Today we’d like to introduce you to Quenteria Johnson.
Hi Quenteria, 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.
I’ve had a passion for hair since the age of 12. It all started when I did my own braids, and everyone loved my hair and was so impressed that wanted me to do theirs. It was the start of my hustle. I attended cosmetology school twice, but my dreams were crushed when I was told it wasn’t a real career. I did hair on side of work and school to make a little cash. I started taking it more seriously when I quit my job and went back for the 3rd time in 2018. I enrolled in Paul Mitchell The School San Antonio and met so many amazing people that have become connections in my career. I began to run into so many setbacks that I was ready to give up. Mid-school term, I had to move back to Alabama from San Antonio and restart Cosmo school from the beginning for the 4th time. I finally graduated Paul Mitchell The School Birmingham in August 2020. I obtained my license in 2021 and decided since I had to restart so many times that, it was meant for me to do so much more in the industry.
I moved to Houston January 9, 2023, with Faith and determination. I checked into Extended Stay Galleria on January 15th and started working at a marketing firm. I quit after 3 days because it wasn’t a good fit for me. Having come here with only $300 and a credit card, I had to think fast because funds were starting to run low. I found a salon in the Midtown area and started working commission. After a month of being in Houston, I signed the lease to my apartment and began to work towards building a life for my children to be able to reunite with me. Since I’m an army reservist I travel back and forth to GA for duty, so I saw my kids on a monthly basis. Everything was good until a shift began.
After coming back from drill at the beginning of May, I noticed a drastic decline in my bookings. I was planning on being gone the whole month of June for drill, and this put a huge damper on my plans to bring my kids out in August, so I had to figure something out fast, not knowing I was about to come face to face with my biggest fear in life. One morning, as I was up getting ready for the gym, there was a snake that slithered in my bathroom. I literally jumped over it, ran to my room, and got fully dressed for war. I tried sweeping it up into the dustpan, but it was squirming and slithering, so I started to beat it and broke it into 3 pieces. I threw it outside, and from that day forth, I haven’t experienced fear.
That weekend, I heard a voice telling me to go home. I wasn’t due to be back in Alabama until June 1, but God had other plans, so I packed up all my belongings at the salon and got on the road. I arrived at my mom’s house at 11 pm unexpectedly to find that the health of her longtime friend she had been caring for took a turn for the worse. She was on her dying bed, and God needed me to be there for my mother as she passed 3 days later.
When June came in, I had to leave for
AT, which was a 2-week long training. I was in a bind because I had quit the salon, and they hadn’t paid me. Rent was due, and I don’t want to lose my apartment. They sent me a check but had forgotten to endorse it, so I was stuck at a standstill. A week after being there, on Father’s Day, my mom called and told me my nephew, my brother’s only son, was murdered, and later that day, my grandma passed. My grandma was a mother to me. She raised me from 9 months to 19 so that broke me to the core. I was rushed home and had to start making arrangements for the memorial. I had the pleasure of doing my nephew’s hair for his homegoing service.
At this point, I had been in Alabama for 2 months. I was unsure if I could afford to make it back to Houston. I had no more money and had quit the salon, so what was I to do? So much going on at 1 time. I had an unexpected message on Instagram from someone who was a mutual friend of a coworker from the salon. She had saw my hair page and was impressed with my work. She left her number and said that her friend was opening a salon, and she felt I would be a great fit.
When I got back to Houston, I called her up and met the owner in person. We held the grand opening of Jenna J Hair Retreat on July 22, and it was perfect. Everything was falling back into place. On my birthday (August 7), I moved into my new home and was on the road to get my kids the next day, my mom included. I returned August 15th.
My journey was just beginning! We opened the doors to the public September 1. It was very slow in the beginning, being a brand-new salon in a new area, but we started to get recognition week by week. Being the only one who showed up for work, the owner made me the salon manager since she works on another side of town and is rarely there. I was ecstatic that consistency and dedication was finally paying off. Prayers were being answered.
I have since hired an assistant, and we also have another stylist in the house! We’re currently looking for more commission stylists to help fulfill the dream of a relaxing hair spa where clients can come in and unwind while getting their hair treated and styled. We offer training that will keep stylists knowledgeable about products, services, and techniques. We have a variety of products and services we offer that clients are able to benefit from without the hassle of having to make separate appointments before coming to see us. We are big on scalp and hair care and guarantee the best shampoo and scalp massage to promote healthy hair growth. We value each client and give them their own customized hair care plan at the end of each service to ensure the at-home maintenance for them is a breeze. For the benefit of our clients, I’ve decided to take my skills and knowledge to the next level by shifting my studies towards trichology and dermatology.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been a rough road, but you can’t enjoy the good times without the bad. Strength comes in the struggle.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am the manager of Jenna J Hair Retreat. I specialize in hair and scalp health. I’m proud to be able to say that I don’t let anything stand in my way. Despite the many trials thrown my way, there’s always a way out. In the beauty industry, there are fewer and fewer stylists who shampoo hair and care for your hair. Anyone can style hair, but how many hairstylists can give you a flawless style while keeping the integrity of your hair intact?
We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking.
Risk-taking is a big part of entrepreneurship. It is a leap of faith. The only thing that separates you from your success is fear. If you let fear hold you back, you will never know what you are capable of.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/qutebeauty
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qutehairbeauty?igsh=MWhzOGFhZXl2ZnV6aw==
- Linkedin: Quenteria Johnson
