home and going through a short period of depression my mom introduced me to a woman named LaDetra White who was looking for a personal assistant. After having a short interview with Mrs. White I started at Noble Insight! In the first couple months of working with her, I had been on a business trip and hosted focus groups with her in Jacksonville Florida. For a young woman who had all her dreams shot down this was a sure pick me up! Working with LaDetra was nothing I had ever experienced before! She was a tough woman but I am so thankful for it! After working with her for two years and pretty much running all of her businesses, I began to desire what she had. It was more than the money she made or the people she bumped shoulders with. It was the beauty of being your own boss, calling all the shots, and not apologizing for it!

I began to tweet these thoughts one day, asking my followers what I could go to school for and do in a short period of time and have my own business. One of my followers responded, “Hair school. You know you can do some hair.” Lol. and the rest is history!

But seriously, I enrolled in Atlanta Beauty Academy and paid monthly and attended school full time while working as a shampoo assistant in a salon and working at Ulta. I was so determined to be the best I could be! In December of 2011 I graduated from Atlanta Beauty Academy as Class President and today, I am the owner of ANS Hair Studio & Boutique in Lawrenceville Ga.

Has it been a smooth road?
Not at all. From having to leave college because I couldn’t afford it, to actually graduating beauty school and working in a salon after salon as a successful stylist but having to deal with jealousy from salon owners it has been a rough road!

How would you describe the type of kid you were growing up?
Growing up I was in love with fashion. I still am. I’ve always been obsessed with looking good. My hair was always done, nails done, hair done. I even won best dressed my senior year in high school!

Is there a specific memory from when you were younger that you really miss?
My favorite memory as a child is probably all the family vacations we took! I’m the oldest of 3 and myself and my siblings are all very close.

So, what should we be on the lookout for, what’s next in store for you?
I look forward to continuing to grow my business and myself as a brand. I want to help other up and coming stylists grow and develop themselves as well.

I plan on launching my wig line soon. As well as some other salon products.

Pricing:

• Natural Hair Services $55+
• Weaving & Extensions Services $125+
• Treatment Services 15+
• Custom Wigs start at $375

Contact Info:

• Website: anshairstudio.com
• Phone: 6782159062
• Email: anshairstudio@gmail.com
• Instagram: Anshairstudio
• Facebook: A. Nicole Styles Hair Studio & Boutique
• Other: Twitter.com/anshairstudio

Image Credit:
Credit to Alexis Howell