Today we’d like to introduce you to Annmarie Clinton
Hi Annmarie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Your question about how I got started brings back a flood of memories, each one a stepping stone to where I am today. It’s funny how the smallest moments can define your path in life. I remember being about 9 years old when my tutor, Sylbert, asked me, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I didn’t have the words, but I had a vision—a picture of a woman dressed in an executive outfit, holding an attache case. Sylbert smiled and said, “So you want to be a businesswoman?” I smiled back and nodded, feeling that I had just named a part of myself that had always been there.
Looking back, I see that even at such a young age, I was on a journey of self-discovery. There was a little voice inside me, guiding me toward my purpose. I always knew I wanted to be a businesswoman, but I never imagined that my love for doing hair, something that started as a hobby when I was just 6 or 7 years old, would lead me to the career I cherish today.
It all started with my older brother, Trevor, who taught me how to braid my doll’s hair using threaded ropes. After patiently showing the ropes of braiding and guided my fingers and my mind through the technique, he said, “If you can braid these ropes, you can braid your doll’s hair.” And he was right. That small act of encouragement sparked something in me. I began braiding my doll’s hair with the same energy and creativity that drives me today.
From my doll’s hair, I moved on to my little sister’s hair, and before I knew it, I was braiding the hair of other little girls in my neighborhood. By the time I was 8, I had a line of girls, my age and older, waiting at my door with their combs and Dax Hair Oil in hand, eager for me to work my magic. I can still see their smiling faces, their hair twisted in Chinney Bumps for drying (which we now call Bantu Knots), waiting for their turn. Looking back at those moments, I can now say that my love for hair wasn’t just a hobby—it was my calling.
As I grew older, this passion for hair never faded. I found myself doing hair for everyone—my neighbors’ children, my mom, my teachers, classmates, and even my co-workers after I stepped into the corporate world. Each braid, each style, was a step closer to the dream I had as that little girl holding a picture of a businesswoman.
By the time I was a senior in high school, my passion for beauty had blossomed into a clear ambition. I dreamt of owning a business that would offer comprehensive beauty services, such as caring for hair, skin, and nails. Inspired by this dream, I sketched and named a building with different segments, each one dedicated to a specific service. In my quiet moments, I would close my eyes and mentally tour my imagined multi-purpose business. This brought me a deep sense of happiness and purpose, which I kept close to my heart with the hope to one day see it come to fruition..
Leaving high school, I faced a tough decision – one that I thought would have altered the course of my life. I had been accepted into one of the island’s top universities to pursue Business Administration, but my family needed me. My biological mother was battling a chronic illness after suffering a stroke, which left her unable to work. As the eldest girl, I felt a deep responsibility to help. So, instead of pursuing higher education, I chose to enter the workforce to support my mother and siblings.
During this time, my adopted mother, Dawn Walker, was a pillar of strength and guidance in my life. Although she initially disagreed with my decision to forgo my college acceptance, she trusted my judgment and supported my choice to make the sacrifice that ultimately helped my family immensely. Further down in my story, as I pursued my passion, it was also my adopted mother who encouraged me to believe in myself and always aim to be the best. I vividly remember her words: “You always seem to excel at doing hair. You should focus on what you’re good at, and don’t just work the chair – strive to have your own salon. Don’t just rely on others’ products; work on creating your own.” She also said, “If hair is what you’re going to do, be the best, and rise to the top.” I listened. For so long, I thought I had disappointed her, but there she was, cheering me on, believing in my potential even more than I did.
At the age of 23, after about three and a half years working in accounting and customer service at Air Jamaica, I had a pivotal moment that set my life on a new course. A colleague, who had observed my natural talent for hairstyling and makeup, asked me a simple yet profound question: “What are you doing here?” Puzzled, I responded, “I work here!” But she wasn’t asking about my job title; she was curious why someone with my creative skills wasn’t pursuing a career aligned with my creative abilities. She went on to say, “You are so gifted with your hands, especially when it comes to hair and makeup. Have you ever thought of starting a career in hair and skincare?”
