Today we’d like to introduce you to Mona.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
It all started when I went natural in February 2017. My natural journey has influenced me to better recognize the positivity, peace and love put into myself, my hair and others.
In 2017, I was 16 years old. It was my junior year at Creekside high school in Fairburn, GA. I was a dual enrollment student, I played varsity volleyball and I was working two fast-food jobs at the same time! My older sister used to always do my hair and one weekend, I asked if she could come over and give me a set of box braids. It got all the way until Sunday morning and she was NOT returning any of my calls or my messages. I had already took out my previous style and I was desperate to get my hair done before school that next morning. I knew the concept of braiding. I just didn’t know how to start it off. I got up early that morning and I watched one YouTube video on how to install a box braid.
From that moment on, I spent the whole day doing my own hair. It took me 12 hours to complete the style. Once I finished, it looked really neat and professional. When I went to school that morning, I received a lot of compliments and feedback. Comments such as ” Wow! Your hair looks really good” ” Who did your hair? How much do they charge?”. Then I wondered, “If I can do my own hair, I can probably do other people’s hair too”. Once I realized that I took my idea and ran with it! I began with friends and family. Once I started getting into hair, I became more open and confident with my work. I decided to start my own business. One night I sat at my desk with a notebook and a pen and I started writing out names for my business page. At that moment, “Crowned By Mona” came to me, from then on I was a hairstylist. I started out as a traveling hairstylist. I would travel from home to home after school and on the weekends. In November 2017, although I had a small clientele, I just didn’t feel like a true hairstylist.
I decided to look around the union city for a place my clients could meet me. I walked up and down Mission Square Plaza looking for a shop to potentially call “home”. I walked in several different shops, spoke with many owners. Being that I was only 16 years old with not much experience in the hair industry. A Lot of people turned me down and told me, no, but I didn’t give up. I finally came across a young woman named Lori Dior. When I first met Lori she was the light that shined in my darkness! Lori gave me an opportunity that nobody would! When everyone else told me no, she was there to tell me yes!
Lori played a big role in my life and my journey taking me in under her wing and teaching me the importance of being consistent and key tips to running a business. I worked at Lori Dior’s Beauty Bar until I built up a strong clientele, enough to work in an actual hair salon, paying weekly booth rent. By the end of December 2017, I was starting at my first salon in Fairburn, GA. Elegant Expression Salon, Owned by Ms. Renae. She was the second biggest impact/Influence in my life! She also gave me an amazing opportunity to work in her salon as an Apprentice. Working and learning side by side from some of the hottest Licenced Cosmetologists in ATL! I worked at Elegant Expression for about a year and built a phenomenal clientele!
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?
In the beginning, of course, people are going to have their opinions but never forget, you have to start from somewhere! You can’t expect to get far if you don’t put the work in to get there. My journey wasn’t exactly peaches and cream. Like I mentioned, When I was 16 years old, I was a junior in high school. I was enrolled in dual enrollment taking college courses. I was playing varsity volleyball & I was working two fast-food jobs on Senoia Rd. At the end, I still found and maintained time to do hair!
At home, things weren’t always peaceful. Unfortunately, I got put out of my home when I was 16. That’s when I started to take my life and my career seriously. I knew from that moment on if I didn’t start working on my business, then I would probably end up working for someone else and being that I was already working two jobs to maintain. I knew for a fact That was not the move. In August 2018, I stopped working at Elegant Expression the start of my senior year. Three days after I left the salon, My house caught on fire! My home was burned down from the inside. My family was homeless the whole first semester of my senior year. I had nowhere to work. My car had broken down a month before the house fire. I was completely devastated. I still didn’t give up. I couldn’t let my clients down!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
The purpose of Crowned by Mona is to glorify natural hair. My business is to show off natural hair, Rejuvenating healthy hair and bring back life to the fro. I am currently a studying master cosmetologist. I specialize in natural hair. I practice the art of protective styles that make black men, Kings, and Black women, Queens, feel good about their hair and culture. I am well known for my Goddess Locs. My locs are different from the rest. I don’t use Marley hair or any pre-curled hair. I only use Kanekalon hair and I build the loc from scratch.
I am most proud of my business because even though I didn’t receive a lot of support in the beginning. I stayed true to who I was and I didn’t let anyone break my ambition!
What were you like growing up?
When I was a child, I was very outgoing, friendly, independent and I always wanted to make my own money. I used to be overweight. In middle school, I weighed 210 pounds. I didn’t have many friends or any long-lasting relationships. Most of middle school, I was bullied for things that I couldn’t explain. I started playing sports in the 7th grade. When I got to high school, I was a full-time athlete. I played on varsity teams until my senior year. Ending my sports career, my junior year changed my life in so many ways. Walking away from everything that I once thought I wanted my life to be and walking into something so much more then what I expected. Don’t get me wrong. I’m still growing and learning everyday.
Pricing:
- Goddess Locs $275
- Knotless Braids $225
- Passion Twist $225
Contact Info:
- Website: www.crownedbymona.com
- Phone: 7708710621
- Email: Crownedbymona@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crownedbymona/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrownedbyMona
Image Credit:
@Crownedbymona
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