Today we’d like to introduce you to Alisha Smartt.
Hi Alisha, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
When I was a little girl I loved all things beauty; makeup, nails, and yes, hair. My grandmother was a hairstylist and would teach me how to braid on my dolls, so my love for hair really came from the time her and I spent together. However, throughout my high school years I really fell in love with makeup and nails and ultimately decided I wanted to explore the thought of becoming a nail technician. Around 2021, I found my first curly hairstylist and growing up around people that didn’t look like me and hairstylists that didn’t know how to do my hair, I felt so ecstatic. I loved my first curly cut and I loved that someone actually knew how to care for my hair without chopping it off or straightening it. My hairstylist asked me one day what I wanted to do career wise, I expressed I had a love for nails and wanted to pursue that as a career but had been working for a beauty supply store for years. At this point, I never thought doing hair was going to be in my future but when she mentioned that cosmetology schools teach you how to do hair, but also nails, I was even more intrigued. I loved curly hair, getting young girls and women to not only love their hair but also how to care for it, but in my mind doing hair meant having to do mens cuts and perms and other stuff I had no real interest in, I definitely still had to do those things, per state board requirements. However, my hairstylist opened my mind to choosing a specialty once I graduated, which is when I decided I would give it a try and about 2 months later I was enrolled in school. After about 11 months of schooling, I went into working under my hairstylist for a little over a year to learn about curly hair, how to cut it, how to highlight and color it properly. When the time came and we discussed it was time for me to start building my own clientele, I chose to go off and work at a popular chain salon but quickly realized that maybe this wasn’t the path for me and a few months later I became my own boss.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, I cried a lot of tears in cosmetology school. Went through a lot of personal ups and downs. Then a few months into my first salon suite, my side of the building completely flooded, I got extremely lucky with having little to no damage of my furniture or tools, but it was definitely a stressful time having to find a new location and moving all my stuff out before any damage could happen.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Hair By Alisha Smartt?
I am a curly hair specialist, I focus on curly cuts and education, as well as, color and curly extensions. I offer knowledge no matter what service you book, I try to teach all of my clients tips and tricks on how to style their hair at home, which products I think will work best for them while also keeping their lifestyle in mind. I try to be extremely understanding with each and every one of my clients because at the end of the day, we’re all people and things happen and the best thing I can do is be understanding.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory is when my brother and I used to watch WWE and play wrestle. I definitely lost every time.
Pricing:
- Curly Cuts- $95-$125
- Highlights with Curly Cut- $275
- Kids Curly Cut- $75
- Curly Lesson- $90
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hairbyalishasmartt.glossgenius.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hairbyalishasmartt?igsh=OTBoMnZiMW93bno4&utm_source=qr
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@hairbyalishasmartt?_t=ZT-8zSuEUyiCVx&_r=1
