We were lucky to catch up with Doreen Clark recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Doreen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.
I believe what makes me different is i cater to the clients needs & not their wants. Some come into my boutique showing me what they found on social media or the internet. This works sometimes but on average it doesn’t. I focus on lifestyle and the reality of what their hair can produce. This makes my job easy & allows the clot to maintain the same look at home with much ease. As the professional we should always strive for integrity with our services, this allows for repeat business due to trust.
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 back background and context?
Well , I’ve been a hairstylist since i was 13 just never knew it. I started my career path as a LVN. I nursed for 6-7 years before i went to cosmetology school After school i started working at JCpenney Salon. This is where i gained my knowledge, confidence, skills & business savvy. After 10-15 years i decided it was time to step out on my own. It came with some challenges but i knew my style was needed. Hair is more than a cut or style. It’s power & when you loose your power you lose apart of who you are. I started KnoTTwisted back in 2018, I service multi cultural clients who have various texture hair. So there is no Black or White to me. I do hair not a race. This industry has separated many by not being educated on texture ( what we learn in cosmetology school)I KnoTTwisted Hair Studio became a place where professional women can come relax, release & rejuvenate after a hectic day. Times have changed so much, women are working harder, stress levels are high and it shows up in their hair. Since covid i’ve seen an increase of hair loss and trauma to so many clients. This has made me educate myself on products that can alleviate some of the damage done to hair whether by medication, stress or neglect. We offer our all natural Shampoo, conditioner & hair serums. My goal is to provide a clean, safe and luxurious environment for women/ young ladies to come as well as gain knowledge and confidence about their hair.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
The most effective method for me was consistency and customer service. Listen i know there are many talented stylists out there, however it takes more than just that! You have to see it from a bigger perspective. clients retention comes from being able to cater to their needs. Busy working women value time. So time management is key. Don’t over book & give yourself time to service that client. Moms value relaxation, give her the environment she needs to enjoy her appointments. I’ve mastered this and it has allowed me to double my clientele
We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.
It wasn’t easy and i’m still learning but i saw a need for hair care products in my community. Clients where complaining about products having to many harsh chemicals in them so i started researching herbs and natural oils that can help the hair grow and give moisture. I began to make my hair oils at home put them in the salon and they took off. now i’m in the process of doing shampoo and conditioners. It takes research, knowing product shelf life and mixing to ensure no allergic reactions can occur.
Contact Info:
- Website: knottwistedhairstudio.com
- Instagram: knoTTwistedhair
- Facebook: KnoTTwisted Hair
Image Credits
Credits by Doreen Clark CEO @ KnoTTwisted Hair Studio