In that instant, a seed was planted. I had always enjoyed creating beautiful hairstyles and caring for hair, but I never considered personally turning that hobby into a profession. My colleague’s words sparked something inside me, re-igniting a dream I had forgotten, and a thought I hadn’t fully acknowledged – there is a place for my gift in this world. Just a few months later, I made a bold decision to leave the corporate world behind and pursue my passion. I thought, “What better way to build a business than around something I love and am naturally gifted at?”
I knew I had a knack for transforming messy hair into beautiful crowns, and a heart to make hair healthy, but I also knew that if I wanted to excel, I needed to get professional training. And so, my journey of preparation began. I underwent professional licensing and training, worked at some top natural hair salons in South Florida, and gradually moved up from being a shampoo assistant to a natural hairstylist and braider. I even began teaching and training others to do hair, and eventually took on salon management roles.
After 10 years of working professionally in the hair industry, and gaining all this experience, my path became clearer., and I finally found the courage to start my own business, beginning with booth renting, which I did successfully for four years. During those four years, I was in high demand—not just from clients who loved my unique techniques and professional service, which they said were rare in the salons they had been to, but also from aspiring stylists who wanted to learn from me. This demand inspired a new vision of expansion. I thought, “If I could open a hair salon, train stylists in my techniques and client approach, I could duplicate myself and create a brand. My clients would trust my protégés, and together we could build something special.” This vision eventually led to the creation of my own brand—Kinks Couture, a specialty hair salon that has quickly grown to become a household, having two locations in South Florida (Cutler Bay in Miami, and Pembroke Pines).
Owning a hair salon has allowed me to not only enjoy what I do but also to create a community and culture where talented individuals like myself can contribute to something unique. It has also given me the opportunity to identify problems and develop solutions. This is how my product line, Growth Organics, was born. After coming across so many clients’ struggle with weathering hair, dryness, and breakage, I dug deep into research, exploring natural remedies from fruits, vegetables, herbs from the earth and ocean. My findings led to the development of an exclusive product line that has brought even more attention to my business. Now, Kinks Couture isn’t just known for its cutting-edge hairstyles but also for our high-end, customized organic hair treatments and natural oils that restore and maintain hair health and growth.
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?
No successful business journey is without its bumps, and mine was no different. The road has been anything but smooth, filled with struggles both small and great. However, those smaller challenges prepared me for the bigger ones, and overcoming the larger obstacles ultimately fueled my growth as an entrepreneur.
One of my greatest challenges was believing in myself. I had a big vision, but I doubted my ability to achieve it alone. This self-doubt nearly led me to sell my birthright and give up on my dreams; but within this challenge, I learned valuable lessons and made decisions that guided me back on the path of my purpose. Among the lessons learned, I discovered that pursuing my vision sometimes requires walking alone. I learned to believe in myself and, most importantly, the value of serving others. By focusing on how I could serve both my clients and staff, I realized that their happiness is key to a thriving business. I also learned that failure is not the end—it’s just a temporary setback that equips you with better tools to try again. Lastly, while I realized I could achieve things on my own, I also understood the importance of having a support system, even if just for encouragement.
Finances were another significant struggle. Unless you’re born into wealth, financial challenges are almost inevitable. Despite my big vision, deep faith in God, and ambitious attitude, the financial hurdles of starting and maintaining my business were very real. Yet, it was that same faith, ambition, and unwavering focus on my vision that kept me going. For example, I experienced a major victory when I opened my second location, in Cutler Bay, in the midst of the Covid19 Pandemic, despite facing major setbacks and significant financial strains.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about KINKS COUTURE ®?
Kinks Couture has grown into one of South Florida’s top natural hair salons, with two thriving locations in Pembroke Pines and Miami. We cater to the entire family, specializing in natural, kinky, coily hair, mixed hair textures, and locs. In 2017, Essence Magazine recognized us as Florida’s “hotspot” for natural hairstyles, a testament to our commitment to excellence. Our motto, “A Natural Hair Experience,” reflects our mission to help others embrace their natural hair while providing the best care and the latest styles.
