Today we’d like to introduce you to Chare’a Diggs.
Hi Chare’a, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The beauty industry has been my passion since childhood. While other kids in school wanted to be doctors and lawyers, doing hair was never a question for me. Raised in my father’s barbershop while also visiting the salon with my mom every week the love of hair was built early on.
At sixteen years old, I started to take steps to turn my dreams into reality by enrolling into my local high school’s cosmetology technical program. Two weeks after highschool graduation I began my long awaited journey at Aveda Institute in Buckhead, Atlanta. At only nineteen years old, I proudly became a cosmetology graduate. Then, by age twenty I was fully licensed transforming years of passion into a professional career.
When I started this journey, I hoped to help bridge the gap of segregation within the hair industry. I hoped to help change the stigma that only a person who resembles you can accurately care for and style your hair. I hope that my chair can be a safe space for all women regardless of their hair texture, age, skin color, or background all while enhancing the beauty that you walked in the door with.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Despite accomplishing milestones at a young age, the road has not been perfect or easy. One of the very first challenges I faced and that still arises at times was beginning my career earlier than peers and friends. Because I entered the industry early, I had to move with intention. I didn’t have the luxury of time or the freedom to make the same mistakes that college allowed many of my friends. That is just one example of the many obstacles I have faced along the way.
After taking my exam, I ran into an unexpected eleven month delay before receiving my license. This limited me to only being able to work as an assistant or in other positions where I wasn’t able get the hands-on experience I was looking for.
Also during this time I was often turned away by salons because I didn’t look like other stylist. I was interviewed but often judged before ever getting the chance to showcase my talent. When I finally got the opportunity to work in a salon I worked in a role that emphasized the business side of the industry, but I quickly realized it was taking me further away from my dream. My second salon job had it’s very own unique set of challenges. I was undervalued, the youngest in the salon, and periodically the only person of color, which made finding my place and voice in this industry more difficult. Drawing from these experiences I chose to open my own salon suite and create the intentional space that I had hoped to find.
Though my age and appearance may stand out first, the results of my work are what help to tell my story.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a twenty-two year old entrepreneur by choice and I love creating beauty as a hairstylist. I specialize in haircutting, hair coloring, and healthy hair maintenance. I am most proud of being able to touch each and every heart that sits in my chair. I’m thankful to fill people’s cups while helping them feel beautiful. Whether it’s a 10 minute consultation or a 4 hour color service. I’m also so proud to be making my very own mark in the beauty industry, a passion that my grandma and dad first shared with me. What sets me apart in this industry is my heart for people and that my work has never been about money. I genuinely care about my clients and prioritize what is best for their hair. I guide them with honesty toward the results they hope to achieve. I value each client not just as a service, but as a person.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I love most about our city is the possibilities are endless. There is always room to grow, always an opportunity to sharpen your craft, and sometimes one genuine interaction can completely change the direction of your career.
On the flip side, because Atlanta is one of the best places to be for the beauty industry, it can feel oversaturated. At times, being well known or having a large following without being truly knowledgeable overshadows the people who are deeply passionate about their work. When people enter the hair industry only for the money, it can affect how clients view the industry as a whole and that is challenging for those of us who truly love what we do and take pride in our profession.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://combedbycharea.square.site/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/combedbycharea?igsh=M3NwbW9taWNma2cz
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/183rQ2jZ8c/?mibextid=wwXIfr
