Today we’d like to introduce you to Khasauna Freney .
Hi Khasauna, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Today, I stand before the world as a believer in Christ, a mother to an amazing son, a business owner and hairstylist, a breast cancer survivor, and soon-to-be published author.
I started by doing my own hair, then began styling the hair of friends and family members from my home as early as 13 years old, during middle school through college. It began as a dream business plan because I knew I was passionate about doing hair—I simply loved it. Now, I know for sure that I was blessed with this gift from God. After graduating high school, I moved to Austin for college to major in psychology. I attended a private university that eventually became too expensive, so I spoke with my mother about attending cosmetology school to obtain my license, expand my clientele, and eventually help pay my way through school. Ultimately, I wanted to do what came naturally to me and live my dream, so I left school and moved back to Houston.
I enrolled in the HCC cosmetology degree program. I worked as an apprentice in a salon and obtained my license in July 2007. I stayed at that salon for eight years but abruptly had to leave after being robbed at gunpoint. I’m thankful to still serve the majority of my first clients today. During the transition, I rented a booth in a family friend’s salon for almost a year before going into partnership with my cousin as co-owner of a salon suite located in the Sugar Land area—True Salon, inside Image Salon Studios.
In 2016, I became a mother to my son, Khonner. Motherhood is truly a blessing from God, one I am thankful to experience every day. In 2020, COVID-19 came like a storm, and I went through a difficult time being out of work due to contracting the virus and the worldwide shutdowns. God remained faithful.
Just as things were starting to get back up and running in May 2021, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Breast cancer came into my life unexpectedly and with a vengeance. I underwent chemotherapy, radiation, a double mastectomy, and reconstructive surgery. I am a true advocate for self-breast exams and encourage everyone to get their mammograms. I am a member of Angels Surviving Cancer, where I serve as the coordinator for H.A.L.O., a support group for ladies ages 18-50 who are battling breast cancer and survivorship. This organization does amazing work in our community and was a pillar of support for me during my battle and still today. This is how I give back.
Through my journey navigating breast cancer as a single mother with a young son, I needed to be present to watch him grow. He was my motivation to push through this fight, and God is my healer. God gave me the blueprint for a children’s book to help battling mothers like myself, or families with small children, understand breast cancer in their own way. Warrior & Me was inspired by my son Khonner’s perspective of what his mother was experiencing at the time. Be on the lookout for my book on Amazon and, Lord willing, in bookstores near you.
In this chapter of my life, I am blessed with clients who have remained faithful after all these years, and I am daily blessed with new ones through client referrals and social media. God is still using me, even through this tough season of post-survivorship. The dream is still in motion, and expansion is the ultimate goal—but all in God’s timing!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road, but God’s Word says there will be trials:
“Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
I have been robbed, raped, betrayed, battled COVID, fought breast cancer, been out of work, made ends meet as a single mom raising a Black son, and experienced the loss of family and friends—yet I’m still here. That means God still has things left for me to do.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
With over -18 years of experience I specialize in healthy hair and cater to the natural or relaxed hair type. I provide professional hair maintenance services such as relaxers, silk press, hair color, deep conditioning treatments, trims. I also install and maintain extensions for my clients such as quick weaves, natural part, closure and full sew-in installations. Micro-link installs, braidless sew-in, custom units, and custom coloring. I use professional retail products such as Influance, Matrix, Moroccan, and Kenra. I’m known for my patience, listening to my clients, praying over my clients allowing my clients to have a safe comfortable space to talk to vent and for encouragement. At the end of service they leave with a true experience and even more beautiful. I’m most proud of my growth, my faith continuing to allow God to send the right clients and providing for me. I’m proud to not be so consumed by the world of social media but utilizing my platform for his glory and purpose through art of my gifted hands that God has blessed me with. I also have other gifts that I share- True Events company created by me where I curate special occasions and Soulproof catering for events. I enjoy each one of these gifts that I get to share occasionally also.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I do believe in taking risk sometimes but calculated ones. I can’t think of the last time I took one but risk should be rooted in faith, aligned with biblical principles, and not be foolish or selfish. As Ive gotten older I understand that not all risks are wise and discernment is needed to distinguish between a faith-driven risk and a foolish one. Honestly, a risk with the intention to glorify God and have an outcome that is proportional to the potential risk involved would be a good risk. What’s a better risk to take than being a believer and trusting God with my life no matter what’s been put before me. I am Khasauna Freney and I’m grateful to be here to share my story.
Contact Info:
- Website: HairByKhasauna.com
- Instagram: Hair By Khasauna
