We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Toni Love a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Toni, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

I actually started by hosting classes in Atlanta near the airport (for attendees who traveled from other states). I would drive back to Alabama where I was residing and I did that for approximately a year before moving to Atlanta.

I had the idea for a Continuing Education School for the beauty industry for some time. But, I didn’t know how to execute it. I had been a Cosmetology teacher in a high school and I had taught at a community college, but, that is not the same. I was recruited at the Bronner Brothers International Hair Show by Mr. Joe L. Dudley, Sr., the deceased owner of DudleyQ products.

After several trips to NC, where the company was based, he took me to their world renowned Continuing Education School for Cosmetologists and told me if I accepted the job, I would be the Director of Education and run the school. I was teaching at the community college at the time and at the end of the semester, I accepted the position and moved to NC. I call it my “work to learn” experience.

Afterwards, I moved back to AL and started Toni Love’s Training Center in 2002, with Mr. Dudley’s blessings, of course.:-)

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am an international platform stylist and educator, holding instructor’s licenses in Cosmetology and Barbering; I am a Certified Instructor and a twice-published author. A graduate of the Hair Design Academy and I have taught students in both private and public schools.

I currently own Toni Love’s Training Center L.L.C., located in Atlanta, Georgia, where I teach beauty professionals how to become Certified Hair Loss Specialists. I collaborate with doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmacists and other medical professionals throughout the U.S. and abroad to ensure my graduates’ success.

Over the years, my graduates have made history in the beauty industry by accepting medical insurance in their businesses for hair loss clients who qualify. Also, I teach them how to cultivate a relationship with the VA hospitals across the U.S.

I have been requested by beauty professionals and other business people to consult, which lead to me starting the Business Leaders Program. Through this program, I have consulted with doctors, corporate companies, etc. I assist business owners and professionals with identifying their problems and work with them to put systems and strategies in place that will yield results.

I think my passion for the industry and for my students sets me apart. I am so proud of them and how they have developed into great business people. The proudest moments are when I get the calls, hugs and see the tears of joy from the results they received from my teaching, guidance and leadership.

I want people to know, I run my business with integrity. and I am results oriented. My graduates receive such great results, I created a “Graduate Results” page on my website.:-) www.tonilove.com

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I think being consistent and sticking to one thing helped me build my reputation within my market. And, the results my students were securing.

People in the industry know me for “hair loss, wigs, weaves and extensions.” I have people who enroll in my classes, who tell me they have been following me for years or they have been receiving correspondence from me for a long period of time.

Or, they tell me they sat in a class at one of the international hair shows or the “mom and pop” shows, years ago.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the most valuable lesson I learned….Create my own foundation and build upon it.

Corporate companies and successful people in the industry are not always willing to assist with your growth.

Backstory: An well-known educator in this industry invited me to work on a hair show with him and his team. I drove 6 hours from Alabama to Baton Rouge, LA and he wasn’t there and no one knew anything about me working.

His staff members couldn’t get him on the phone and I drove back to Alabama the same day. He is older, religious and had a great reputation in the industry and I never heard from him or anyone on his team afterwards.

It was in that moment, I understood what my mom was preaching: “Everything that glitters is not gold.” “Stop chasing these people and look within.” She and so so many other were pouring into me….I had six hours to drive to hear all of them.:-)

Contact Info:

• Website: www.tonilove.com
• Instagram: Toni Love International
• Facebook: Toni Love Cosmetology
• Linkedin: Toni Love Training Center
• Twitter: @tonilove205
• Youtube: Toni Love Cosmetology

Image Credits
Toni Love