Today we’d like to introduce you to Kiana Brown
Hi Kiana, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I originally was working in the entertainment industry. I started with dancing, talent management, event and creative directing, photography, and marketing. I honestly had no idea what I wanted to do as a career choice. However, my curl specialist that I was going to for my own hair, as well as my mom, were both saying I should look into becoming a Curly Hair Stylist. I kept sweeping that idea under the rug because I didn’t necessarily want to start over. I really thought my mid to late twenties was too late to start over. What was I thinking?
I ended up getting COVID one day. And with those pandemic life thoughts we were all having and crying all the time, like “what am I doing with my life?” I basically had that while I was isolating for a week. So the day after I tested negative, I went straight to a cosmetology school and signed myself up.
I knew once I was in school that I wanted to become a Curl Specialist. Not exaggerating, I brought in my own curly haired clients every single day to build my clientele. It took me 10 months to finish cosmetology school. A few months after getting my license, I signed the lease to my own salon studio July 2023. So yes, I’ve only been a Curl Specialist for a year and a half.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Yes and no. I originally was going to cosmetology school part time while still having my full time marketing career. The job I had was used to help pay for cosmetology school. However, 2 months into school, I was let go of my job. I was struggling to figure out how to pay for school (cause quitting wasn’t a choice). So I decided to go full-time at school, bring in my own clients and charge them for my services.
Building my clientele was fairly easy due to social media and referrals. The biggest struggle would be opening up my salon. I originally signed my lease to a new Phenix Salon Suites location in April of 2023, I was scheduled to move in and open in July. However due to permits of the new Phenix Salon opening, it postponed my own opening date to November 2023. This was extremely frustrated because I was getting my hopes up each month to possibly open and I already had clients booked. So from July to October 2023, I had to rent a chair in the meantime at a different salon. This really tested my patience. However, I am grateful for this obstacle as it gave me more to logistically prep for my salon.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m Kiana Rae, a self-taught Curly Hair Specialist in Los Angeles. With only a couple years in the hair industry, my passion for curls run deep. Utilizing the experience and self-taught knowledge of curly hair, my work has been featured in commercials, modeling campaigns, and on red carpets. I was also the only Curly Hair Stylist as a panelist at the first annual CurlyConLA. I aim to build the confidence in embracing your natural crown. I customize every curly haircut to fit each of my client’s personality and needs. My passion for curls encourages me to properly educate you on how to better style, care and maintain your natural hair at home.
As a fellow curly girl myself, I know the struggle behind the curls, I didn’t fully embrace my curls until 2018. Before that I had years of color, chemical and constant heat damage. With my journey, I told myself I wanted to help other curly girls embrace their natural crown as well. My goal is to get you feeling more comfortable and confident than ever before.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Luck played the biggest role in launching my career in the first place. COVID was the reason I began to even consider a career change, It was bad luck for me to get COVID in general, but it was the greatest luck because it made me follow my passion.
In regards to running my salon, my previous work background in content creation and marketing definitely brought me good luck. Being self-employed, it’s extremely challenging to be a full-time hairstylist and a full-time content creator simultaneously. But already knowing how to run social media and create marketing content has been my saving grace to building my clientele.
Pricing:
- Custom Curly Haircut $250
- West Coast Curls Package $300
- Express Dry Cut $150
- Wash & Go $125
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.westcoastcurls.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mskianarae?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@kianaraecurls?_t=8qC0mRaVKrH&_r=1
Image Credits
Client photos taken by Kiana Brown
CurlyConLA photo taken by Jack Brown
DevaCurl step and repeat taken by Theresa Cancel
Personal photo taken by Daniel Iturriaga
