Meet Jailyn Jackson of Atlanta, GA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jailyn Jackson.

Hi Jailyn, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
From the age of 13, my only dream was to be a lawyer, eventually a judge and retire with many degrees and accomplishments in the legal field under my belt…until I went to college. I entered college with enough credits to start law school at the age of 19, but once the time came to start making decisions about what it would take to get there, I got cold feet. Those cold feet pushed me right out of Kennesaw State University and into Aveda Cosmetology Institute. I didn’t know a thing about hair, I could barely hold a comb, but after a couple years of education and practice, I knew I’d found my niche. After two years of working at a salon where I was overworked and underpaid, I found my dream salon home, Craig McQueen Salon. I finally knew I was as good at hair as I thought I was. Everything was smooth sailing, and I was truly coasting. My only dream was to be a six figure hairstylist. Then the Big Bang happened, I went viral on TikTok. Not only did I hit six figures; over the course of a year, I gained 180,000 followers and my books are full for months. I could never have imagined I would be here with under a decade of experience under my belt.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Getting to where I am now has not been easy, but it truly has been a mental battle of feeling like I belong. Unfortunately, black hair is not taught in major cosmetology schools in the way that it should be, or at all for that matter. This means, I was a black girl who could barely do her own hair, learning how to do white hair only. This was a recipe for an identity crisis disaster. Working in white salons seemed like the right answer because that was what I was taught…it was all I knew. Being the only black girl in the room for years on end has been trying, but I have truly found my place. I have mastered textured hair because I have had black clients who took a chance on me and let me show them that I have educated myself beyond school and I could also care for their hair in the way it should be cared for. The video that went viral was of a black woman who went blonde…a showstopper. Today, my clientele is full of women of all races and ethnicities that trust me all the same. It’s truly my dream to serve everyone, and that I do.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a color specialist that specializes in all shades, however, my blondes are what have made me who I am today. Achieving the perfect shade of blonde is not as easy as it looks, and any colorist will tell you that. I am beyond proud of myself for learning every single facet of what it means to be a color specialist. My biggest skill is being able to replicate a photograph in a way that fits the client best no matter what shade of hair it is. From reds, to blacks, to brunettes and blondes, I know I can make anyone happy and that is all a girl could ask for. I am most popular for my consultation style. Listening, asking questions and getting to know your client on a personal level leads to success.

How do you define success?
My definition of success has evolved every year. First, I thought success meant stability, financially, of course. Then I reached financial stability, and I still did not feel successful. However, in the last year, I think I have reached true success because J have longevity. I have created a pocket for myself in this industry that has granted me a promise of longevity in this career.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beautyxjailyn?igsh=dnNuZWN0emc5cms1&utm_source=qr
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@beautyxjailyn?_r=1&_t=ZT-92F7GZ0jaSd