We are dedicated to fostering a culture that supports and uplifts the community of people with natural hair. Our services range from trendy natural hairstyles and protective styles to braids, twists with extensions, custom curls, curl definitions, and comprehensive loc care. However, our true specialty lies in “Holistic Haircare,” which remains our top priority. We believe that healthy hair and scalp are the foundation for the best hairstyles. This belief is embodied in our highly sought-after, custom-made organic product line, “Growth Organics”, available exclusively at both of our locations.
Growth Organics is a unique blend of organic and essential oils, raw extracts from fruits, vegetables, and herbs, as well as elements from the ocean. We often refer to these treatments as hair smoothies and masks because of their rich, nourishing properties. Among our most popular offerings is the “Dead Sea Mud Mask”, which is enriched with natural oils and elements from the Dead Sea in Israel, known for its superb benefits to the hair and skin. Each of our treatments is paired with a hair steaming therapy, which boosts growth while maintaining a healthy balance between hair and scalp.
What sets Kinks Couture apart from other salons is the care and thought we put into everything we do. This dedication is why Essence Magazine chose us as Florida’s premier destination for natural hairstyles, and why the City of Pembroke Pines has selected us six years in a row as the “Best Hair Salon of Pembroke Pines”, leading to our 2024 induction into the Pembroke Pines Business Hall of Fame. Thousands of households trust us to take care of their families’ hair, a trust we deeply value and work hard to maintain.
Over the years, our “Kid Zone” has become a beloved part of our community, serving little girls and boys from as young as two years old. It’s a place where the younger generation can learn to embrace their natural textures, while also making new friends. We take pride in being a trusted resource for working mothers, single parents, and even our Caucasian friends who need help in caring for their adopted African American children’s hair. We don’t just style and care for the hair; we also teach and empower families to do it themselves.
Our exclusive custom-made organic remedies have proven to be incredibly effective, earning high demand from our clients. People love the care we provide, not just because it works, but because of the unique, thoughtful approach we take to haircare. Our “Holistic Treatments and Natural Oils” address a variety of hair concerns, including dryness, damage from chemicals or weather, swimmer’s hair, protein or keratin deficiency, breakage, flaky and itchy scalp, clogged scalp, and scalp buildup.
I am immensely proud of the team at Kinks Couture. They are not just employees; they are part of the family we’ve built together. Many of our stylists have been with us for three, five, and even eight years, with some having been here since we first opened our doors. They are gifted, passionate, loyal, and hardworking, and they chose to be part of Kinks Couture just as much as we chose them.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
From my personal journey, I would advice those who are just starting out to first of all, Believe in yourself, Embrace Your Passion and Persevere. Starting a business is a journey that requires more than just a good idea – it demands faith in yourself, passion, perseverance, and a willingness to grow and evolve. My own path from braiding doll’s hair as a child to owning a thriving natural hair salon has taught me valuable lessons that I believe can benefit any entrepreneur starting out.
1. Follow Your Passion. Your passion is your greatest asset. When you truly love what you do, it shows in your work, and people will be drawn to your business. My love for doing hair began as a childhood hobby, and it was this passion that propelled me forward and made room for me in this world, even when the path was uncertain. Identify what you are passionate about, and let that passion help to navigate your decisions. It will be the fuel that keeps you going when challenges arise.
2. Start Small, Dream Big. Every big success story starts with a small step. Don’t be afraid to start small – whether it’s working out of your home, renting a booth, or offering your services on the side. What matters is that you begin – no matter what that dream is. As you grow, continue to dream big. When I first started, I envisioned a business that would not only provide haircare services but also create a community and help struggling women to get employment. believing in and focussing on that vision helped me expand from a single booth to owning multiple salon locations that are doing exactly what I envisioned.
