Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Wienecke.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
When I got started with cosmetology school I didn’t know anything about hair, I hated my curly hair and I wanted to learn how to tame it and help others tame their curly hair…I just thought I’d be doing it with a hair straightener.
In my early 20s in 2010, I had moved from southern California to Houston, TX. I remember I hadn’t had a haircut in over a year because I didn’t trust anyone with my long curly hair. I did research and found only one person at that time. I went to her and I saw how she cut my hair and styled it and it was that moment I knew I wanted to specialize in naturally curly hair.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The first few years living out here, I was married and had kids. My ex-husband was not supportive of me working. I also wanted to mainly stay at home with my kids. So I did hair and makeup for weddings on the side, which was something I enjoyed doing for a long time. Financially I just couldn’t invest too much towards specializing in curly hair. Those few years of marriage was very hard. There were also some other people discouraging me from moving forward with doing curly hair and I had unfortunately listened to them. It was always just right thing but wrong timing. In 2015 I ended up getting a divorce and didn’t know what to do. I continued taking on more wedding jobs but it wasn’t enough. I became a solo mother to 3 kids and my older two were diagnosed with autism. I needed to find a way to support them and also get them the help they needed. I definitely couldn’t do it without my parents and sister who have always been there to help me and supported me in whatever I did.
Please tell us about Curls by Jess.
I specialize in naturally curly hair. I cut, color, and teach how to embrace and do your hair for when you’re at home. My favorite is shaping their hair and giving them a style. I always get clients that feel there is no hope for their curls because it’s too frizzy or damaged. I will tell you right now that is not at all true! I understand, in the past, we’ve had horrible cuts, parents that didn’t know what to do with our hair, and even people telling us our hair is not beautiful and it must be tamed down into something it’s not, whether it was people in our lives or it was from society. So my passion is not just styling curly hair, it’s to touch people’s lives, listen to them, show them their hair is beautiful, guide them in their natural hair journey. I want to simplify all the complicated information when they read about curly online.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I feel like the way things went is how it was supposed to go but I definitely wish I hadn’t listened to the negativity that was in my life and not let fear stop me from doing what I love.
Contact Info:
- Website: curlsbyjess.com
- Phone: 713-714-7044
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curlsbyjessw/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/curlsbyjessw/
Image Credit:
Krystal Joy Photography @krystaljoyphotography
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