Today we’d like to introduce you to Allison Brown.
Hi Allison, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
About Me
My name is Allison Brown, and I’m from Philadelphia, PA. Growing up without a father and with a single mother who was always working, I struggled with weight and was constantly gaining and losing it. During middle school, I was often picked on for being big and tall. I wasn’t taught about self-love and life because my mother wasn’t either.
At 19, I fell in love, but the relationship quickly became verbally and mentally abusive. He lied throughout the relationship, even having another girl pregnant without my knowledge until she went into labor. I stayed because I was insecure and believed his lies. After two years, my mother broke down, telling me I was losing myself and didn’t look happy. Though I didn’t listen right away, it opened the question for me: Am I even happy anymore? I eventually took some space and went to my mother’s house for a weekend, which turned into a six-month stay. That time away made me realize how much I had lost myself and how insecure and lacking in self-love I was.
This relationship prompted me to start my self-love journey. I closed my salon, lost 100 pounds, started reading self-help books, talking to a counselor, and got a mentor to help with business and life direction. Most importantly, I deepened my faith and spirituality, fasting, praying, and studying deeper. I took the time to talk and listen to God.
Shortly after, I moved to Miami, where I had to put everything I learned into action. I attended events alone, spent a lot of time meditating and journaling, and attended meditation, yoga, and educational events. I was committed to educating myself on everything I wasn’t taught as a child. As I healed, I developed a desire and passion to share this information with others.
I took almost a year off doing hair when I first moved to Miami, needing a break to find my purpose. I traveled to Philly biweekly and bartended to make ends meet. Eventually, I realized that hair was my purpose, and I needed to change my mission a bit. I spent another year taking classes and working at other salons to learn different techniques.
I finally found a salon in North Miami where I could grow my clientele and made more money than I had since moving to Miami. After 1.5 years, it was time for me to grow, so I got my very own salon suite, which I was terrified to do. In my first year in the suite, I made six figures, more money than I ever had, working less than I ever had, and my clientele grew increasingly fast. I made the goal to open the very first self-care bar in Miami, and now, here in 2022, I have achieved it.
Adore J’adore is a pioneering self-care bar concept in Miami Gardens that redefines self-care as a lifestyle. We offer curated retail and signature services focused on beautification, nourishment, and self-preservation. Beyond traditional salon services, our mission is to help clients fall in love with their overall being through a journey of self-love. Our core values emphasize the importance of loving oneself, maintaining beauty and wellness, and using clean, organic products. We cultivate a community centered on beauty and self-care, integrating spiritual wellness into our services to enhance the overall self-care experience.
My own self-care journey truly inspired me to share with other women how life-changing self-care can be and how essential it is for living a healthy life. Working in Miami for four years before opening my salon, I noticed a significant gap in the salon community—a need for a space where women can feel safe and beautiful. This realization motivated me to create Adore J’adore, a self-care bar that goes beyond traditional salon services to nurture and empower women through beauty, nourishment, and self-love.
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?
Opening a new salon and funding a complete build-out from scratch has been one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced. The experience was emotionally and mentally exhausting, with countless weeks of tears and frustration over a two-year period while patiently waiting for construction to be completed. Despite talking to other professionals, nothing could have truly prepared me for the journey.
I faced numerous obstacles, including contractors who took advantage of me, took money, and then disappeared. My architect also caused significant delays, setting me back about a year. I invested over $60,000 of my own money into the salon, only to find it still wasn’t enough.
This journey tested my resilience and commitment to my passion and dreams. Despite the setbacks, it taught me invaluable lessons about business and construction that I now understand on a much deeper level. Finally, after a year of delays, we are set to open our doors in March 2023. This challenging journey has helped me grow both as a person and as a business owner, and I am more determined than ever to succeed.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Adore J’adore is a pioneering self-care bar that addresses the critical need for holistic wellness and self-love in today’s fast-paced world. Our business model goes beyond traditional salon services by integrating beauty, nourishment, and spiritual wellness into a comprehensive self-care experience. This approach directly tackles the social issue of inadequate self-care and mental health support, especially for women who often juggle multiple responsibilities and neglect their own well-being.
Our services and products focus on enhancing both physical appearance and emotional health, offering curated treatments that cater to diverse needs, including natural hair care and wellness therapies. By emphasizing clean, organic products and creating a supportive environment, we promote healthier beauty practices and encourage clients to prioritize their self-care.
What sets Adore J’adore apart is our commitment to a holistic self-care philosophy, which addresses a significant gap in the market. While traditional salons focus primarily on beauty treatments, we offer a unique blend of services that incorporate spiritual and emotional well-being. Our self-care bar concept is designed to foster a sense of community and belonging, where clients can find support and education on self-love and personal growth.
By responding to this need for comprehensive self-care, we not only improve individual well-being but also contribute to a more supportive and inclusive community. Adore J’adore’s innovative approach and dedication to holistic wellness set us apart and position us as a leader in addressing the evolving needs of our clients.
Adore J’adore solves the problem of how to properly care for natural hair and the need for comprehensive self-care. We address these issues by offering specialized services and products tailored for natural hair, including treatments that enhance hair health and promote growth. We’re also triple certified in mostly all extensions methods like microlinks , sew-ins , k tips , i tips , clipins and much more . Our expert stylists are knowledgeable about natural hair care techniques , extensions and provide personalized advice to clients.
In addition, we promote self-care as a lifestyle, offering a range of services that focus on beautification, nourishment, and self-preservation. By integrating spiritual wellness and using clean, organic products, we help clients achieve overall well-being and maintain a balanced, healthy lifestyle. Our supportive community and holistic approach ensure that clients feel empowered and educated about taking care of both their natural hair and their overall self.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
my favorite books that helped me so much are Bible , The game of life and how to play it and The 5 second rule by mel robbins . I honestly a youtube junky , i truly enjoy to self educate i love listening to any business or self help videos i can find on there .
Contact Info:
- Website: https://adorejadore.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adorejadoremia
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/PQ8ZS7JCapQ?si=xcojmnTYABgIyckj
- Yelp: Adore J’adore Self Care Bar
