Today we’d like to introduce you to Veronica Carson.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started doing hair at the wonderful age of 12. Doing hair was like a popular thing in our family. My mom was like the neighborhood hairstylist. My Aunt and Uncle owned a beauty supply store with a salon attached. My cousins own two Barber & Beauty Salon & a Barber School. I have a lot of cousins that are Hairstylists also. So as you can see, doing hair is in my blood.
I originally went to college from 1992-1996 at an (HBCU) called Elizabeth City State University for four years with a major in teaching. My dad died my Junior year of college, so teaching did not really interest me anymore. I met my husband in college and ended up leaving after my senior year but never graduated. I ended up quitting college because I needed to figure out my next step in life and to see what I really want to do with it. I ended up marrying my husband in 1996. He joined the army in 1998, so I decided I was going to go back to school but online this time. I decided to change my major from Teaching to Criminal Justice. I finally graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice. Even though I accomplished one of my goals by graduating and receiving a degree, I was not that happy. It wasn’t what I really wanted to do with my life.
Being married to someone in the military requires a lot of moving around from duty station to duty station. Fort Riley, Kansas was our first duty station in 1998. I did hair there for three years in my house at the time with no license. My husband ended up with orders for Korea and that is when I decided to move back home to NC with my mom for only a year. I decided to go to school for Cosmetology. I finished up school and was a licensed Master Cosmetologist in NC by the time my husband returned back from Korea in Nov 2001. In 2002, I transferred my license over to our next duty station in Georgia and worked in at least three different salons. I enjoyed working in those salons but I still wasn’t quite happy because I always dreamed of owning my own salon.
After 11 years of being in GA, we finally got another order to move again. We moved to Washington State in 2011 but after four months after moving I got bored and decided I was ready to go back to work. I rented a booth at a salon called Valentinoe’s Beauty Salon in Tacoma Wa. I worked there for only a year. I hated it working there so I decided to quit. At this point, I refused to go work in somebody else’s salon. I stepped out on faith and decided to go and get my first salon suite, which I named “Diva Styles Salon” in 2012. I had it for three years until I had to close it down in 2015 because we had to move once again. Which brought me right back to Georgia. My husband at this point is retired from the military so I had to hurry up and make some fast moves dealing with business.
I eventually opened up another salon in 2016, changed the name from “Diva Styles Salon to “Veronica’s DivaStylz Hair Studio LLC and it is still open today. I also have another company I formed in 2017, name V’Diva Hair LLC which includes hair bundles, hair products, flat irons and more. I can say both business are doing very very well and I’m happy doing what I do.
Has it been a smooth road?
I must say, no it has not been a smooth road for me. By me moving around a lot made me lose out on a lot of money. Plus, I had to leave the clients that I love each and every time. After each move, I go through the same thing, such as getting behind in bills because I could not afford to pay them because at this point, I am jobless. I have to start over every single time. Starting over every time became very very exhausting. I got depressed at times because things weren’t moving as fast as I wanted it to. I needed to get back to doing what I love to do quickly. Not to mention, I was a military wife with two kids that I had to get straight before I can decide to go back to work. I was a single parent whenever my husband was constantly gone from 30 days to a year at a time. Him being gone a lot really made it hard for me to balance working in a salon and trying to juggle both kids with their school work and activities but somehow I did it. I’m glad I never gave up or I wouldn’t be where I am today.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Veronica’s DivaStylz Hair Studio LLC – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Veronica’s DivaStylz Hair Studio LLC is a salon that welcomes and services everyone. The salon has a fun & relaxing atmosphere. Not only do clients come and get their hair done, they have a chance to get away from all of their problems while being serviced. We are here to make you “Be Beautiful, Feel Beautiful.”
I specialize in sew-ins, quick-weaves, relaxers, crotchets, color and cutting. What I am most proud of is having my daughter be a part of the company. When she told me she wanted to be a part of the beauty industry, I felt like a proud mother.
What sets me apart from others would be my personality, my professionalism, my honesty, and my ability to separate business from my personal problems. I always make sure my clients feel like it is all about him or her during their time. My salon prices are also very affordable. I feel like I am doing a good job because my salon was voted “Neighborhood Favorite” two years in a row (2019 & 2020).
I always find ways to try and give back to my client by having different events such as Fall Festivals in 2017 & 2018, Sip & Paint Parties, BBQ’s & more, just to show my clients that I really do appreciate them.
V’Diva Hair LLC is my online business, which was established in 2017. This company sells sew in extensions, bundle deals, hair closures, tape-ins, clip-ins, wigs, frontals, 3-D mink lashes & hair care products. Some products are available at the salon location or you can order online at www.vdivahair.com.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love almost everything about the city. I like the opportunities that Atlanta has to offer. Being in the hair business, there is always competition which I love because it keeps me on my toes and also gives me that drive I need to further myself. I also love the Bronner Brothers International Hair show that comes twice a year, every year. Since moving back, I accomplished the rest of my dreams pertaining to my business. I got my salon up and running, my hair business, my hair tools & products in less than two years.
What I like least about the city would be not having the connection with other talented hairstylists. I’m used to bonding with other hairstylists in surrounding areas by going to hair related shows, lunches, classes and more. I feel like its more about people being so competitive with each other that they don’t see the bigger picture. If we all are able to work together in this industry, we can all accomplish much more than what we are accomplishing now.
Pricing:
- Sew-Ins $165-$185
- Quickweaves $65-$85
- Relaxer Cut & Style $75-$85
- Crochets $80-$100
Contact Info:
- Address: 31 Pine Grove Rd.
Locust Grove GA 30248 - Website: www.vdivahair.com
- Phone: 678-782-6799
- Email: www.vdivastylzhairstudio@gmail.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/v_
divastylz_hair_studio_llc
Instagram.com/vdiva_hair_extensions
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