We were lucky to catch up with AJ Williams recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi AJ, thanks for joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

I believe it takes self confidence and persistence to be successful. When you truly believe in yourself and your gifts that you are blessed to share with the world, you truly can accomplish anything! Always find a way to keep moving forward towards your goals and dreams no matter what comes your way. I know it is easier said than done but it truly is possible.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

I was born and raised in Omaha Nebraska but moved to Atlanta in 2012. Hair has always been a passion of mine as it has always came to me naturally. I love to see what I can create with my hands. I specialize in Knotless braids, Stitch braids and Locs services. I strive to provide my clients with a true experience while achieving quality, tension free, pain free braid and loc styles. I have been blessed to become a brand ambassador for Evolving Textures Hair Care and Neewer Ring Light. I’ve also had the opportunity to be an affiliate for Taliah Waajid Brand, AB Glitz, and The Braid Bib as a paid sponsor for their brands. I’ve accomplished so much during some of the hardest times of my life. When some would have given up, I have continued to beat the odds and continue to make my mark in the natural hair community. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I’d be published 3 times since the official launch of AJ Bella Beauty in January 2021. I’m reaching beyond the stars because there’s truly no limit to my potential, and I’m just getting warmed up!

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I built my audience on social media by staying true to myself. Sharing my love for natural hair, continuing education in the natural hair community, and being a genuine person has helped me gain my following. I do my best to put out consistent, good content of my hairstyles that are eye-catching while I showcase my personality through it all. I also made the decision to share a glimpse into my personal life. I am a wife & homeschooling mother of 4 amazing children. I share it because there are other moms/wives just like me who are finding the courage to pursue their dreams despite everything that may already be on their plate. There are times where I am not sure how I handle it all and to some I make it look easy. In reality it is not an easy task, but when it’s something you truly love you can always find a way to make it work.

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

I believe investing in classes that further my education on protective styles and content creation has helped build my reputation within the natural hair community. I’ve had the pleasure of learning from some amazing women whom are well known in the “Braid World”, some of which you may own some of their products! As I’ve stated before, I always show up as myself! For that reason, many of my peers in the braid community admire how hard I work and recognize the love I truly have for the hair art I create. I truly love and support those who love and support me. Being apart of a mentorship this year has helped me find my tribe, my band of sisters who truly love and support each other. We all truly want to see each other win! There is no greater feeling than having so many “sisters” across the country that all root for each other!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: AJBellaBeauty
• Facebook: AJBellaBeauty
• Twitter: AJBellaBeauty
• Youtube: AJBellaBeauty
• Yelp: AJBellaBeauty
• Other: Pinterest.com/AJBellaBeauty

Image Credits
AJ Williams