Today we’d like to introduce you to LaRonda Blanchard.
Hi LaRonda, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have always felt I was going to be a hairstylist. As a child, all I did was my dolls hair in ponytails, curls and braids. By the time I was thirteen I had clients, friends in the neighborhood and my school. At Age 16 in high school, I had a nice clientele doing hair from home in my mom’s kitchen. So by the time I was 17 years old, I graduated from high school 2006 and went straight to cosmetology school. National Academy Of Beauty Arts! I wanted to go to a school where I learned how to do all types of hair textures. It was a struggle at times waking up at 6am in the morning because I had to be at school by 8:45am. My bus ride was 1 hour and a half everyday but I was dedicated on top of working two part-time jobs. I graduated with honors and three advanced certificates. When I graduated the Administrators at the school cried and wanted to present my awards because they said they had never seen a young women so dedicated and road the bus rain, sleet and snow I was there. Once I graduated and received my license, I immediately started working in my mom’s friend’s salon. I worked in her salon for eight years. Since I’ve been doing hair, I have become a mother of two handsome boys ages eight and four. They make me go hard everyday. I now have my own salon suite at Metro salon studios in U city in St. Louis. I have launched my own Vegan product line(Smooth And Healthy Crowns) lipgloss line (Crowned Lips) and accessories selling hats, shirts, hoodies, headbands and face shields called Crowned Queens!
Alright, 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?
It hasn’t been a smooth road at all. Being a mother of two young children isn’t the easiest. Juggling my work schedule, their sports schedule and being a volunteer parent from time to time is a lot but hey, I make sure I’m there for them 100 percent. Being an entrepreneur is a lot of work and time. Sometimes you don’t get a lot of rest because your up thinking of a master plan to make sure your business is a success. 2020 was a big struggle for a lot of business owners. The salon was shut down for almost three months but me being a child of God, I just knew he was going to have me and my children. A lot of people lost their business and passion. I never did though because I knew we had to survive and failing was not the answer. So I decided to launch my own Vegan product line and when I say it was a success, oh my God. I was surprised because and had tears of joy because if this didn’t work there was no plan b for me. 2021 I’m still going strong and have a huge clientele.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I specialize in natural hair, braids and healthy hair. I am known to have magic hands making my client’s hair grow, my neatness with braids and making my clients look and feel good. I always tell myself time is everything. So I believe that’s what sets me apart. Times, neatness and giving my clients exactly what they ask for. I can honestly say I have been doing hair for over ten years but this is only my 3rd year being a full-time stylist and the clientele Tha I have established just from word of mouth is amazing. Now I get clients not just for hair but for my products!
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
In the next 5-10 years, I see myself having two full-service salons. One in St. Louis and another one in Texas. I will soon become a traveling stylist and hope to meet Beyoncé one day and doing celebrities hair. I use to always say after watching movies. That’s going to be me one day in the credits. Hairstylist/LaRonda Blanchard!!!!
Contact Info:
- Email: Lblanchard88@yahoo.com
- Website: www.smoothandhealthycrowns.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/Mariebraidologist
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mz.fanci
- Yelp: Marie B
Image Credits
Hair and photos by LaRonda Blanchard known as Mariebraidologist
