Today we’d like to introduce you to Crenaya “Cece” Carroll.
Crenaya, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Growing up, my parents couldn’t afford for my sister and I to get our hair done professionally, so my mom was always getting creative with our hair. So watching her make “something out of nothing” with our hair always intrigued me. On the weekends, I would be with my grandparents, and when I was like around 12 years old, my Granny started asking me to wash and roller set her hair. When I did, it came out so ugly lol, but she ranted and raved about how beautiful it was and how proud of me she was and she pinned it up and she wore her roller set to church that Sunday. Then she asked me to press her hair even though she wore a relaxer. Soon her next-door neighbor and some other ladies from the church would let me press and roller set their hair for church in the morning. It made me feel so good how they would rant and rave about how well I had them looking. It was then at 12 years old that I developed a passion for being a hairstylist. I wanted to make every woman smile and feel good about themselves. I took cosmetology in high school so that I could graduate with my license. I did go to college after high school for a couple of years. I couldn’t focus because I knew I just wanted to do hair, but honestly, I was afraid to step out there with fear I wouldn’t be good enough. I ended up leaving Sam Houston State University after 2.5 years. I got pregnant and married soon after that.
So I had to get a 9-5, I had a baby I needed the benefits. But I wasn’t happy. I would pray and ask God to just allow me to get into a salon full time (meaning doing hair would allow me to support my family) not part-time and no longer working out of my apartment. I would pray that prayer and then run off to my good-paying, good benefits 9-5. My husband would tell me all the time, just quit and jump out there. You have to just have faith. Lol, and then I was fired!!! God has a funny way of making you take that leap you’ve been praying about. From that point on I was in a salon full time, and the process wasn’t easy, but I been on the upswing ever since. In Jan of 2018, I took another leap of faith and opened my own salon (salon suite ) in Spring, TX. I also launched a hair extension and product line, Hair Sew Fine. I’m so grateful and excited about the new journey I’m on. I truly believe that my profession is my ministry and I make it a point to use my chair to not just service my client’s hair, but their mental, emotional and spiritual selves as well. Since it is my own business, I can do that and create an atmosphere in the way God shows me how without the distraction of others or the hustle and bustle of an open concept salon.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No, it wasn’t easy, to say the least. Being a booth rental hairstylist meant you rely on people to like you, or trust you enough to pay for their services and to keep coming back enough to sustain you and your livelihood. That’s a scary thought. Then you’re dealing with people of all kinds and some clients are not kind at all. It hasn’t always been a smooth road, I worked at some really bad salons and I’ve worked at good ones too. Every salon was a great learning experience! I learned what and what not to do in my own business. The very first salon I was at was located inside Greenspoint Mall. It was a hot mess, there was literally a beat down drag out between a stylist and the owner, the sad part was the owner fired all of the other stylists without notice because we were witnesses and she didn’t want us talking about her getting beat up (her words not mines). It was crazy. Another salon where I worked, the owner didn’t handle her finances correctly and without notice, we had to pack up and leave. On another note I worked at a salon that was amazing, there was a sisterhood between the stylists, we helped each other thrive and I learned a lot about a good way to run your salon. But, I had to learn how to manage my time at work and at home, how to manage my money. Being self-employed really exercises self-discipline, and you find out if your passion or not.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Adorn Hair Lounge – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I’m most proud of the fact that I actually stepped out on faith and went into business for myself. If I’m successful or I fail it’s all on me, and the fact that so far I’ve gotten a great response from people makes me feel like I’m on to something. Adorn Hair Lounge was inspired from the scripture Ezekiel 16:13 NKJV. What that scripture describes I want my clients to feel that when they leave. I’m located inside of Blue Lion Salon Studios. I specialize in extensions and healthy hair. I am pretty well rounded in a sense that I offer a wide variety of services, from extensions, hair color, cuts, natural hair, and more. I would say I’m known for my professionalism and how I connect with my clients. I know my craft and I’m good lol, I’m not the best hairstylist, but I take care of my people. I’m always trying to learn about the care of their hair so I can really care for it. I care about them. I pray for them. Gratefully most of my clientele is word of mouth. So I must be doing something right, lol. I care about their time, so I get them in and out. No waiting for hours to be seen or hours to be serviced. I realize that even though this is my business, I am also providing a service for these ladies and I want them to be overall satisfied with self when they leave. I want them to enjoy their time in my chair. I want them to want to come back. I’m not concerned about making money. Now don’t get me wrong, I want to make the money but that isn’t my motivation for what I do, the people are.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I love where I’m at professionally, I have reached my goal as far as salon ownership goes unless God steers me in a different direction. In the near future, I do want to go back for my cosmetology instructor’s license, also go back to college to get my bachelor’s in education and to ultimately be able to teach cosmetology at a high school so I can give young people the same opportunity that was given to me. I also plan to in the nearer future to expand my virgin hair extension line and product line. Right now, I retail hair growth serum and an edge pomade. My goal in 2020 is to be able to have a full hair care line, available to current and potential clients.
Pricing:
- Growth Serum $10
- Edge Regulator $14
- Hair extensions start at $65
- Silk Press start at $65
- Sew-ins start at $160
- Hair color starts at $75
Contact Info:
- Address: 4057 Riley Fuzzel Rd
Ste 700, Room 103
Spring, TX 77386 - Website: adornhairlounge.com
- Phone: 8322258919
- Email: adornhairlounge@gmail.com
- Instagram: @cece_da_stylist
- Other: hairsewfine.com
Image Credit:
Wedding action photo credit: V.Carrington Photography
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