Meet Olenda Scott of Olenda Styles in Bellflower

Today we’d like to introduce you to Olenda Scott.

Olenda, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Back in 2001/2002, I was working at Circuit City until they closed. I had a cousin staying with me during this time who was attending cosmetology school and encouraged me to go as well when I was laid off. I completed 1600 hours of cosmetology school and started working from home while working at a company called Meals on Wheels. For years I worked at Meals on Wheels as a Volunteer Coordinator until the company lost some of its funding and had to downsize I then was laid off from another job. Continuing to do hair from home while raising a daughter I found another job at United Health Care. I worked at United Heath Care for about two years before deciding to do hair full time how else would I build my clientele and get my name out. Fast forward to July 2019 I have now been working at Mane Attraction Hair Studio in Bellflower, CA for the past four years.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Once I decided to work full time I decided I would then work in a salon. The 1st salon I worked at was nice but it was super small but I thought this would be a great place to start off at seeing as I had a small clientele and needed to find something affordable and still be able to pay my bills at home. But you get what you pay for and there would be days that I would go to the salon, open up to service my clients and the lights would be out, there was no air conditioning, the power would go out if more than one person was blowing dryer at the same time, parking was slim to none. Days when the lights were out I would have to take my clients to my moms house and service them there. OMG how embarrassing.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
My name is Olenda Scott and I am a cosmetologist I focus on dreads, press and curls, weaves, and some protective hairstyles. I am becoming more known for my work with dreads now more than natural hair which I am self-taught and have started to fall in love with. I plan to learn how to do mens hair cuts very soon so I can be a one-stop shop for my clients with dreadlocks. What sets be apart from others and that I proud of is that i focus on making sure that my clients have healthy hair, know how to maintain their hair at home, product knowledge, availability, etc.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I would like to thank all of my friends and family for always believing in me and pushing me when I didn’t want to do certain things, allowing me to practice and perfect my skills on them.

My children Kimani Tindal and Connor Arrington for be my daily motivation to keep getting up day in and day out even when I’m dead tired and just want to lay in my bed instead of drive 20 plus miles to and from work to make it happen for us.

Contact Info:

• Address: 9953 Artesia Place Bellflower, CA 90706
• Website: www.styleseat.com/olendascott
• Phone: 5622773684
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @OlendaStyles
• Facebook: Hair By Olenda
• Twitter: OlendaCarise
• Yelp: Olenda Styles

Image Credit:
@daymechellephotog

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