Today we’d like to introduce you to Adrianna Nicole.
Hi Adrianna, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
When I tell people I’ve been a hairstylist for 20 years, they look at me like, wow, how old are you?!? I began my hairstyling journey in 2001 after graduating from high school.
Being a freshman in college, I realized very quickly that I had to learn how to style my own hair. So I grew my natural hair out and started wearing a TWA (teeny weeny Afro). After wearing my natural hair out for a while, I decided to loc my hair, and once I started my loc journey, other people wanted me to start and maintain their Locs as well. Needless to say, my freshman apartment was a mini salon. After graduating with my AA degree from Valencia Community college, one of my friends invited me to attend hair school with her. I remember telling all my classmates in hair school, “I’m going to only specialize in natural hair.” But back in 2008, doing natural hair (especially in south Florida) was not very popular. I completed my cosmetology program at Palm Beach Academy of health and beauty in 2010.
I landed a job at Trendsetters barbershop, which was the perfect fit for me. Although I was the only female working in the barbershop, all seven barbers made me feel respected and honored as the sister of Trendsetters. I’m so grateful for the opportunity that Johnathan (the owner of Trendsetters) gave me because I built my confidence there and really learned how to cut hair. Although I was a location and braider at the time, he said to me, “if you work in a barbershop, you need to learn how to cut.” That started my passion for cutting hair. After working at Trendsetters for two years, I decided to begin a new life in Atlanta, where I began working at Coils Hair Lounge. Being amongst talented natural hair stylists helped me become a better hairstylist. I hustled up clients by passing out flyers, talked to anyone who’d listen, and did styles that I wasn’t comfortable doing. But when I was asked to do a cropped cut, that’s when I knew there was something that I could offer the natural hair market in Atlanta. One day, I thought to myself, “how can I describe natural hair from a textile or textural context?” It would definitely have to be a luxurious fabric, but which one?”. Suede reminded me of hair in its curly state and natural hair looks similar to Silk when it’s pressed out. That’s when the concept of Suede & Silk was created.
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?
Suede & Silk has had some challenges. However, the wins have been greater than the losses. I’ve always wanted to own my own full-service day spa since the age of 16 and never imaged that my journey to salon ownership would take 20 years. But every minute of the wait was well worth it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Along the way, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a few major brands, be a platform hair artist at hair shows, collaborate with social influencers, and travel for continuing education, but overall my proudest moment is being able to mentor the new generation of natural hair stylists. I know that I’m not going to be behind the chair forever, so I want to pass the torch. The knowledge I possess is for those who want to be an asset to women who seek to enhance their natural beauty. My name Naturalbeauty365 represents the inner beauty you possess 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is never a day that you are not beautiful.
My goal is to make every woman that sits in my chair not only feel beautiful but confident rocking their natural curls. Suede and Silk’s signature Suede cuts is what I’m known for. It gives the client the best outcome when they’ve decided to go natural or if they just want to have a nice shape to their natural curls. I personalize all of my hair cuts and give each client a special touch. Once I’ve created a “one of a kind” suede cut, I allow my client to choose one of the following styles- the suede curl method- a curling technique that accentuates each curl for a definite high finish; a Twist out- when sections of hair are twisted together and taken apart once dry; or a Rod set- when hair is placed on a hard rod or Flexi rod for a smooth polished finish. Suede and Silk Salon also offers other natural hair care services, including Loc Cultivation, Braids, natural styles, and hair care regimens.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
The most valuable lesson that I’ve learned during the pandemic is to always be prepared for the unexpected. With the right planning, you won’t have to deal with the harsh reality of not being able to work or not making money. Thankfully I didn’t have to close my salon for too long, but being prepared really made the difference.
Contact Info:
- Email: Suedeandsilksalon@gmail.com
- Website: www.suedeandsilk.com
- Instagram: @naturalbeauty365
- Facebook: Suede and Silk Salon
- Youtube: Naturalbeauty365
Image Credits
Lloyd Mackayi
