We were lucky to catch up with Manesha Dowdell recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Manesha, thanks for joining us today. Crazy stuff happening is almost as certain as death and taxes – it’s technically “unexpected” but something unexpected happening is to be expected and so can you share a crazy story with our readers
In 2017 I had my first on location Bridal party that I had ever done as an entrepreneur. I was so excited. It was that feeling you have as a small child on Christmas Eve or the day before your birthday. The feeling the day before vacation. I was so excited but also nervous because I’m really doing this. I really started a business. my name is on the line. Am I good enough to pull this off? What if I fail? Through all of those thoughts, I wanted to be so prepared I must have packed and unpacked and repacked my hairstyling kit 9 times just to be sure I had everything and more. All of my styling tools, my products to prep the hair, hairspray. Although I knew I wouldn’t have to use my hair extension tool I also packed them which included needles and thick thread scissors, hair extensions just in case. I probably didn’t get any sleep that night because of the nerves and excitement of doing my very first on location wedding under my own LLC.
My scheduled arrival time was 6am. I wore a cute black dress with some short booties. My hair was big and curly I put on a little makeup because why not. I arrived around 5:20am to set up and make sure I was comfortable and would be able to start on time. The bridal party arrived at the start time. I began styling a few of the bridesmaids. The energy in the room is great! “I’m really doing this” I thought to myself.
While I’m working on the bride, the wedding planner walks in with her bouquet that she will be walking down the aisle with. The bride begins to cry because on the bouquet were pictures of her parents who had recently passed away. I was fighting hard to not cry with her. My heart was aching for her. While I was doing her hair. I started to do what I have always done in moments like this for myself which was silently pray.
She kept saying she was ok, her bridal party loved on her and kept her spirits up. Mimosas were flowing I had the bruno mars station on my Bluetooth speaker playing, the bridesmaids are all dressed, everyone’s hair is beautiful. I was so proud that everything went smooth. Until the bride put on her wedding dress.
The limo and groomsman were waiting outside of the hotel Myself and the makeup artist are packing up to leave when someone said to the wedding planner, “we cannot leave! her zipper is completely broken”. Everyone was in a panic because they were now behind schedule and the company that she got the dress from had went out of business. She’s standing there holding up the front of her dress with the back completely open from the shoulder blades down to about the tail bone. The dress material was too thick for regular thread or safety pins someone said. Then I remembered the night before I packed my hair extensions kit that had blonde hair thread! I said I got it but I would have to sew the dress up with her in the dress so that the seam wouldn’t show. They said Please try it. Here I am down on the floor under her gown sewing her dress together From the inside. Again I did what I always do pray in silence while moving as fast as I could because they were late. Her dress started to close one stitch at a time. Everyone was so happy. When I finished, you couldn’t see any trace of a wardrobe malfunction. I ensured her that stitches would last but her husband would have to cut her out of the dress at the end of the night. We all laughed , They all hugged and thanked me.
As I watched them hurry down the hall to the limo. I stood there in admiration of my work and began to do what I always do. pray! This prayer was a prayer of gratitude. Silently thanking God for my gift. It was in that moment that I knew I was right where I was supposed to be.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I didn’t choose to be a hairstylist it chose me. At an early age I had a passion for hair. I would try and create the most intricate hair styles on the tiny heads of Barbie dolls. I attended interstate beauty academy in 2005 I lived with my grandmother at the time on the west side of Cleveland. I would take 3 buses to get to cosmetology school.
After I finished cosmetology school I was licensed as an advanced cosmetologist. I worked in a few salons in my career. In 2014 I had a desire to reinvent the wheel. I was a single mother who just wanted more for myself and my child. I was doing hair since I was 14 years old I needed something different. I needed to be challenged in a way that would cause me to have to be a student but still be able to make money So I took a Job as an apprentice in a multicultural hair color focused salon. My previous experience was with African American hair and hairstyling only. I had no knowledge about hairstyling outside of my culture. I was determined to learn. I learned how to cut, color, and style hair for women with different hair types and textures. How to use a round brush and how to properly schedule appointments without overlapping appointments. I was an asset to the salon because I was able to provide the services to clients that the salon and other stylist didn’t have experience in. The salon was valuable to me because I was learning new things. I was able to add Keratin treatments, blowouts, and hair color to my list of skills.
In 2017 Bella Mane by Manesha was created. It means “Beautiful Hair”. Through years of education and hands on experiences in Blowouts, Hair extensions, color services, natural hair services and keratin treatments,
I can customize Bridal hair and Hair extension services with a personalized approach, to meet the needs of every client.
My passion for styling, desire to understand the needs of clients and ability to style all hair types and textures has helped me to succeed in the industry.
Bella Mane is an on location bridal hairstyling and hair extension company known for creating natural looking Hair extension installations and timeless Bridal hairstyles. I have extensive experience working with different hair types, textures, and lengths, and understand how to achieve the desired look that complements your overall hair extension install or bridal style. I continue to stay updated with the latest trends and techniques in bridal hairstyling and hair extensions, ensuring that you receive a professional and polished result.
I am extremely proud of every part of my Journey to get here. Almost 20 years in the industry and 7 years as the proud owner of Bella Mane by Manesha.
Stepping out on faith and becoming an entrepreneur was the best decision I could have ever made. Entrepreneurship has not only provided stability for me but has also granted me the freedom and flexibility to be present for my daughter, and Travel with my family and friends. I didn’t know that my desire for more for myself and my child would lead me here, but I’m grateful that I was able to discern the need to pivot and trust God in directing my path.
I’m looking forward to what God has in store for my future because it was God who has carried Myself, my daughter and Bella Mane thus far.
Have you ever had to pivot?
It takes more than skill to be successful in the beauty industry. Right after cosmetology school in 2006 I went straight into being a booth renter. You have to have an already established clientele to be successful and I was in the process of building a clientele. I got a Job at the Hyatt Regency Cleveland so that I could have an additional income while I was building my clientele.
It was a necessary part of my journey. I learned a lot about running a business while working at the Hyatt. This is how I developed my customer service skills and will to go above and beyond for my clients. Skills that I use to this day.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
The best source for new clients is Word of mouth and Google. All of my reviews on google are from previous and current clients that I have had the pleasure of providing services for.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bellamanebymd.com/
- Instagram: Bellamanebym
Image Credits
Aster and Olive
EZ media production