Meet Carla Byrd-Platt | Certified Hair Loss specialist, Certified Health & Wellbeing Coach, Master Cosmetologist

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

Hi Carla, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I was 21 years old when I decided to go into business for myself.
I had previously worked in environments that were rife with office politics, or lacked creativity or the freedom I needed to grow and thrive. After much thought and planning I decided to take the leap and open my own salon and I haven’t yet looked back. It happened to be one of the best decisions I have made for myself. Opening my own business allowed me the ability to create the environment that was most conducive for myself, the clients and the salon overall. I have always believed that a pleasant customer experience is a key component to customer satisfaction. Although opening my own salon meant that I would be taking a risk it also meant that if I were to fail or succeed it would all be up to me. I loved the thought that the money I would earn was solely based upon my efforts and not someone else’s determination. That definitely meant that I had to be willing to work hard which I was not opposed to. Having my own business also allowed me the flexibility to spend much needed time with my young son. I had the flexibility to be there for him as he was growing and developing which was very important to me at the time.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Due to the support of my husband and other family and friends and of course my clients I have been able to sustain and grow my position in the beauty business for more than 20 years. Although styling the hair was important I have always focused on helping others to obtain or maintain healthy hair and scalp first. I was always great with color, cuts and extensions but healthy hair is what I became known for in additional to providing exceptional customer service to any and everyone who walked through my doors. I started out as a Master Cosmetologist and many years later I decided to become fully certified as a Hair Loss Specialist. This evolution in my career happened because I noticed more and more people were experiencing hair loss. This broke my heart and I wanted to do more. That is when I began to officially incorporate services related to hair loss and hair growth into my practice. Those services not only include providing targeted treatment plans designed to help grow the hair but specialized styling techniques that help conceal the hair loss as a person is moving through their hair growth journey. This is one thing that sets my Hair Loss Clinic Designers Hair Studio & Hair Growth Center apart from other salons. We provide total hair, scalp and alopecia care as well as full service styling for men and women that are experiencing alopecia. Instead of styling over thinning hair and scalp and ignoring or exacerbating hair loss as some beauty professionals do, I address hair loss from its root cause, preventing further damage while working with the client to stop and reverse the problem of hair loss if possible. This spurred me to develop my hair care line Growth By Design that easily begins to address the the issue of early stage hair loss and beyond.
Because of my advanced training and years of experience I can recognize hair loss in it’s beginning stages thereby preventing advanced hair loss for many. I also educate other barbers and stylists on how to do this as well as help them incorporate specialized treatments into their practice to help their clients prevent, stop and reverse hair loss. I encourage beauty professionals to continue learning and growing so they have the ability to help more people. Those interested in learning more about becoming a a Hair Loss Specialist or transforming their salons into a Certified Hair Loss Clinic can reach out to me for information on how they can make that happen.
Several years after becoming a Hair Loss Specialist I decided to become certified as a Health Coach. I did this not only because I believe that we are stewards over our bodies and overall health but also because many people experiencing hair loss also experience health challenges that cause or exacerbate their hair loss and I wanted to help people overcome those challenges where possible. Some of the more common issues plaguing the body that can cause or worsen hair loss revolve around metabolic syndrome (high blood pressure, diabetes and elevated cholesterol levels), stress, depression and medications related to those issues. Current statistics reveal that approximately 1 in 3 adults in the Unite States currently experience some element of metabolic syndrome. As a Health and Well Being Coach I help people resolve some of the above mentioned issues thus improving not only their overall health but their chances of getting and maintaining longer stronger hair. As a matter of fact I have started doing more speaking engagements and creating more programs to help individuals and families learn how to decrease their chances of developing metabolic syndrome (high blood pressure, diabetes and elevated cholesterol levels), depression or experiencing exaggerated stress all of which can lead to serious health complications that sometimes ultimately lead to disability or an untimely death. A huge problem for many living in under served communities. Some of the tools I use to help people in this arena include meal, workout and mental wellness plans tailored to the individual.
I have always thought that if I am going to be part of a community I will leave that community better than how I found it and sharing with people how to live better and healthier is one way I help keep this promise to myself.
Another initiative that I am very proud of is the annual book drive designers Hair Studio & Hair Growth Center launched several years ago. We collect donations of new and gently loved books to share with children who live in underserved areas and may not have easy access to libraries or money to spend in local bookstores. Going to the library and bookstore, picking out books with my son and reading to and with him on a daily basis created some of my fondest memories. I am so excited because I now get to share those special moments with my grandchildren-creating even more memories.
reading opens the windows of a child’s mind to endless possibilities and adventures that encourages further exploration, learning and opportunities.
For those interested in helping with this initiative I collect book and financial donations to purchase books year round.

In my free time I love spending time with family and friends, gardening, cooking and testing healthy dishes to help both family and clients, creating beautiful tablescapes for special occasions and traveling.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Atlanta has so much to offer-
I’ll share a few of the most common spots we take our guests to-

1.The High Museum-
2.Friday night Jazz at the High Museum
3. The Atlanta Aquarium
4. The National Center For Civil & Human Rights
5 Fish Thyme Restaurant-The vibe and the food is always great there
6. Phyllis’s Restaurant
7. Atlantas Baseball Stadium-The Battery-A great place to hang out even when it isn’t a game night

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to thank my deceased mom Nettie Smith -Richardson who was the first person to introduced me to the joy of helping people look and feel beautiful by assisting them with their hair care needs and Ms. Kathy Lyles who introduced me to the business side of hair care by allowing me to work in her salon more than 30 years ago.

Website: https://www.designershairandhairgrowth.com

Instagram: instagram@hairlossandwellnesscoach

Facebook: https://facebook.com/designershairstudios

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hairlossandwellnesscoachcarla