Rising Stars: Meet Brendnetta Ashley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brendnetta Ashley.

Hi Brendnetta, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I come from a family of hairstylists. Both grandmothers, an aunt, and a cousin. It’s safe to say it’s in my DNA! It wasn’t until I got into high school that I actually wanted to do hair. So, my senior year I did half a day high school the other half cosmetology. Once I graduated high school in June, I completed cosmetology. Then in the winter stared at SF state. Being a hairstylist helped put me through college. I worked part-time in a salon and then went to college. Once I graduated with a degree in Communications, I worked full-time in the salon, but I knew I wanted more. The company I was with started a salon education team. I became an educator, and that’s what truly changed my career and opened me up to other opportunities. From there, I was open to work on photo shoots and assist. That’s where my passion lives! I love the behind-the-scenes and seeing a look come to life! I learned a lot and began to create my own looks and eventually started entering hair competitions. It challenged me to not look at hair as just hair but more like art. Over the years I’ve been a NAHA finalist, 5x BTC one shot finalists, and won 3 international beauty industry awards. 

I’m currently working in a salon suite as well as an Artist with Schwarzkopf Professionals. Being a hair artist is my passion, and I love how I get to change lives while making them look and feel beautiful. 

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?
Yes, I’ve had some struggles. Not winning can take a toll on you mentally, but you have to understand that art is subjective. Also, I learned and really embraced that I am doing this for me so if I love it that’s all that matters. Also being a content creator, my channels got hacked in 2020 so I had to start over. It was a challenged because I didn’t know if I would get my following back. I did, and it came back stronger. I learned a lot about myself and how to stay on the journey no matter how hard it gets. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a hairstylist specializing in curly hair and editorial hair. I’m most proud of my steady clientele. I’ve been doing most of their hair for the past 15-20 years. They are like family. They are so supportive of my career and the other things I do within the industry. 

Who else deserves credit in your story?
Both my mentors Michelle O’Connor and Dilek Onur-Taylor instilled so much into me. I’m truly the artist I am today because of them. I was able to learn directly from them by assisting. They gave me a solid foundation to understand working on set 

Contact Info:

• Website: Brendnettaashley.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edgybgirl?igsh=YzVkODRmOTdmMw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Image Credits
Roberto Ligresti
David Maderich Alttorin
Amy Gailburt
Rebecca Grant