Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kwanisha Carson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Kwanisha thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

I would have never imagined as a 11 year old braiding my older brother’s hair that it would start the beginning of my hair ventures in the beauty industry. At just 11 years old I became a hair braider and perfected the craft so by the time I enrolled in the Cosmetology program at my high school I had a part-time clientele. I graduated high school with my cosmetology license and an established clientele.

Fast forward to now, operating Diverse Trends Hair and Lash Studio, the passion and love for hair continued to grow as did the experience in all types and textures of hair. The hair differences amongst different races and ethnicities was always of interest which is where the vision for the brand was birthed. Why not have a brand where all women can shop freely. From this very thought, this is where I envision and created the Diverse Beauty Collection hair extension line. My collection is genuinely designed with all women in mind. A brand that compliments inner beauty and highlights the many variations of outer beauty.

To me, Beauty is an inward persona translated into an outward expression of one’s preference in fashion, style and beauty. There is no one solitary image of beauty, therefore, there should be no single standard for beautiful hair. With this being the driving factor for my company, Diverse Beauty Collection designed a brand that delivers high quality hair extensions in a variety of textures, styles and budgets. We girlies love self-care and when we look good we feel even better. We no longer have to compromise quality when it comes to our hair care desires. With all beauties and budgets in mind, Diverse Beauty Collection is a place where any beauty can boldly shop in confidence. Beauty and quality, no compromise!

So, Diverse Trends Hair & Lash Studio came from a natural talent starting as a child and Diverse Beauty Collection was birth from the experience and love for hair versatility in the industry.

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?

The passion, talent, and love for hair and the beauty industry started when I was a child. Growing up I had the opportunity to shadow and observe several family members who were cosmetologists and salon owners. From there, I started practicing how to braid, and by the time I was 11, I perfected the skill enough to charge for services. I started braiding my brother’s hair and he became my walking canvas and advertisement. Being in middle school, I just charged $10 for my brother’s friends to get their hair braided. By the time I was in high school I had steady clientele. When I entered high school, I applied for the Cosmetology program and graduated high school with my diploma and Cosmetology license. However, I didn’t go straight into the beauty industry. Once I graduated, I went off to college and worked as a social worker for 6+ years while doing hair part-time. Eventually, I started to get burned out and I started to lean more toward doing hair until I eventually transitioned into the beauty industry full-time.

The vision of Diverse Trends Hair and Lash Studio came about in 2018 while still working as a social worker. During this time, I had no clue about where or even how I would transition into doing hair full time when I barely had a part-time clientele. Instead, it required a lot of faith and direction from God. I eventually switched to working part-time as a social worker and full-time building my brand. Shortly after the transition, I was hired at a private spa in the vista and did exceptionally well there until I was terminated which forced me to open my own location. This is when Diverse Trends Hair and Lash Studio was born.

Diverse Trends Hair and Lash Studio is a private appointment-only studio located in Lexington, SC. I offer a slew of services including braided styles, blowouts, relaxers, extensions including braided and braidless sew-ins, traditional sew-in extensions, crochets, ponytails, natural hairstyles, brow shaping, brow tinting, lash lifts and tints and lash extensions.

I specialize in traditional sew-ins, blow outs, and classic lash extensions.

What sets me apart from others is my the atmosphere I create in my studio, my level of professionalism, customer service, and knowledge of services.

I am extremely proud of my reputation for classic lashes. I have managed to retain a large clientele with great success. Some clients I’ve serviced for years and they have healthy growing lashes and have not experienced any damage or traction alopecia.

I am also proud of my discipline and endurance in this industry. Being a business owner is hard. You have to know that being an entrepreneur is what you are called to. Most people especially in this up and coming generation see the flexibility, income and all other pros to being self employed but never consider the sacrifices that have to be made. It’s not until you are experiencing a slow week, no sick/annual/holiday pay and many other factors that contribute to a loss of income,
that the real deal behind running a business is seen. You have to be wise with your money and save and simply just have faith.

As the owner of Diverse Trends Hair and Lash Studio and Diverse Beauty Collection, I don’t just like to identify it as business but more importantly an atmosphere. Anyone coming in is sure to be uplifted coming out. That coupled with a beauty enhancement is a Diverse Beauty experience!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

From the very beginning of coming into owning my business, I was faced with opposition. For instance, when I decided to quit my previous social work job and continue in the private sector of social work where I worked PRN/part-time with the idea to start building a clientele, I was given the opportunity to work in a private spa. I did exceptionally well there, however, there came a time when things started to change with the owner and I was no longer granted access to the booking cite and was eventually terminated, through text on a Sunday, without any notice. Because of this, I was forced to start completely over. When I sensed things were changing weeks prior I was led to start looking for studio spaces anticipating something would happen and I’m grateful I did. However, a little context, that meant I went into my own space being responsible for $315/week rent with barely any clients. Faith moved and thank God I’m in year 5 in my location. As if that was not enough, I opened February 12th, 2020 and Covid shut me down in March 2020 which, as we all know, was an obstacle in itself and continued to be through the next year. Because I had already not had clients coming in, it delayed me building clientele because of Covid when salons were able to reopen, it was like starting from scratch all over again, and it nearly took a year just to gain any type of clientele because people were afraid to do anything that was not necessary, which meant not get their hair done or lashes because of the economic hardship and the fear of catching Covid.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Yes, when Covid Shut down nonessential businesses and I had no income. I told myself that would be the last time anyone dictated my ability to make money. I was newly married, and although I enjoyed the time off, I also thought about all of the responsibilities I had going back into my newly acquired Location. Then started the praying and vision that led into establishing Diverse Beauty Collection, a diverse hair extension line. Four years I have been marketing myself by installing and wearing my own hair extensions. I would give extensions away to loyal clients. They will book the service and I would install them for free just to get reviews and real feedback. When I was confident in the hairline and established a partnership with a manufacturing company, I started to sell out of the shop and by word-of-mouth. This led to in person orders through personal clients and their references and to even sending out my first dropshipping order last year out of LA. To now currently working with a design team on my website for it to be 100% online through an e-commerce platform. This way, regardless of whether I work or not, I will have some sort of residual income that will prayerfully be a strong stable source of income in the years to come.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kwanishacarson.glossgenius.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diversetrendshals/
• Other: Google: https://g.page/DiverseTrends?gm
  Upcoming Diverse Beauty Collection: diversebeautyco.com

Image Credits

AJ Smalls @1clickimages