3. Invest in Your Skills. Never stop learning. As entrepreneurs, it’s crucial to continuously refine and expand your skill set. When I decided to pursue a career in hair, I knew I needed professional training to stand out. I invested in courses, gained certifications, and learned from industry professionals. This not only improved my skills but also gave me the confidence to make the necessary steps and take my business to the next level.
4. Build a Strong Network. Surround yourself with people who believe in your vision and can support your growth. Whether it’s mentors, peers, or a dedicated team, having a strong network is invaluable. I was fortunate to have a supportive family and co-workers who encouraged me to follow my passion. Later, I built a team of talented individuals who share my dedication to excellence, which has been crucial to the success of Kinks Couture.
5. Adapt and Evolve. The business landscape is constantly changing, and so must you. Be open to new ideas, embrace change, and be willing to pivot when necessary. My journey included leaving a stable corporate job to pursue my passion full-time, and later, expanding my business model to include holistic haircare and custom organic products. Each of these decisions was a response to the demands of my purpose and the evolving needs of my clients and the market.
6. Value Your Clients. Your clients are the heart of your business. Listen to them, understand their needs, and strive to exceed their expectations. At Kinks Couture, we focus on creating a personalized experience that goes beyond just styling hair – we help our clients embrace their natural beauty. This commitment to client care has not only earned us loyalty but also accolades and recognition in the community.
7. Last but not least: Walk by Faith and Stay True to Your Vision and Values. There will be challenges, setbacks, and moments of doubt, but faith in God and your vision is what will guide you through. For me, the dream of owning a business that empowers others through natural haircare and hairstyles kept me focused, even when I had to make difficult decisions, like stepping away from higher education to support my family. In conclusion, entrepreneurship is not an easy path, but it is incredibly rewarding. By staying passionate, starting small, continuously learning, building a strong network, adapting to change, valuing your clients, having faith and staying true to your vision, you can turn your dreams into reality. Remember, every challenge is an opportunity to grow, and every success, no matter how small, is a step towards your ultimate goal. Embrace your journey – it’s uniquely yours, and it’s leading you to greatness.
Starting a business is an exhilarating yet challenging experience. Reflecting on my journey, there are a few things I wish I had known, which would have helped me to navigate the entrepreneurial landscape more smoothly and confidently.
1. I have been fortunate to have supportive people (destiny helpers) in my life, but I wish I had actively sought out mentors who were already successful in the haircare industry or in business management. God knows I’ve made a lot of errors. A mentor could have provided valuable guidance, helping me avoid common pitfalls and navigate challenges more effectively. Learning from someone else’s experience is valuable, and I encourage anyone starting out to seek mentorship early on.
2. Starting a business is time consuming, and it can be easy to get lost in the hustle. I wish I had known the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. In the early years, I often prioritized my business over most things, which led to burnout and strained relationships. Over time, I learned that taking care of myself and spending time with loved ones is crucial to long-term success. Your business will thrive if you’re at your best, both mentally and physically.
3. In the beginning, I tried to do everything myself, from styling hair to managing the books. I wish I had understood the importance of, and how to build a strong team, which would have allowed me to build a successful business independent of myself. A great team can turn your vision into reality much faster than you could on your own.
These are just a few of the key things I wish I had known before embarking on my entrepreneurial journey. Each lesson was learned through experience, and while the road has been challenging, it has also been incredibly rewarding. For those just starting out, I hope these insights can help you to navigate your own path with a bit more ease and foresight.
Pricing:
- Natural Hair Styles Starting Price is $85
- Holistic Hair Treatments with Steam Therapy start at $65
- Children Natural Hairstyles Starts at: $65
- Organic & Essential Oil-Mix $24
- locs Grooming Starting Price $85
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kinkscouture.com
- Instagram: @kinkscouture
- Facebook: @kinkscouture
- Twitter: @kinkscouture
- Yelp: Kinks Couture
- Other: Facebook: @kinkscouture
