Today we’d like to introduce you to Porsche Ford.
Porsche, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was a new were divorced single mom of six and I needed a career that could be flexible with parenting. So I decided to go back to school for hair because it was always something that I did on the side in addition to other jobs. However, it wasn’t until I got out of school and started actually working in salons that I realized how passionate I was about styling. When I first got out of school, I worked in a traditional “mom and pop” old school salon. While working there, I learned a lot about the salon business as well as learning a lot about myself and I realize that this was going to be more than just doing hair, it was going to be a journey new journey for me in life literally. I was determined early on to obtain my own salon. I wanted to provide my clients with quality service that I felt they deserved, Not to mention I’ve always kept long hours in the salon to which I would often get in trouble when working for others for being in the shop so late. I work long hours because I had to provide for my six children as well as save money to get to where I desired to be.
In a little over a year, I was opening the doors to my first salon “Rae Dior’s Salon and Boutique”. The next five years, there would be an amazing experience for me filled with great opportunities as well as meeting many new people that I serviced as well as worked alongside. The name “Rae Dior’s” was chosen to represent family. Rae is part of a combination middle name that I hold as well as several other family members including my late Grandfather whom I was named after. And Dior is my youngest daughter’s name. Rae Dior was symbolic to me as representing start and future. My first salon was located in Austell Georgia. Over the course of the five years there, I was In the nominations two years in a row for Atlanta’s Best hairstylists as well as my salon for Atlantis best salon. We serviced the majority of Cobb county as well as many travelers from the metro area as well as out of state, staying open nearly 24HRS a day nearly seven days a week. After about five years of being in that location, I decided it was time for something else. I had always desired To learn barbering skills so I decided to sell my salon and go work for a good friend Calvin Days over at Barbers 4 Days located in Powder Springs. It was there that I started to blossom even more within my skill set. I learned a lot from the Barber’s there as far as cutting. While working there, I lead a team of stylists for about two years, teaching them some of my skills for success.
Three months ago, I decided it was time for yet another move in my career. I decided to leave Barbers 4 Days and open my own salon suite inside of Town Center Mall “Dior Hair” located just inside of “I am Keoko salon suites”. It has been a great experience for me so far. I offer a wide range of salon services including extensions and barbering. I also sell products including B’s Waxx and I will soon be launching my hairline “Dior Hair” and my clothing boutique spring of 2020! I am just thankful to God for my success. I was a divorced mom with a G.E.D. and six children. But with hard work and determination, I made sure me and my children made it. If I had to give advice to anyone else my main advice would be to find something that you love and go for it. Don’t necessarily worry about how much money you’ll make from doing it, Because I truly feel like if you find your passion, you’re going to do well at it and the money will come. I really love doing hair and I love meeting new people and the lives that I’ve touched, as well as the people that I’ve had the pleasure to encounter. I pray that my testimony can help encourage someone else not to give up and to push and persevere no matter what.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There have been a lot of struggles. I would have to say the original struggle was trying to complete Cosmetology school. I gave birth to two babies during my course of schooling as well as went through a divorce, And lost my grandmother who is very dear to me. I almost didn’t finish school at all because of those reasons. After completing school it was hard getting started with my career. I had a one-year-old and a newborn baby at home whom parents kept daily to allow me to work. Each day was a struggle trying to make money as a stylist in the beginning. I had no clientele getting out of school, And people are reluctant to trust you with doing their hair not to mention my skills weren’t all that great in the beginning. Also, the long hours that I started to work fresh out of school trying to save money to buy my salon were very demanding. I was away from my children a lot. I was subjected to a lot of ridicule from a lot of people telling me that I worked too much.
But I understood that everyone would not understand my goals nor would they agree with them. But I knew the sacrifice that I was making for my family long-term was going to pay off in the end. Also, during the time that I own my own salon, I endured a lot of struggle there as far as trying to hire and maintain good staffing. In business, you learned that not everyone is going to be as passionate about your business as you are. A lot of people want to reap the rewards but aren’t willing to put in the effort. They see where you are but are willing to do what it takes to get there.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Dior Hair – what should we know?
Dior Hair hair is best known for Hair extension installation and hair cutting and styling of long and short hair. I offer glueless quick weaves, itip installations, braidless sewins, traditional sewins, braids, closure sewins, frontal sewins, lace wig installation, and I design and sell lace wigs as well. I launched my lace wig collection in the fall of 2019. The thing that sets me apart from other stylists and salons, I would have to say it’s my constant evolution in the Hair industry as far as skillset. There’s not much that I don’t do, Or cannot help the client to obtain. Not to mention my expertise in working with clients with alopecia And always offering my clients the best in customer service. My philosophy has always been if my clients aren’t happy and satisfied, neither am I. I’ve had a lot of clients over the years to come to me for the first time complaint of poor customer service received elsewhere. I’ve always been determined not to be that type of stylist. I love to make all of my clients feel important and treasured because they are.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My biggest supporters throughout this journey has been my family members. My mother, my father and stepfather mainly as well as all of my children. Other supporters along the way have been stylist Patricia Merritt, Barbershop owner Calvin Days, And most definitely my Paul Mitchell /Esani family. My parents, especially my dad were the ones that suggested that I go to hair school. My dad even did his research to find Paul Mitchell and sent me there. My mother and stepfather babysit my children for me a lot so that I could complete school and work. Patricia Merritt taught me a lot about Healthy maintenance of healthy hair, as well as running a salon and building clientele. Calvin Days has been very supportive in areas of encouragement prayer and motivation as well as job opportunity. And Paul Mitchell staff and schooling was amazing as far as preparing me for my journey in the salon industry. Their program is awesome.
Contact Info:
- Address: 400 Ernest w. Barrett Pkwy. N.W.
Kennesaw, GA. 30144 - Phone: 770-873-1638
- Email: misskittyredbone@gmail.com
- Instagram: Porsche_DiorHair
- Facebook: Dior Hair S
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