We had the good fortune of connecting with Danielle Denice Pointer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Danielle Denice, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
We’ll I honestly didn’t really think that I would be where I am initially. I just knew that I wanted to be a hair stylist. I had been in the Army for nearly 9 1/2 years active duty and I knew that I wouldn’t be re-enlisting and my plan was to go to Cosmetology school upon exiting. We’ll that’s what I did and I worked as a contracted photographer for an Army base in Atlanta until I finished school. Once I finished school I had to make a decision. Do I renew my contract as a photographer or do I start my new entrepreneurial career. I chose to start my new career. I knew nothing about how to get clients, keep clients, starting a business, nothing! All I knew was that I wanted to be efficient, professional, and be the very best I could be. I was nervous and excited. And I had gone to enough salons to know how I wanted to be or not be as a hair stylist. It was an interesting time in my life and a huge transition!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What am I most proud of? I’m proud of not being afraid to go after my dream. Many people would (ask) why would I get out of the Army just to do hair. My answer was because that’s what I want to do. I’ve always loved beautiful healthy hair, but especially how hair was like fashion. It made an outfit. I’m so thankful that I took that leap from what was comfortable to begin unfamiliar territory.

How did I get to where I an today professionally?
First it took God leading me, persistence, moving in fear, and just having a hunger to learn to get to where I am today.  Although I still have a long way to go, I’m thankful for my military background that has helped me to be the hair stylist I am today.  (The Army taught me discipline, time management, and a host of skills that has truly helped me in this career.)

Was it easy?
Nope it wasn’t, hasn’t, or isn’t and there were many times I felt like going back into the Army. I’ve even tried at one point because I knew that and it was comfortable for me. I had to realize that that part of my life couldn’t be repeated. Consistency, determination, and looking at the bigger picture kept me going. In the beginning I remember not having enough money to even pay booth rent because I didn’t have many clients that week, but through prayer and a miracle the next day I enough clients not only to pay booth rent, but a little extra to put in my pockets!

What are the lessons I’ve learned along the way?
I’ve learned that you can’t give up when things look or feel hard. Being around other creatives have helped me to be innovative and think outside of the box. Also, doing my best, looking my best, treating people the way I would like to be treated as a customer are lessons learned. Be compassionate, but think like a business because I am a business. There is always room to learn something new and don’t get complacent. The younger stylists are coming up and social media is the winner. They are using it to win and although I’m still learning the ropes of it I know that it is essential to growing your business and your brand.

What do I want the world to know about me or my brand and story?
I’m a country city girl from Atlanta, GA. Danielle Denice is what I go by and that name encompasses so many parts of me. I love hair, singing, fashion, I’m a wife, and so much more. I’m a hair stylist by trade, but I’m touching more than hair. I honestly want each client that sit in my chair feel my sincere care not only for their hair, but for them. I want them to know that they are important to me. I love encouraging women by telling my story to let them know that they are beautiful and that we are in many ways the same.  I’m a lover of fashion, a professional of my craft, I am Danielle Denice.

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?
I would probably take them to Poor Calvin’s! One of my favorite restaurants in the city. Then we can go to Ponce City Market or the Beltline for a little walk and some drinks. I’m not a clubber anymore, but I just love little quaint places and Atlanta has plenty of them.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
OMG! Who deserves the recognition?
I have so many people to thank that helped me to be where I am today! First and foremost God and the opportunities He allowed me to have. While being stationed over in Germany I was so inspired by the different hair cuts and hair colors. It was then I knew that I wanted to pursue my career as a hair stylist. After getting out of the Army, it was my cousin, well more like a sister, Tonette Lemons that inspired me to actually go to Cosmetology school. She was a class ahead of me and we actually went to the same school, Atlanta Technical College Cosmetology program in 2007.

I actually met my next inspiration through my cousin and her name is Kim Love. Kim Love was a seasoned stylist in my cousin’s class and she was just trying to certify herself as a professional. She had been slaying hair since like forever. Her and I had become really good friends and she actually gave me my first job as a hair stylist in her salon. She opened a salon fresh out of school and I pretty much started working in her salon part time while still working as a photographer on the Atlanta Army base. I worked with Kim for majority of the beginning of my career and learned so much from her. I’m so thankful for her! I’m now at an awesome salon, The Societé Salon with Shawna Chevon and we have a great team with just her and I at the moment, but its great energy and nothing, but absolute love. It’s because of Shawna that I also have this great opportunity to share all of this with you.  So many have encouraged me through this journey and I’m truly grateful! 

Image Credits:
Lilac Soul Photography

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.