Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsea Bruce-McCrommon
Hi Chelsea, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. My first love of basketball took me to Longwood University in Virginia where I was a student athlete and studied radio broadcasting and journalism. After college I decided to enroll in cosmetology school, as hair had quickly turned into a hobby of mine during my college years. I would spend the next 19 years in the industry where I noticed that naturally curly haircare was not being properly taught or serviced. 7 years ago I rebranded my business and decided to create a dedicated space in my hometown of Pittsburgh, PA that serves a diverse clientele and works exclusively with naturally curly hair.
In September of 2023, my first hire Jessica who’s born and raised in Miami, expressed wanting to get home more. Plus Florida has been our family vacation destination for the past 7 years. That’s what sparked idea to expand the business and open a salon in Miami, Florida. I believed that there was an opportunity for the space that was created in Pittsburgh to have the same type of success in Miami. One of the most important things for me was to find a neighborhood that was rich in culture in an area where naturally curly clientele from all over the city could easily access us.
With 65% of the United States population having coily, curly, or wavy hair, my staff and I aspire to help those clients love their natural curls by showing them how to care for it. My main goal was not only to provide naturally curly haircare in its simplest form, but also to teach clients that it doesn’t have to be complicated! The acceptance of naturally curly hair has been a long time coming, and I’m proud to be a part of the movement.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Being a Black woman entrepreneur does not come without challenges. There will always be obstacles, so the most important thing is to keep on pushing. The last 4 years have been tough on all businesses, especially Black women owned businesses. In the world of venture capital funding, Black women owned businesses received only 0.48% of funding. I’m one of those people who works even harder when I’m told no, or we can’t help you. However, the fact still remains we should not have to do it alone. Black women are the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs in the U.S. and we deserve support. What I am lucky to have, is family that supports me and a staff that believes in me and shares the same values when it comes to the business. This industry is a tough, you have to put in long hours, building up a clientele can take time, and it’s a physically taxing job. What keeps me going is the clients and seeing that look on their face when they see the end result, or making something that seems complicated to them more simplistic.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We serve a diverse clientele and work exclusively with naturally curly hair while, helping clients embrace and learn how to care for their curls. Not only do we provide naturally curly haircare in its simplest form, but we also teach our clients that it doesn’t have to be complicated! We’re also a sustainable, eco-friendly hair salon and are proactive in reducing waste. We use environmentally friendly practices throughout our services, as well as using eco-friendly products, recycling, and implementing solutions to save water and electricity.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I was a multi sport high school star athlete in track and field and basketball. I also received a scholarship and played college basketball at Longwood University.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://chelsearaesalon.net
- Instagram: @chelsearaesalon
- Facebook: chelsearaesalon.miami@gmail.com
- Twitter: 786-690-4856
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/chelsea-rae-salon-miami-no-title
Image Credits
Company – Dioburto Photography,
Photographer – Dionysius Burton
Website – dioburtophoto.com
Instagram – @dioburtophoto
