Meet Amber Jackson

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amber Jackson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amber, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
As a faith based natural haircare line, I tell everyone that the creation of my business was spirit led. The name Classy Girl Essentials was divinely given to me seven years ago when I initially had the idea to make nail polish due to my love for nails. However, God had other plans and the haircare line now holds that name. I’ve always been big on creating simple and healthy DIY hair formulas for those with curly and kinky textures. I began my YouTube channel to share those recipes with others from the genuine interest from family, friends, and other naturals I encountered that wanted to know what I used to grow and maintain healthy hair. All of those encounters led me to want to create products that represented our hair and would be inclusive to all hair types and porosities. I wanted to create something that left my customer feeling good about their crown! With God’s guidance I was able to do just that.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a board certified Medical Laboratory Scientist from Shreveport, Louisiana. I received my bachelors of science in Medical Laboratory science from LSU Health Shreveport and graduated from Xavier University of Louisiana with honors in biology and a chemistry minor. I work in the lab testing patient samples with a focus on disciplines such as Chemistry, Hematology, Blood bank, Serology, Urinalysis, and Microbiology. I was introduced to this field by my mother and followed in her footsteps. The most rewarding aspect of this career path is that I get to make a difference in people lives from different paths of life. Although we are not seen and spend much of our career in the background we are a vital part of healthcare that makes a huge impact on the results and we hold much responsibility when it comes to patient care. I believe my background in science and chosen career path have guided me in my entrepreneurial journey. My ability to adapt and stay the course when challenges arise have been vital in being a business owner. It has also aided me in making important business decisions because my job requires you to be an independent thinker and problem solver as we often have to troubleshoot daily as issues arise. Due to years of experimental procedures and working with chemicals my formulation phase was made easier due to understanding how different processes work. My business has benefited the most from my career due to the values they both hold. A responsibility to the patient/customer, being ethical, and most importantly valuing others above yourselves! As a business owner I’m most proud of how I run my business on the three characteristics above! The one thing I’d like the world to know is that you don’t have to confine yourself to one career path. My brand was built purely on my faith in Christ and desire to create something bigger than myself. My mission to create products that truly nurtures textured hair without harming it and creating a positive self image is what drives my business! My business isn’t just about hair, it holds a special focus on the person.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If someone was to visit the local area, one of the first places I’d take them to would have to be our popular hometown restaurant Orlandeaux’s Cafe. They serve the best Creole cuisine and the restaurant has the best views of the lakefront area. That would lead me to take them along our lakefront area next to get a view of all the beautiful lakefront homes and enjoy a nice evening along the dock areas or maybe take a boat to cruise Cross Lake. Another one of my favorite spots to explore with them would be the downtown area where many of our festivals are held. This would be a nice area to do some shopping, eat, and checkout the boardwalk to enjoy the views of the red river. We have a few nice parks I’d recommend like Shreveport’s Riverview park that would be great for nature lovers.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
It would be remiss of me to neglect mentioning those who helped me on my journey. I’d first like to recognize my testers who provided so much feedback in the formulating phase. Brandy, Kayla, Tyler, Kris, Yasmine, Ariel, Kelsey, and of course my mom and sister. I’d especially like to recognize my friend and colleague Courtney who was a tremendous help when it came to handling some of the legalities of starting a business. Lastly, my classmate Alexis who is also a skincare business owner that has been there to offer advice and guidance. Each of these individuals played a vital role in the development of my business and I want to give them their flowers and express my immense gratitude for them!

Website: https://www.classygirlessentials.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amberalycee?igsh=MXV2eGRxeGNzODQ0aw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16WyVZnzeu/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Youtube: http://youtube.com/c/AmberAlycee

Other: Tiktok : https://www.tiktok.com/@amberalycee?_t=ZP-8xGYYePR4v9&_r=1