Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandria Redding
Hi Alexandria, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As early as I can remember my passion has always been hair and anything beauty industry related. My parents knew of and supported this passion as well but wanted me to get a proper education at a 4 year institution to go along with the trade. College started out rocky for me because I never envisioned going, I was more interested in attending my dream cosmetology school instead. I eventually got focused, because apart from the beauty industry I’ve always been great at creative marketing and have always had the entrepreneurial spirit to run a successful business. This was my fuel during undergrad and with this motivation I was able to receive my Bachelor’s degree in business administration focusing specifically in marketing and management in just 3 years. I enjoyed this new path so much so that I immediately enrolled into a graduate program the following semester and received an MBA degree as well. From there I started my corporate journey because I was not able to immediately begin cosmetology school at the time. I spent about 4 years in the corporate world where I experienced burnout, mental exhaustion and unmotivated in my career field. By this time the pandemic was among us and I could not go a second longer being detoured from my dream job. There were resources in place at the time to assist renters who needed financial assistance during the pandemic and upon being approved for this resource I immediately applied for cosmetology school. Once accepted I quit my full time job to attend Paul Mitchell full time day cosmetology program and worked my part time job at night. This was a pivotal time in my life and required a great deal of endurance and effort. Looking back, I’m not sure how I was able to push through but I’m so glad that I did because I can confidently say the hard work paid off! The detours, redirections and tough lessons were worth it. I experience joy in being a hairdresser and taking charge of my career and my story everyday.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My journey to becoming a cosmetologist was not smooth and included many obstacles and redirections. I started cosmetology school April of 2022 and myself like many others were still reeling from the affects of the pandemic. One of the major reasons I was able to attend cosmetology school at the time that I did was because of the assistance I was receiving from a federally-funded resource that provided relief to individuals and businesses facing hardship as they recovered from the pandemic. However, 3 months into cosmetology school the resources they were providing had been depleted statewide and I still had about 6 months of school left to complete. As if that wasn’t enough, my grant for financial aid was not calculated correctly so with 3 months left of cosmetology school that was another hardship I had to maneuver as well. When walking in your purpose there will be so many reasons to give up but the character and perseverance that comes with trusting the process is so rewarding.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a licensed cosmetologist. My brand name is Alx (pronounced Alex) Ricole Professional. Apart from performing cosmetology services, I wanted to create a space of luxury and relaxation for the average woman to unwind and relax from the daily tasks we take head on every day all while receiving the best services from someone who is professional, kind, trusted and dedicated to providing the best experience possible. The beauty industry has transformed to new heights in so many great ways but as times evolved I noticed that the trust and integrity stylists once held in their communities needed to be restored. Apart from creating amazing styles and meeting the expectations of my clients, I like to bridge this gap by also being authentic and seeking genuine relationships so that I can be of service in other areas outside the salon as well.
What sets me apart from others in my field is my work ethic, my commitment to constantly improving my craft and the ability to be approachable. Cosmetology isn’t something that I do just for income. I feel that it is deeply connected to my purpose and I love being able to serve people in ways that make them feel good. When it comes to hairstyling, I love to learn the latest techniques and find ways to create engaging content and continue improving.
What I love most about my business is that I’m versatile. I can help women no matter their hair needs. I have a love for natural hair so I provide various treatments, coloring/chemical services, cutting and straightening services. I know that we love extensions as well and it allows women to be creative without compromising the health of their natural hair so I also provide extension services such as sew ins, glueless wig installations, tape-ins and quick weaves.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
One of the main lessons I learned due to the Covid-19 Crisis is that in business and most certainly in life a tough situation will arise. How we navigate through the unknown is paramount in how we make it out. Sometimes we get so buried in our own problems that we fail to realize that everyone is dealing with something whether they decide to share or not. Sometimes we feel that some of the problems that arise are a set back but I’ve seen often times than not, it sets us up for something even greater. From my personal harships during the Covid-19 crisis I learned that you can find joy and gratitude for even the smallest things no matter the situation, and that also be open to life’s redirections. You never know where it might lead you!
Pricing:
- Silk Press $100
- Traditional Sew In $175
- Tape-In Installation $225
- Smoothing Treatment $125
Contact Info:
- Website: https://alxricoleprofessional.as.me/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alxricoleprofessional/profilecard/
