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

Hi Cherlyn, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I am the Founder & CEO of Beauty Beyond the Crown ™ a natural, plant-based, and clean hair care & beauty brand. My thought process behind starting a business was my own personal struggle with various forms of alopecia (hair loss) and Hashimoto’s condition for over ten years. I started noticing my hair thinning in 2008 and shortly after began to document my hair journey by taking photos of my scalp and hair and keeping a record of medications. I was properly diagnosed in 2017 with Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia and Androgenetic/Androgenic Alopecia. Living with alopecia triggered my passion in solving the riddle to my own hair and scalp problem and my desire to help others in similar situations. Being an advocate for my own health and finding natural remedies and medical treatments to combat hair loss put me on a path for my purpose.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The Beauty Beyond the Crown™ brand is designed for women who are suffering from alopecia (hair loss) due to stress, hormones, postpartum, health conditions, vitamin deficiencies, heredity and chemotherapy. Our mission is dedicated to delivering premium natural, plant-based and clean hair care & beauty products; while offering various resources to anyone living with alopecia, and encouraging healthy lifestyle choices. My company will fill in the gap by providing medical research data and the latest news on medical treatments that supports alopecia, natural alternatives to prevent hair loss, and recommendations on proper hair care maintenance. For women who want to be well-informed; in the months to come, I’ll share my favorite beauty products, and offer beauty and hair tips on my blog.

I’m most proud and excited about offering our very first product, the Hair & Scalp Revitalizing Serum Powerful Strength which is crafted from 16 natural botanical and essential oils. Not only did I feel this was an opportunity to deliver an amazing product, but also to provide a sense of comfort and support through a community – this is a movement. The goal is for women to walk away feeling inspired while rediscovering their inner beauty, peace, confidence, strength, and unique style while living with alopecia.

In 2020, I was laid off from my job of almost eight years, but that didn’t deter me from moving forward. In fact, it was a divine sign and the push I needed to manifest Beauty Beyond the Crown™. Funding has been the biggest challenge for me. I’ve had to boot-strap my own business with my personal funds. However, I will continue to apply to grants and find other ways to fund my business.

Lessons I’ve learned along the way is being okay with not knowing everything. Being a business owner is for certain a learning experience and not for the faint of heart. Connecting with other entrepreneurs and listening to their successes and challenges gave me understanding on how I should approach those situations if ever encountered. I’ve made a couple of mistakes, but now I ask a lot of questions and I let the spirit guide me. One suggestion I will give anyone is to find a mentor in his/her industry because a mentor can provide invaluable insight and direction.

I want the world to know that I’m truly passionate about Beauty Beyond the Crown™ and assisting others in their journey because we’re all in this together. By reading My Story they’ll get a better understanding of who I am and what the brand represents. There are new and exciting things coming in the future (e.g. new products, YouTube channel, etc.) and I’m super ecstatic about it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The first day of arrival will be a very relaxing one while settling in; however, the evening will close with a happy hour at Vue Rooftop (W Hotel) and/or dinner at Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab in D.C. Day two, we’ll stroll to the D.C Warf, walk around and see what it has to offer. We’ll finally end with shopping in Georgetown and grab a few cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcake. Day three, we’ll tour the various Smithsonian museums and the National Museum of African American History and Culture in D.C. Day four, we’ll take it easy and visit the National Harbor in Maryland, walk around, and ride The Capital Wheel and finally end with touring the MGM. Day five, will be a relaxing day of walking and hiking while visiting a beautiful national park such as Great Falls Park in Virginia. The views are absolutely captivating and serene! Day six, will be a visit and tour of one of my favorite wineries named Stone Tower Winery located in Leesburg, Virginia and the views are beautiful. This winery is a spot to unwind and take in the scenery. The final day will begin with a brunch at Café Riggs or somewhere similar in D.C. The night will end with a lovely dinner at Eddie V’s Prime Seafood in Tysons, Virginia while listening to a live musical band, and drinking one of my favorite cocktails named The Hope Diamond.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First, I want to recognize The Most High for giving me the endurance and strength to get through the challenging times, but also giving praise and celebrating the wins within my entrepreneurial journey. I want to give thanks to my mother, two sisters, extended family members, and friends for their support. I’m forever grateful for those who tested my hair & scalp serum, provided valuable feedback, and made their first purchase. Word of mouth is keen in this business, so I’m especially thankful for those who have shared my social media posts and informed their family, colleagues, and friends about Beauty Beyond the Crown ™.

Website: https://beautybeyondthecrown.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beautybeyondthecrown

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beautybeyondthecrown

Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/beautybeyondthecrown

Image Credits
Main photo – purple sequin suit, Photo 1 – pink top, Photo 2 – white dress
Photography credit – Phelan Marc @phelanmarc http://www.phelanmarc.com
Celebrity Makeup Artist – Jeff Enriquez @makeup_machine
Product photography credit –  Ella Sophie @ellasophiephotographer https://www.ellasophiephoto.com

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.