We recently connected with Destyni Jefferson and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Destyni thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

I started doing my own hair in high school and I was getting a lot of compliments. Some of classmates would ask me who did my hair and when I would say me, they would be shocked! After that happened later on down the line another classmate asked me to style their hair like I had did my own and I did. She loved her hair and it actually looked way better than mines! Even tho I did both lol! From there I began to do other girls hair after school at my home and I was using all my mother’s hair products, she would be so mad. She start making me replace products that I used by taking it out of my allowance every week and I didn’t like that at all. That’s what made me start charging the girls for my work. If I can make your hair look exactly like the style you want then you have to pay me, simple! That’s where it all started at the tender age of fifteen and now Twenty-two years later it’s still a passion and I’m finally a salon owner!

Destyni, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Being in the hair world for 22 years now has been awesome and challenging at the same time. But one thing about it just like history hairstyles repeat themselves. As an adult hairstyles that I have done and wore in my teenage years always seem to resurface but with a new name or a new way to achieve the look. So if you are not already familiar or not a quick learner that can be a challenge for some. Staying on top of your hair game can make your clients extremely happy because then they don’t have to shop for other stylists when they wanna try something new! They are already comfortable with you and they trust you! I am one of those stylist who’s never too old to learn new tricks if there is a new look trending I don’t mind watching a couple of YouTube videos to teach myself how to do it! This also helps me keep my younger clientele coming back or either wanting to book with me.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

I’ve always wanted my own salon, but didn’t have a clue of where to begin. I’ve had my LLC for years as well but never saved enough funds to actually move forward and pursue my dream. One day I woke up and I decided that I no longer wanted to do peoples hair out of my home. I was absolutely fed up with the traffic and also didn’t like my good furniture getting stains or just dirty from people having to bring their kid along to their appointments. So I started looking for a suite something small and cute but NOT in my home! I found a space for $1000/month and I knew I could afford it with the clientele that I had. Well I did that for 8months and decided it was time for elevation AGAIN! I found a bigger space for $50 cheaper and was able to convert that into a salon!!

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

I would say Social media has been the best source of new clientele. Next to social media I would say “word of mouth”. With both of these sources small business owners like myself are able to create something for people to want to post on social networks or simply just talk about it. Someone can be out shopping and if their hair is looking good another person might compliment them and want to know “who’s the stylist?” That’s where I come in at! If someone posts a pic of their new due on social media and tag my account as the stylist then others wanna come to my page and see what else I have to offer!!! Majority of the time either way people reach out to me and then Boom a new client!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @destgotstylez
• Facebook: Destyni Jefferson
• Youtube: Dest Got Stylez

Image Credits

📸 credit: Saint Louis King 👑 Ra

Instagram: st.louis_king_ra