Meet Nikki Fernando | Hairstylist & Alkaline Owner

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

Hi Nikki, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The idea behind starting Alkaline Suites and Dry Bar came from my background of working in all different types of salon structures. I had started as an apprentice to my best friend at the time working out of a salon suite that was completely separate from everyone else in the suites, then worked in commission salon and last a booth rental.

After working all of these types of salons and also hearing other stylist’s stories of where they came from and the environment they came from in each of these, I knew I wanted to create something different. I wanted to create an environment for women to be their own boss, yet still get that team atmosphere when they’re at Alkaline. Not just be a suite next door or someone else who works in the building. I wanted to make this a great place for these women to set up their work home and achieve their goals without going through what I had been through to get to the point of bringing Alkaline to life. While I am grateful for these experiences, it made me want to make a change in the suite and salon atmosphere altogether. And I believe we’ve done a really great job at making this happen. We do classes and events together as Alkaline, yet they are all their own boss, own business, own suite and we all support each other and come together as a whole to help out and encourage each other when needed.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What sets Alkaline apart from other salons or even salon suites is the fact that all the women are their own bosses, yet everyone under Alkaline’s roof supports each other, works together, and creates a team atmosphere. We’re not just another suite or business here, we may be individual businesses, but we are also a team and I’m so proud to have built an atmosphere like this. One where women can come and feel comfortable to be themselves, have their own individual and unique styles, and encourage and help everyone else under the same roof. I didn’t want there to be any sort of hierarchy and I’m so proud that I feel I’ve established that. Some of the businesses here have told me they did not even know that I was the owner. They have never felt that I was above them and have only seen me as an equal which was a goal of mine. I am so grateful that what was in my mind and heart ended up working out. It gave me back a love for what I do and helped me realize that I didn’t have to be like everyone else.

Learning the art of hair and color did come easy to me. I apprenticed under my best friend at the time, and it just clicked for me. I also had a passion for it so I feel I excelled pretty quickly. The challenges for me came from the industry itself, knowing I didn’t want to be somewhere that I had to conform and be what they wanted me to be. That isn’t art and trying to be someone I’m not just isn’t me. So with what came next I believe pushed me to make Alkaline happen.

I had apprenticed under my former best friend. After that I worked for her at a commission salon and was let go due to voicing opinions and not wanting to conform and essentially was told that “I would do better on my own.” So after that I was obviously very hurt by my best friend. Doing hair is my life and it had pulled me out of a dark hole I had been in and she knew that. so at that point, I was not sure what I was going to do, but started figuring out my next steps and all along this was going to be in my future. I had even made an interview in the parking lot the same day this happened with an established well known salon in Buckhead, but then ended up cancelling it before it happened because I realized this all made me see this wasn’t what I wanted. So, I took a leap of faith and decided I was going to rent and not go to another salon. I was scared to death because I had NO idea if my clients would follow me or not. I texted and reached out to all my clients I could to let them know I was leaving but did not know where I would be at next and would let them know. When I did, to my surprise 100% of them supported and encouraged me and told me they would be following me. To me this was amazing. That meant they weren’t just coming to see me where I had previously been for the beautiful girls, a fancy place and a name. They were there for ME!

So after renting, and of course just when COVID became prominent over here, I decided I was going to bring my dream to life and create a place I wanted to be every day and make it so others had that for their business too. And now we have an amazing team, amazing women and Alkaline is thriving. I couldn’t ask for anything more.

If anything, I hope my story can inspire others to not give up on a dream no matter what life throws at you. Get yourself a great support system, don’t give up, and make your dreams come to life. If I can do it, I know you can too.

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.
To be honest, I don’t go out much. So we would probably go out for a day / night and I would say we would visit Ponce City Market, have lunch at Anticos (the BEST pizza) at the Battery, hang out at The Battery and do some shopping, have dinner and drinks and play games at Punch Bowl Social, then stay the night at The Moxy Hotel and hang out at the pool the next day!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have to dedicate a shoutout to my husband, Chris Fernando. I’m not sure I would’ve gone through with opening Alkaline if it wasn’t for him. He supported and pushed me and believed in me in every way. He believed I could do this when I had doubts and helped me have the faith to go through with it and I’m so glad he did. Not only that, he tore this place apart and built everything in here to make my dreams and visions for Alkaline come to life. I couldn’t ask for a better person to do life with. Thank you and love you, Chris!

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Alkaline-Suites-Dry-Bar-111557354357810

Image Credits
Stephanie Torrez Photography