Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Kari Williams.
Dr. Williams, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’m a little black girl from South Central who had a dream to own a hair salon. I’ve been braiding hair since I was a child and when I started college I began to ask myself what did I want to do, for the rest of my life, that I absolutely and loved. The answer was hair, and because I was in a rigorous academic environment, I decided to study hair and the scalp from a scientific perspective. This lead me into the field of Trichology where I am able to combine the artistry with the science of hair and scalp care. When I first embarked on the journey to turn my passion into a business, I was not aware of the opportunities that would be available for me. Through trial and error, sacrifice, and many long nights, I am confident that I’ve created blueprints and opportunities in the hair industry that did not exist prior and I can proudly say that I am a trailblazer. Now that I have owned my salon for a solid 10 years, I continue to seek new ways to continue to expand my influence in the hair industry and inspire new minds to do great things with their gifts and talents.
Great, 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?
Anything worth having requires taking risks and there are definitely challenges. The biggest challenge to date within the salon industry is staff turnover. People who invest in the trade of hairstyling are typically independent thinkers with the independent goal to eventually work for themselves. As a result, it is difficult to find, train and keep loyal staff members. On average, a stylist will work and train in a salon for 2 years. After 2 years they will leave and seek opportunities that will offer independence and autonomy. This cycle has created up and down shifts in my staff, exposing the unsustainable areas within this type of business model.
After owning my salon for 10 years, I now understand why most salons fail or drastically decline after 10 years of business. This challenge is something that I am working to overcome by developing sustainable systems that will alleviate business strain due to staff turnover.
Mahogany Hair Revolution – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I own a natural hair salon and Trichology clinic located in Los Angeles, California. My salon specializes in locks, braids, twists, extension styles and all forms of natural hairstyling. We primarily focus on promoting healthy hair and scalp for all of our clients.
We celebrate our client’s natural beauty, providing them with education and product knowledge that will help them maintain a healthy environment for hair growth.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moment, so far, is being able to recognize and develop the talents God has given me. God is the reason I have achieved what I have so far. He is the source of my strength so that I can keep going when I am faced with challenges. He provides me with the vision I need to stay focused and encouraged. He opens the doors of opportunity so that I can build relationships with those that want to see me succeed. God is the one who has created the platform for my success and has created me with the ambition, tenacity and determination to keep building towards higher levels of success. To know this and keep all these things in focus throughout my career is a one continuous proud moment.
Contact Info:
- Address: 5450 W Pico Blvd., #203, Los Angeles, CA 90019
- Website: http://mahoganyhairrevolution.com/
- Phone: 323-939-1620
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mahoganyrevolution/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mahoganyrevolution/
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