We’re looking forward to introducing you to Danielle Wilson. Check out our conversation below.
Danielle, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I’ve been noticing that more and more women are calling me just to vent, calling for positive advice , calling for motivation.. I can say when I first noticed it, I would say to myself, “These women and young ladies, trust me, my opinion and outlook “ way past me just being their stylist!
So I would always say to myself how can I be of more help to these women. They all had one thing in common and that was they needed advice and a listening ear.
I decided “Hey let me host a Dinner Table talk, in an intimate setting. Everyone would have the ability to open up and share theirs stories, questions,concern and feedback. I created a list of questions that would break the ice. The dinners are catered and the women are served! They have been very successful with every woman leaving with some new insight and a fresh renewed mind.
These dinner talks have also been a help to myself as well because being a hairstylist weren’t always the listener. Understanding now that it’s ok to open up and be vulnerable to receive advice and also release hurt..
Furthermore, me deciding to step outside of my fear of being vulnerable, but wanting to help other women like myself has been the biggest gift to me!!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Danielle Wilson Salon owner of Sweeties Glam Closet of Broward County, Florida. I’ve been a licensed cosmetologist for 15 years now. Along side being a hairstylist I wear a host of hats such as Cosmetology Instructor, Special Fx make up artist and an Accredited Hairstylist/MUA in Cinematography.
I have a wide range of clientel, from in the salon behind the chair, to behind the scenes with production film companies, Theaters,Traveling stylist, Technique Instructor to cosmetology schools. However my favorite is servicing my clients that has specialized needs of my services! The my clients who may lost hair due to medical medications, medical conditions or hereditary conditions. I’m joyed to know that these women/men trust me to service them with what may seem to be something simple and small to others. However to them it’s life changing, frightening, and sometimes shameful! To know that my clients, open up to me and even refer other clients, that may have the same conditions or issues dealing with their hair. To allow me to create a look or looks for them that gives them their confidence back and some sense of relief and peace.
Further this allows me to pour back into my clientel, in ways I never knew being a cosmetologist could fulfill me and it be such an important career. The purpose Sweeties Glam Closet brings as a brand is not to just cover beauty but also focus on the mental and emotional aspects that come along with beauty. The Closet signifies everything as a whole the mind, body, beauty, emotion and physical aspects of this industry.
Catering to those wether it’s a need for full extentions, color, custom wig units, cuts, make up, special occasions, weddings, film sets, photography studio sessions, hands on instructional classes, Sweeties Glam Closet is here for it all!
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
A moment when I felt most powerful that I can remember is growing up in the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County. A lot of the activities and programs they offered really help to mold ad guide. However, this one particular program changed me it was called Youth of the Year. We had to enroll in the program based on our grades, community service involvement and a host of other factors is what determines our acceptance into the program. We had to write essays and get letters of recommendations and go through an intensive interview process with a panel of judges. We were to be genuine, honest,slightly vulnerable about things we experienced and things we felt would help shape the trajectory of teens throughout Broward County.
I’m proud to say that I won! I was Astatic, Over joyed. Honored I went on and was give the opportunity to travel throughout Broward County and Florida speaking at commissioners meetings, city halls meetings, non profit organization events and other prominent organizational gathers. The main objective was to speak about the importance of mental health, bullying awareness, funding for activities and programs for teens for fundamental development.
Honestly achieving that accomplishment and having that exposure definitely gave me a sense of who I was, the power I bestowed within me being my genuine self! Taking the step to give myself a chance to be seen and heard in a positive space and atmosphere.. Becoming the Youth of the Year for Broward County that year speaking on behalf of all youth in and throughout the County, paved the way for me to always aim high, never to walk in fear and to own ever opportunity that’s for me! And that it’s ok to speak up for my peers when no one else will.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
Well I’m a Mother of 3 beautiful Daughters who I truly adore. I can’t say that I’ve escaped pain or I haven’t let it robbed me of some my precious time, hey I’m human. But know that I’ve had to deal with pain and raise my daughters as a single parent it wasn’t and isn’t always easy. But to know that I have young women watching me for guidance and understanding, I didn’t want them to see me in or experience pain and think that I let the experience knock me down.
Once my girls started to become young adults, where they could ask questions and understand the answers given and they knew what it looked like. I really had to learn that they are watching me so I had to be mindful in my actions and responses. Truthfully, in life things are going to happen, but as long as I choose to focus on the good and keep moving everything will work out in my favor even in pain.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I love this industry but In everything there are its pros and cons, it’s truths and it’s lies. This is a Billion Industry, beauty is important maybe extremely important and valuable. This industry in ways has made the culture, the community whatever you prefer to call it, feel that your beauty is only surface level. I’ve meet some really beautiful people and it had nothing to do with their outside appearance. And, I’ve met some really ugly people but they were gorgeous on the outside in this industry. I understand the importance of presentation of one’s self but if it’s only surface level then what’s the point. People have missed out on opportunities because of an image. Bullied because of features they received at birth and has been made to feel they have to fix it.. in order to fit into the status quo! Again I love this Industry but I guess that’s one of the cons, one of the lies “Surface Beauty Is Gold”!
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
Without a doubt before anything I’m God-fearing, genuine, caring, understanding, trustworthy, walk with integrity, dependable, poised, honest, empathetic, and motivating. All of those things can’t be purchased, can’t be materialized so if I had to lay my possessions, my name, my role down, those things can’t be taken from me. I lead with, run my brand and my life based on those very things! I’ve had a few loses in life and businesses because I would not bend on those principles I stand by. But what I’ve learned and realized is those principles help me get back up, got me through pain and showed me how much power I have. From a young adolescent now into a grown successful woman this is ME!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @SweetiesGlamCloset
- Facebook: Sweeties Glam Closet
Image Credits
Amber McMillian: AllAboutUPhotographyest1983
Leesa Richards Photography
Lisa Waring NXG Productions
