Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariyon Henderson.
Ariyon, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey into hairstyling started long before I ever imagined it would become my career. When I was a little girl, my dad was the first person to teach me how to braid. As I got older and wanted to learn more, my grandma stepped in and helped me perfect my technique. Looking back, it’s amazing that the two people who laid the foundation for my business were my dad and my grandma.
By middle school, my family had gone through a season where getting my hair professionally done every couple of weeks just wasn’t realistic anymore. My mom has always believed in keeping my hair done, but during that time I had to learn how to do it myself. We also moved almost every year, so I was constantly the new kid. I already had enough insecurities to navigate—I didn’t want my hair to become one of them. So I picked up a comb and started teaching myself.
I started with crochet styles, practicing on myself until I became more confident. Before long, my best friend asked me to do her hair, then her sister’s, then other family members. Eventually, word of mouth spread throughout our community. At first, I wasn’t charging anyone because I genuinely loved doing hair. My mom finally told me, “You’ve practiced enough. It’s time to start charging people for your work.” That was the moment I realized my gift had real value.
Around that same time, I took every opportunity I could to practice. In middle school, I became known for doing my classmates’ hair whenever I had the chance—even if it meant turning a classroom into a makeshift salon. Looking back, what seemed like a funny memory became one of the biggest turning points in my journey. Every person who trusted me with their hair taught me something new. I worked with boys and girls, different hair textures, different styles, and different challenges. Every head of hair expanded my knowledge, sharpened my technique, and built my confidence behind the chair. While my dad and grandma gave me the foundation, those experiences helped me become largely self-taught by constantly learning, adapting, and improving with every style I created. It’s funny now because I used to get in trouble for turning the school into a salon. Today, I welcome clients into my own salon suite.
As I got into high school, life shifted. I wasn’t focused on building a business at the time—I was focused on being a teenager. I worked jobs at McDonald’s and later Walmart, and hairstyling took a backseat for a while. Although I still did my own hair and occasionally styled someone else’s, it wasn’t something I was actively pursuing.
Then everything changed.
When COVID hit during my junior year of high school, I unexpectedly found myself leaning back into the gift I had discovered years earlier. What started as something I once did out of necessity quickly became something much bigger. I began taking clients again, rebuilding my confidence as a stylist, and realizing that this wasn’t just a hobby anymore—it had the potential to become my career.
By my senior year, I had already begun rebuilding my business, but I still wanted to be certain this was the path I wanted to take. Although I had enough credits to graduate early, I made the decision to stay in school and enroll in the cosmetology program at Herndon Career Center. That experience confirmed everything for me. It exposed me to every area of hairstyling, but more importantly, it helped me discover exactly where my passion belonged.
While I gained invaluable knowledge about hair health, sanitation, professionalism, and the science behind hair care—things I still apply in my business every day—I also realized I didn’t have to do everything. I just had to become exceptional at the one thing I loved most. Braiding wasn’t just my strongest skill; it was where I felt the most creative, the most confident, and the most fulfilled. Choosing to specialize gave Kapri Style Studio its identity and allowed me to build a brand centered around excellence instead of trying to be everything to everyone.
Looking back now, it’s incredible to see how every chapter served a purpose. My dad introduced me to braiding. My grandma helped me sharpen my skills. My mom taught me that my work had value. Middle school gave me the confidence to practice. COVID pushed me to bet on myself. Cosmetology school gave me the clarity to specialize. Today, Kapri Style Studio is the result of all of those experiences coming together. It’s more than a business—it’s a reflection of resilience, purpose, and a passion that found its way back to me at exactly the right time. Every client who sits in my chair reminds me why I fell in love with this craft in the first place, and helping people leave feeling confident, empowered, and beautiful is still the most rewarding part of what I do.
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?
Not at all. If anything, my journey has taught me that building a successful business is about so much more than being good at your craft. Learning to braid was only one piece of it. Learning how to run a business was an entirely different challenge.
Ironically, COVID ended up creating an opportunity for me. Many established stylists understandably paused their businesses or limited appointments to protect themselves and their families. That left a lot of people looking for someone they could trust with their hair, and it gave me room to grow. I had already built a solid foundation in braiding, so people were willing to trust me as I practiced newer techniques like knotless braids and stitch braids. Looking back, I couldn’t be more grateful for that season because it gave me the chance to sharpen my skills while building a loyal clientele.
What people don’t always realize is that I was only 15 years old when I really started rebuilding my business. By 16, I had a full client schedule, and I was balancing high school while teaching myself how to run a business during a global pandemic. Most teenagers were thinking about football games, homework, or what they were doing after school. I was learning scheduling, sanitation protocols, pricing, customer service, marketing, branding, and time management before I was even old enough to graduate. I truly grew up while growing my business.
The biggest challenge wasn’t finding clients—it was figuring out how to operate a business safely, professionally, and consistently with no blueprint.
Since I couldn’t work my regular job, I started taking clients at my parents’ house. My mom wasn’t comfortable with people coming through the house, so I got creative. We transformed our sunroom into my very first salon space. Clients entered through the backyard, and little by little I built an environment that felt professional, welcoming, and safe. During the summer, I installed a window air conditioner. During the winter, I relied on space heaters. Looking back now, I laugh because my clients truly experienced every season with me. They weren’t just watching me become a better braider—they were watching a teenager build a business from the ground up. I’ll never stop being grateful for the people who believed in me before I had everything figured out.
At the same time, I had to learn how to be a business owner without having anyone around me who had done it before. My parents were incredibly supportive, but no one in my family had experience running a business. Beyond giving me the space and encouragement to chase my dream, everything else was up to me. I had to teach myself everything—from sanitation standards and client policies to scheduling, pricing, customer service, marketing, and creating a professional experience. There wasn’t a handbook. I learned through trial and error, one lesson at a time.
