Today we’d like to introduce you to Norajane Latortue.
Hi Norajane, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Norajane Latortue and I am a Curl Specialist in South Florida. I am a 28-year-old (American Born) Colombian woman and I am going to change how the world thinks about natural hair. My goal and purpose are to educate people about their hair and guide them to their hair goals in the healthiest way possible.
I like all of my clients, grew up in a world where we don’t understand curly hair. I had no idea how to do my hair, my family did their best to control the mane. We would go to a hairstylist and they would complain and yet compliment how much hair I have and then say “Let’s straighten it!” NO ONE understood how to make my hair look beautiful and enhance what I had. When I went to cosmetology school, I saw that it was the whole industry.
Going to cosmetology school didn’t teach me anything about curly hair or even how to determine what are “Good” products. After I graduated I started working in the industry for Junior & Hatter Salon in Wynwood, I met an amazing professional named Dennis Mero, He is a hair expert PERIOD. He has over 30 years of experience as a hairstylist and educator. Meeting Dennis really inspired me to be a Conscious Curl Expert. He was focused as a curl expert at that time and he taught me in-depth about hair.
How products and environment interfere with hair, I now understood hair’s structure, and how to think about hair. I was definitely trying to be a dry sponge to absorb as much knowledge as I can! I felt like I was finally understanding hair on the level I was looking for! I wanted to understand what healthy hair is and how to achieve it.
Fast forward a few years, and I have been in the industry for about 4.5 years. I wanted to learn different techniques to master my craft, so I was working at a curly salon in Fort Lauderdale, starting all over to learn about “The Ouidad” cutting method. I started as a receptionist and got all the way up to be the owner’s associate stylist.
The plan was to be a part of the salon to build and grow together. After months of being there, I started to think am I building my dreams? Or am I building theirs? Being an associate is a step below Stylist, the goalpost kept moving when I would get to the goals we agreed upon. I am very confident in my skills and I definitely was getting tired of working ten-hour days with VERY little pay, I wouldn’t even get compensated for the time or services that I provided.
I felt like I was being taken advantage of. I asked God is this to humble me or is this happening to make me uncomfortable to get out of here? Two weeks later my husband gets sick and gets admitted to the hospital for three days, I let the owners know what was happening, keeping them up to date. He gets released on the third day, I receive instructions from the Doctor to stay with my husband for two days after his release to make sure he is ok. I let them know the circumstances and that I will be back at work on Saturday.
Their response was: “Because you have decided when you are working and not working we are terminating your employment with us”. I heard God loud and clear. I cried a little, I was sad and so angry that I had sacrificed so much of my time and energy. God gave me peace that day and told me Never again.
The next day I receive a phone call from a salon suite calling me about new suite availability, little did I know my husband had inquired about it without my knowledge while I was coming to terms with losing my job the day before with a sad nap (lol). We took a tour that same day! My husband and I looked at each other and decided it was the beginning of my company Curly by Norajane.
At Curly by Norajane we offer a rich quality of knowledge and Organic products. We care for each individual client, we take the time to get to know each other and truly understand your struggles, goals, and lifestyle. We focus on the health of the hair on a molecular level, no matter what curl pattern/hair type you have, I want my guest to walk away from their experience with relaxation (and or peaceful), knowledge, and confidence. Our salon provides a healthy hair lifestyle with products that add to and protect the health of our hair and bodies.
As a business owner, I also want to provide an atmosphere where employees are respected and appreciated. I want to build people up and. help them along their journey. I definitely wanted to give a different experience at Curly by Norajane, not just for the guest but for our employees as well.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
After realizing, I wanted to go to cosmetology school at 18 I was told that I did not qualify for financial aid although my family did not have the funds to pay for me to go to school.
I had to wait for 6 years until I was independent on my taxes in order to take out student loans and start school. In the meantime, I worked and kept pushing until I was able to start school at 24. The fear of starting a business and being pushed into my destiny by my husband getting sick.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Curly by Norajane?
We are an Organic Curly hair salon located in Coral Springs, FL.
We deeply care about the integrity and health of your hair. Our goal is to educate you and help you look and feel your best along your curly journey. Embrace your hair! And Change the standard for curly hair!
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Because I was still not given a chair in the salon I was an associate in prior, I was starting Curly by Norajane with no clientele, no one knew who I was so I was starting from 0.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.curlybynj.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curlybynorajane
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Curly-By-Norajane/100086534426130/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/curly-by-norajane-coral-springs-2?osq=Curly+Hair+Salon
