Today we’d like to introduce you to Akyra Thompson.
Hi Akyra, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a 17 year hairstylist dedicated to cultivating healthy hair and self love for my clients. I entered the beauty industry while attending high school where I grew up in Gloucester, VA. Our school offered a vocational program that allowed students to become licensed cosmetologists by their senior year. I was college-bound, but became pregnant with my first child six months before graduation, so I decided to fully embrace hairstyling as a career and attend college part-time. After a few years of building a steady clientele, I realized the potential for greater success and opted to operate as a full-time, self-employed independent hairstylist. This allowed me to build my own brand and expand my skill set by working alongside and gleaning from other beauty professionals like advanced haircolorists and barbers. Over the years, hair artistry has been an avenue to my path of prosperity and stability. It has allowed me to support my small children while I have navigated through life’s hardships and adversities. I truly believe showing up daily to serve my clients and nurture both their inner and outer value has aided in my own healing journey. Early on, I identified a need to cater to those with curly hair textures, hair loss, and various scalp disorders. I had not seen salons in the area specialize in or adequately serve these types of clients, so I set out to fill that gap in market. To do, I studied basic trichology, became a certified hair loss specialist, and completed the TRESemmé x SimpleeBEAUTIFUL Texture Certification Program with celebrity hair stylist, Diane Da Costa. This advanced education has allowed me the versatility to service anyone that visits our salon. I am now sharing my knowledge with and building my staff, so that we can effectively serve even more clients.
The concept of Wholeness Hair Clinic was born in 2017, while I was living in a transitional home in Yorktown, VA called the Natasha House. I had been accepted into their program that helped to teach financial literacy and cultivate stability for homeless single women and their children. As part of the program, they require the mothers to set career goals and create a plan to achieve them. I had always been someone who valued natural wellness and environmental sustainability, and I knew that I could marry those passions with my career in cosmetology. I set a goal to rebrand my hairstyling business and later open a fully plant-based, holistic salon. The Natasha House slogan is that they are a “Bridge to Wholeness.” I was able to gain a second chance to flourish and have a life that would allow my children and I to thrive through their program, so I decided to call the salon “Wholeness Hair Clinic.” The name exemplified our commitment to the cultivation of natural health in body, soul, and mind, as well as honored the organization that helped me believe in myself enough to make it happen.
I gradually made the switch to using clean products and treatments with ingredients that are both naturally derived and effective for all hair types. I believe that wellness should not be sacrificed for beauty and style. After careful preparation, we officially opened our doors in the fall of 2020 in a small salon studio, exclusively offering holistic hair care services and products that solve hair care woes for those with strands of any hair texture. I had also identified a need for solutions for those looking for specialized techniques that cater to naturally curly hair, hair loss, and scalp conditions after working with an alarming number of customers that have had to suffer from a lack of professional guidance in these areas. I am proud to say that the Wholeness Hair Clinic has created a safe atmosphere to answer that call and is far beyond a “salon.” I decided to start building a team of stylists with this specialized hair care education and expanded to a larger location in 2024. Wholeness Hair Clinic has grown to being the “go-to” salon in the area for women with naturally curly hair and those who prioritize using non-toxic products. The salon has truly been a champion of inclusivity across cultures and hair types, and is the only one of its kind in our local area. Wholeness Hair Clinic allows beauty and wellness to coexist while our guests embrace their hair and themselves – naturally.
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?
My business has been solely self-funded since day one without any assistance from partners or investors. The the low amount of start-up capital and managing cash flow has been both a challenge and learning experience that has allowed me to get creative with running operations on a lean budget. Also, being a present mother to my four children and still showing up 100% for the needs of the business has been quite the balancing act. Through it all, I lean on my faith and take it all one day at a time!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Wholeness Hair Clinic?
Wholeness Hair Clinic offers holistic, plant-based hair care for all textures, with a specialty in curly and natural hair. Services include curl-focused cuts and styling, botanical hair color, scalp and hair-loss treatments, and plant-based smoothing services. Every appointment begins with a personalized consultation to support healthy hair, healthy scalp, and beautiful, natural results.
Our holistic approach to haircare sets us apart in the industry due to our innovative ideology regarding the use of only plant-based products to promote the health of the hair and scalp. Specializing in naturally curly hair care and techniques, as well as holistic hair loss treatments have positioned us as a highly sought after salon in these specialties. Our repeat customers continue to visit Wholeness Hair Clinic for our commitment to not only cultivating wellness for the hair and scalp, but wellness for the body, spirit, and mind.
Nearing 6 years, it is the only salon of its kind in the area, and continues to lead in innovative scalp therapies and advanced health-centered education in all hair types.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
We are open to sponsorship and brand partnership opportunities! Contact us at info@wholenesshairclinic.com Also, follow us on our socials which include Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok with the handle @wholenesshairclinic. To discover the power of plant-based hair and scalp health, book a FREE consultation with us at wholenesshairclinic.com!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wholenesshairclinic.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/wholenesshairclinic
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/wholenesshairclinic
