Meet Ashley Johnson | Natural Haircare Specialist

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

Hi Ashley, is there something you believe many others might not?
I’d have to say one of the main pieces of conventional advice I disagree with is that you have to work extremely hard and hustle your way to achieve financial success. While I do agree there is certainly hard work to be put in as an entrepreneur, I also believe rest, reflection and faith coincide directly with grind. When burnout inevitably surfaces after solely working hard, you have nothing to hold on to but worry and frustration. Without the ease and joy of hope, hard work (especially if you’re working from the ground up without much assistance) turns into burnout. Prior to my current business, I had another small business from 2010-2016 that eventually closed from doing nothing but hard work. Now that I understand faith, and dare I say, “manifestation,” I have experienced true success in running a small business.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am assuredly most proud of the experiences I provide in my salon. While I absolutely enjoy styling my clients, it’s actually the cleansing and caring parts of the appointments that fully encapsulate me in my love for what I do. By not only caring for their hair but also caring about their peace, I create a space for my clients to utterly release the stress that’s coupled with a work life balance. I read the room with every appointment so I can bullseye exactly what it is my client needs that day.

With LOTS of dedication and sifting through the evolving trend of weave styles, I am so grateful that I have finally established my place in the beauty industry. I not only understand all textures, but I also implement proper care for them to thrive. It has been quite a hard road as a “natural” hair artist, but I have committed to continuing my education and upgrading my skillset. I have worked in 5 hair salons and 4 suites and am beyond proud to say I have retained 70% of my clientele from creating my own business at the start of a pandemic-which was the beginning of me learning the very valuable lesson of assuming risk as an entrepreneur.

Without risk, I’ve learned, we won’t stretch to our next level of greatness. Very similar to physical therapy, you have to push your limits to see what you’re really made of! Merely staying the course is comfortable, but risk involves faith and belief in yourself. This, I have learned, creates a foundation of knowing you can handle absolutely anything that comes your way.

With over 100 5 star reviews, I can’t help but relish in the fact that most all of them express gratitude for the experience and education received. I want women to know they deserve to not only look good, but FEEL good, as well. I don’t mean that in the basic way of saying you feel good after seeing your hair. But I mean when you get home and you connect with your family on a different level because you’ve had the ability to unwind, exchange positive energy and discover just how amazing you are! THAT’S what it means to book an appointment with me. I am here to reassure women that I value their time and support! I find no need in establishing my expertise through a policies page in all caps with fees attached to every word. In my salon you will feel seen and leave knowing just how important you are! I am a stylist unlike any other.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
After her arrival, we’d FOR SURE need food and drinks to catch up! Since we are both pretty low-key, but also enjoy a good time I’d make our first stop at Postino Midtown. We would definitely need an outdoor table, bottle of orange wine and a Greek humus board to start things off the right way. Afterwards we’d head home, but not before getting a bottle of Chilean organic Sauvignon Blanc to get us through the night. The next day we’d make it to our spa day at the Waldorf Astoria in Buckhead where we are sure to receive a 5 star experience. After our massages, ordering mimosas and brunch on the patio are a must! And since we’re in Buckhead, we’d definitely make our way to Buckhead Village for a little bit of browsing and shopping.

After making a very necessary stop at Zara we’d find the perfect sets for our night at Tesserae rooftop with live dj and mingling. If the dj is serving all the right beats, we’d end the night at Buteco for more good vibes. The next day we’re literally relaxing and having a girls’ night in. But, not without inviting a few other friends over to enjoy cocktails, charcuterie boards and game night. The next day we’d head to our reservation at Chateau Elan for really catching up conversationally about the details of our busy lives. The next day we’d head to Black Coffee to support the owners who are also two very good friends of mine. And I couldn’t let her leave without heading to Houston’s on Peachtree for the ultimate dining experience (which just so happens to be my old stomping grounds as a server). Her last night out we’d venture to Midnight Market for skating, bites and cocktails (yet again) before we retire for her to enjoy her very last day doing what we do best: chilling at home.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Absolutely! I have to recognize and thank my three mentors, Aaron Tracey, Joie Wallace and Tiffany Green for their genuine care and no-nonsense approach with me. Their guidance and support has been an anchor through my small business journey. Without them I would have made fearful decisions and very likely been wallowing in regret for starting my own business to begin with. They are a solid team that cheers me on consistently and I am forever grateful!

Website: https://svnhair.com

Instagram: @hairbyashleybrooke