Today we’d like to introduce you to Naudia Johnson.
Hi Naudia, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey into hairstyling started when I was around 13 years old. I would do my own hair, friends and family members. Even then, I loved doing hair and seeing how something as simple as a hairstyle could completely change the way someone felt about themselves. What began as a hobby eventually grew into a passion and, over time, a business.
As I got older, I realized I wanted my work to be connected to something bigger than myself. I spent a lot of time praying about my purpose and seeking God’s direction for my life. I knew I wanted to encourage and uplift women, help them see their worth, and remind them that God has bigger and better planned for them than they may be able to see in the moment. Hairstyling became the perfect combination of my passions because it allows me to serve women both inside and out.
Today, I get to combine my passion for hair, faith, and encouragement in a way I never imagined when I first started. Through Certified Slays, I help women care for and embrace their natural hair while creating a space where they can feel uplifted and empowered. Some of the most meaningful moments happen through the conversations in my chair, where I’m able to encourage women to pursue their goals, trust God’s plan, and walk confidently in who they were created to be.
Looking back, I’m grateful for every step of the journey. What started as a young girl’s love for doing hair has grown into an opportunity to walk in my purpose, serve others, and use my gifts in a way that honors God. I’m excited to continue growing, impacting more women, and seeing where this journey leads next.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. One of the biggest challenges has been learning to trust the process and remain consistent, especially during seasons when growth felt slower than I expected. Building a business requires more than just talent, it takes patience, discipline, and faith.
There have been moments where I questioned whether I was on the right path, especially when stepping outside of what felt comfortable and pursuing something I believed God was calling me to do. Growing a clientele, navigating the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, and balancing the creative side of hair with the business side have all come with their own challenges.
Looking back, those struggles taught me some of my most valuable lessons. They strengthened my faith, helped me develop confidence in my abilities, and reminded me that success doesn’t happen overnight. Every obstacle has played a role in shaping both the business owner and the woman I am today. While the journey hasn’t always been easy, I’m grateful for it because it has helped me grow in ways I never expected.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Certified Slays?
My business is rooted in helping women feel confident, beautiful, and seen through healthy hair care and intentional styling. I specialize in protective styles and natural hair services such as silk presses and natural extensions, with a focus on maintaining the integrity of my clients’ hair while enhancing their overall look. My brand, Certified Slays, was created from a desire to combine quality hairstyling with purpose, encouragement, and faith.
What sets my brand apart is the experience behind the service. For me, it’s never just about doing hair, it’s about creating a space where women feel comfortable, heard, and uplifted. I care deeply about the energy in my chair and making sure each client leaves not only with a style they love, but also feeling more confident and encouraged than when they came in.
I’m most proud of the atmosphere I’ve been able to build and the trust my clients have placed in me. Many of them return not just for the services, but for the conversations, the encouragement, and the safe space they’ve come to expect. That level of connection means everything to me.
At the heart of my brand is my faith. I want every woman who sits in my chair to be reminded that she is purposefully created, deeply valued, and capable of more than she can see in herself right now. Certified Slays is more than a hair brand, it’s a space where beauty, confidence, and purpose come together.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t really view my journey as something that has been guided by luck. I truly believe it has been God ordering my steps and aligning things in my life exactly how they needed to happen.
Every opportunity, every client, and every moment of growth has come at the right time, even when I didn’t fully understand it in the moment. There have been doors that opened and seasons that stretched me, but through it all I’ve learned to trust that God was in control and shaping both me and my business for my purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://certifiedslays.setmore.com/
- Instagram: CertifiedSlays
