We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ashlee Fowler. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ashlee below.
Ashlee, appreciate you joining us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you as a business owner?
In the beginning, doing hair wasn’t exactly a “dream come true”. As a hairstylist, your first job is not actually doing hair- it’s being an assistant. The job included everything from washing hair to folding towels to running to Starbucks for clients. It required me to fall in love with my passion, not my position. Five years later, I still remember everything I learned when I assisted. The experience taught me to work hard and accomplish what I set out to do. It taught me how to treat my clients like royalty and provide the highest level of service possible. I also learned the importance of a good head massage (because we all know that’s the best part, am I right?).
Ashlee, 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?
People are at the heart of my passion for beauty. I believe all people were made in God’s image. There’s a unique, radiant part of His light and love that shines through each person that I get to spend time with as my client. So I love building lasting relationships with the women I serve. The problem I solve as a beauty professional is the same thing that sets me apart- which also happens to be the thing I’m most proud of: I’m dedicated to helping each client unleash their outward beauty to match the inner beauty that’s already within them. Nothing gives me more satisfaction than when my hard work exceeds their expectations. Every woman deserves to feel as beautiful as they already are!
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
As I look back at the year 2019, during that time I was working hard, growing my clientele, and getting into the groove of being a hairstylist. Everything felt like it was finally coming together. After a successful holiday season and welcoming in the new year, Covid-19 took place. The lockdown completely caught me by surprise, as it did for many other individuals. It felt as though everything I had worked so hard for had been put on hold, never knowing when things would “get back to normal”. Due to the pandemic and being on lock down, I created a Tiktok account sharing all my beauty tips as a beauty professional. As the account grew, I began to have opportunities with a number of my favorite brands, such as Olaplex, Living Proof, and T3. Having the opportunity to work closely with the brands that have shaped and inspired my career was a dream come true! Now that I look back, I am so grateful that door opened up. Because of it, I have been able to express myself creatively, and connect with a wider audience around the world. Being able to share my knowledge and skills as a beauty professional gives me a greater sense of purpose.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Any relationship requires time, trust, and showing up authentically. There is no easy or quick way to grow an engaged following on social media. The process takes time! My goal when I started posting on Tiktok was to share valuable content while remaining authentic to who I am. I recorded, edited, and uploaded every day, yes- EVERYDAY. I would set alarms on my phone to remind myself “It’s prime engagement hour- time to post!”. Over time, it wasn’t exactly the most sustainable. However, it did instill discipline that created huge value for my business. If I had to give you one piece of advice, it would be to have your be goal be to connect with an audience rather than trying to create one. The audience is there, and the RIGHT audience will gravitate to you. Don’t underestimate the power of genuine connection. Focus on being honest and authentic in your messaging and your audience will respond to that. Be true to yourself and you’ll find the right people who appreciate your content.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.beautybyashleefowler.com/
- Instagram: @beautybyashleefowler
- Other: Booking inquiries: [email protected]