Social media also became one of my greatest teachers. I realized that people don’t always know what they want until you show them. Staying consistent online wasn’t just about posting photos—it was about building trust, introducing new styles, and reminding people why they should book with me. Because I knew I was younger and less experienced than many established braiders, I couldn’t rely on my work alone. I had to give people a reason to choose me. That meant being flexible with my availability, continuously improving my skills, creating a welcoming environment, and making every client feel comfortable from the moment they sat in my chair.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that people remember how you make them feel just as much as they remember the hairstyle they leave with. Of course I take pride in the quality of my work, but I take just as much pride in the atmosphere I’ve created. Many of the things clients compliment today—the comfort, the professionalism, the conversation, and the overall experience—were born in that little sunroom while I was simply trying to make the best of what I had. I didn’t realize it then, but I wasn’t just building a workspace—I was building the foundation of the client experience that defines Kapri Style Studio today.
When I look back now, I’m proud of the business I’ve built, but I’m just as proud of the 15-year-old girl who was brave enough to start. She didn’t have a storefront, a mentor, or a blueprint. She had a gift, supportive parents who believed in her, clients who took a chance on her, and a determination to figure it out. Everything Kapri Style Studio is today was built one braid, one lesson, and one client at a time.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Kapri Style Studio is a braiding studio built on the belief that a hairstyle can be so much more than just a hairstyle. I specialize in knotless braids, stitch braids, island twists, and natural braided styles, but what I truly specialize in is creating an experience that leaves people feeling more confident than when they walked in.
I often say, “I may braid hair, but confidence is my favorite thing to create.” That’s the heart of my business.
For me, braiding has never been just about installing a protective style. It’s about helping people see themselves through a different lens. I’ve watched clients sit in my chair carrying stress, self-doubt, or simply feeling like they needed a reset, and leave smiling bigger, standing taller, and feeling like themselves again. Being able to play a small part in someone’s confidence and self-love is the reason I do what I do.
One of the things that sets Kapri Style Studio apart is that every detail is intentional. From the consultation and communication to the atmosphere, professionalism, cleanliness, and overall client experience, I want every appointment to feel personal. I truly believe people remember how you make them feel just as much as they remember the hairstyle they leave with. That’s why I strive to create an experience that goes beyond the service itself.
Choosing to specialize in braiding was one of the best decisions I’ve made for my business. During cosmetology school, I realized I didn’t have to do everything—I just had to become exceptional at the one thing I loved most. Instead of trying to offer every hair service, I committed to mastering braiding. That decision has allowed me to continually refine my techniques, stay current with trends, and provide my clients with consistency, quality, and healthy hair practices every time they sit in my chair.
What I’m most proud of is the brand we’ve built. Kapri Style Studio has become known for more than beautiful braids—it’s known for the experience. Many of my clients have trusted me for years, and watching them continue to choose me through every stage of my journey is something I’ll never take for granted. Those relationships mean everything to me.
At the end of the day, my goal isn’t just for someone to leave with a hairstyle they love. I want them to leave feeling lighter, more confident, more beautiful, and more like themselves. Whether they’re getting ready for a vacation, celebrating a milestone, walking into a new job, or simply treating themselves, I want every client to know they’re walking into a space where they’re cared for, celebrated, and seen.
Kapri Style Studio isn’t just about braids—it’s about creating confidence, Long after the braids come down, I hope the confidence they left with is something they still carry..That’s what keeps them coming back, one appointment at a time.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I think the beauty industry—especially the braiding industry—is becoming much more intentional, and I believe that’s a positive shift.
For a long time, there was a heavy focus on simply creating trendy styles, but now I’m seeing more conversations around healthy hair, proper technique, scalp health, and educating clients. People aren’t just looking for someone who can braid anymore—they’re looking for someone they can trust with the health of their hair. I believe that shift will only continue to grow over the next five to ten years.
Clients are also placing a much higher value on the overall experience. A beautiful hairstyle will always matter, but so does professionalism, communication, cleanliness, consistency, and how someone feels while they’re in your chair. Today’s clients have more options than ever, so I think the businesses that will continue to thrive are the ones that create genuine relationships and memorable experiences—not just beautiful hairstyles.
Social media will continue to influence the industry as well. Trends move faster than ever, and platforms like Instagram and TikTok can make a new style popular overnight. That means stylists have to stay adaptable, continue learning, and evolve with the industry while still maintaining the quality and integrity of their work.
I also hope to see braiding continue receiving the recognition it deserves as both an art form and a professional specialty. Braiding requires creativity, technical skill, patience, and years of practice, and I think we’re moving toward an industry that values those skills more than ever.
As for me, one of my biggest goals over the next several years is to pour into the next generation of braiders. In addition to continuing to grow Kapri Style Studio, I plan to begin offering educational classes where I can teach the techniques, professionalism, and business principles that have helped me build my brand. I want to help other stylists develop their skills with confidence while encouraging them to find their own unique style and create an experience that’s authentic to them.
At the end of the day, I don’t think the future belongs to the stylists who simply follow trends. I think it belongs to the ones who continue learning, educate others, and raise the standard for the industry. If I can play even a small role in helping shape that future—both through my work behind the chair and by mentoring other braiders—I would consider that one of my greatest accomplishments.
Pricing:
- Natural Styles starting at $75+
- Stitch Braids starting at $100+
- Knotless & Island Twist starting at $200+
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kapristylestudio.as.me/
- Instagram: @kapristyle.studio
- Facebook: KapriStyleStudio
