Hi everyone! This month’s small business highlight is Reida Bourjolly. She is a licensed cosmetologist and the owner of This is Your Salon located in Valley Stream, NY. And she is also…my mom :).
Reida has been a professional hairstylist with over 30 years of experience. She knows how to do various styles and she specializes in locs, wedding styles, and more.
If you’re looking to start a career in the hair, check out these highlights from our interview to help you get started.
Question: What opportunities did your profession lead you to?
“Throughout the years, I was able to style celebrities, politicians, and well-known figures in the community. I also had the opportunity to speak at schools about my career to inspire kids to pursue an interest in the beauty industry. The possibilities are endless when it comes to hair, you don’t just have to work in the salon 24/7, I know stylists who work on film/theater sets, teach in beauty school and create hair products. The job is very rewarding.”
Question: Did you go to school to become a stylist?
“I did go to beauty school because I did not want to risk working without a license. I also wanted to learn how to take proper care of people’s hair, safely use chemicals, perform treatments, and provide solutions to problem areas.”
Question: Did you struggle with limiting beliefs?
“Starting it was hard trying to convince people to believe in me. It took time to get people to trust that I could provide care for their hair and make them feel beautiful. So, I had moments of questioning my skillsets, especially if I was unaware of a particular style. So, to build my confidence, I used my free time to take extra courses at beauty school to learn how to do certain hairstyles. I also learned how to embrace not knowing something and communicate that with my clients. Looking at my clients as friends has helped me grow and overcome my limiting beliefs.”
Question: What advice would you give to a newbie?
“The advice I would give to a newbie is to go to beauty school and take a cosmetology course. Make getting a license your priority. Also, try working under a hairstylist to gain experience. I worked under a thriving loctician who ran her business and had years of experience. Lastly, before trying to rent a booth and paying rent when it’s due, become a Commission-based stylist instead; that’s an easy way to get your feet wet.”
Question: How are you enhancing your practice?
“Next year, I will offer classes to people who want to do hair. They will be virtual and in-person one-on-one and group sessions. They will learn various skills like braiding, twisting, wash-n-go, and even how to wash and condition properly. I will also offer specialized courses for dads to teach them how to do and care for their children’s hair. I also took an interest this year, selling natural products for hair & body in my beauty supply store. Since I am a kidney transplant recipient, I use natural products for my clients that don’t contain harmful chemicals.”
If you’re interested in learning more from Reida, watch the interview here!
You can also find her here. Reach out to her if you have specific questions or looking to get your hair done.
Email – thisisyoursalon@gmail.com | Instagram – This is Your Salon | Website – This is Your Salon