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Name: Ebony Fletcher
Business: Hair Krack
Location: New York, New York, U.S.
Industry: Personal Services
Reason for starting? I’ve been a cosmetologist for 20 years. I’ve worked out of my home for about 10, with numerous clients with hair loss issues. This was due to tight braids, glued weaves and just plain old improper caring of their natural hair. Some of my clients suffered from alopecia, scalp fungi, dandruff, dry, brittle hair due to over processing with chemicals. I invented a leave in conditioner with just pure aloe vera plant. I was researching how I can grow my client’s hair naturally. Most stylist don’t care about their clients hair, they just do it. I actually care what my clients’ natural hair looks like. I’ve been natural for over 15 years, and I researched what natural oils would be good for restoring your natural hair back to its natural healthy state. I incorporated 13 natural oils, which all have different benefits. I came up with a product that can solve all of the damaged hair issues.
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How do you define success? My definition of success is doing what you love to do every day. I quit my job working for the department of education after 14 years to pursue my career as a professional cosmetologist and innovator of natural hair care products. There is no greater joy I feel than when my client smiles in the mirror after I finished her hair. All I see is a strong and confident woman. When you look good, you feel good. So many of my past clients have come back just to say thank you so much, “my husband can’t keep his hands off of me!” I love to hear great news like that because that’s exactly what I wanted to happen. Just helping women regain their strength, confidence and self esteem.
Biggest success: My little cousin was diagnosed with leukemia last year, and I made her a wig because her chemo treatments took out all of her hair. I was able to use my creativity and the love of being a cosmetologist to make her feel beautiful again. Seeing the smiles on her and my clients’ faces is success to me. I love making women and children feel beautiful.
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What is your top challenge and how you have addressed it? My top challenge is not having enough working capital to take my vision to the top. It comes down to an inability to remain a low-cost leader against the competition, who may have access to better resources. My only answer is to innovate and optimize constantly and stay one step ahead of my competition.
In 2004, I was the survivor of a domestic violence when my ex-boyfriend tried to kill me. I was always a hard worker and never took life for granted. The aftermath of recovery gave me a lot of time to think and reevaluate my life. I wanted to uplift and encourage other women to let them know they are beautiful and worthy to be loved the right way. There is nothing more that I want to do than to encourage other women. I feel I do that when I am styling their hair.
Who is your most important role model? I don’t have just one role model. To me a role model is anyone who has come from nothing and worked hard and persevered through everything that life has given them.
[box_light]Website www.hairkrack.yolei.net
Twitter twitter.com/ebbieshair
Facebook www.facebook.com/hairkrack
Instagram www.instagram.com/ebbieshair[/box_light]
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Edited by The Story Exchange