Check Out J.julye Brown’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to J.julye Brown.

Hi J.julye, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey into the beauty industry started long before I ever became a licensed cosmetologist. As a little girl, I was known as the neighborhood braider. I grew up watching the women in my family style hair, and they often practiced new techniques on me. I’ve had everything from finger waves and short cuts to quick weaves, and I was fascinated by the artistry behind it all.

My stepmother wasn’t the best at doing hair, so as I got older, I started doing my own. I’m a very visual learner, and I was able to watch what someone was doing and recreate it. Whether it was hair or even nails, I could observe the technique, understand the process, and then apply it myself. Looking back, I realize that creativity and problem-solving have always been a part of who I am.

While my parents never actively encouraged me to pursue the beauty industry, they never discouraged it either. Like many people, I took a different career path for a while and worked in healthcare. After losing my job, I made the decision to fully invest in something I had always loved. Instead of waiting for the perfect opportunity, I began educating myself. I took braiding classes, lash classes, studied product knowledge, learned new techniques, and continued developing my skills while working toward cosmetology school.

In 2022, I enrolled at Aveda Institute, where I earned my cosmetology license. I walked into school with one goal: to learn everything I possibly could. As a Black woman in the beauty industry, I made a conscious decision that I didn’t want to limit myself to serving only one hair texture or one community. My years in healthcare shaped that perspective. I couldn’t imagine telling a supervisor I only wanted to care for patients who looked like me, so I didn’t want to build my beauty career that way either. I wanted to become a multicultural beauty professional who could confidently serve clients of all backgrounds and hair textures with professionalism, education, and care.

Today, that commitment continues to shape everything I do. I’m the founder of Ju’Ellz Designz Hair Care and Ju’Ellz Hair & Beauty Café, where my focus extends beyond creating beautiful hair. I help clients understand the health of their scalp and hair, educate them on the “why” behind their concerns, and provide customized solutions rooted in science, wellness, and professional care.

More than anything, my journey has been about trusting myself. I stopped allowing other people’s opinions to dictate what success should look like and started building the life and business that genuinely fulfilled me. What began as a young girl braiding hair in the neighborhood has grown into a vision of building a beauty and wellness empire centered on education, excellence, and helping people feel confident from the inside out.

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. There have been moments where I sat on the floor crying, questioning whether I should give up and go back to working a traditional 9-to-5. Entrepreneurship has a way of testing not only your skills but your confidence, your patience, and your belief in yourself.

One of my biggest challenges was believing that I belonged in the room. I didn’t earn my GED until I was in my 30s, and I actually started building my beauty brand before I ever became a licensed cosmetologist. There were times when I wondered if I was behind or if I had started too late, but I eventually realized that everyone’s journey is different. My path wasn’t traditional, but it was still valid.

Cosmetology school challenged me in ways I didn’t expect. I was surrounded by people from different backgrounds, personalities, and perspectives. It taught me how to stay focused on my own goals, continue learning, and remain committed to my vision regardless of outside opinions.

Building a business has been another learning curve. I didn’t go to business school, and I didn’t come from a family of entrepreneurs, so there wasn’t a blueprint for me to follow. I had to learn marketing, finances, product development, branding, customer service, and leadership through experience, education, and a lot of trial and error.

What changed everything for me was realizing I didn’t have to figure it all out alone. I started connecting with organizations like the Minority Business Assistance Center, the Urban League, the Chamber of Commerce, and other beauty professionals who were willing to share their knowledge. Those relationships helped me grow not only as a business owner but also as a leader.

Looking back, I wouldn’t change my journey. Every setback, every lesson, and every risk helped shape the woman and entrepreneur I am today. I’ve learned that success isn’t about never struggling—it’s about continuing to move forward anyway. I believe the biggest rewards come from betting on yourself, even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed. After all, we spend so much time asking, “What if I fail?” I decided to start asking myself, “What if I succeed?” That question changed everything.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
One of the things I’m most proud of is that I’ve built more than a salon—I have built an educational beauty and wellness experience.
I am a licensed cosmetologist, Aveda alumna, and the founder of Ju’Ellz Designz Hair Care and Ju’Ellz Hair & Beauty Café in Columbus, Ohio. I specialize in healthy hair restoration, scalp wellness, hair loss solutions, natural hair care, protective styling, and multicultural cosmetology. While I love creating beautiful hairstyles, my true passion is helping people understand the health of their hair and scalp so they can achieve lasting results—not just a style that looks good for a week or two.
One of the signature experiences that sets my business apart is my Hair & Scalp Analysis. Before recommending products or services, I take the time to evaluate each client’s scalp, hair condition, lifestyle, medical history, and hair goals. Hair tells a story, and I believe it’s my responsibility to identify the root cause of a concern rather than simply treating the symptom. That consultation allows me to create customized treatment plans that educate my clients and help them make informed decisions about their hair health.
Education is truly at the heart of everything I do. I never want my clients to leave my salon wondering what I did or why I recommended a particular service. I believe that when clients understand their hair, they become empowered to care for it properly between appointments. My goal is for every client to leave not only looking more confident but feeling more confident because they now have the knowledge to maintain healthy hair.
Another thing that sets me apart is my commitment to becoming a multicultural beauty professional. Early in my career, I made a promise to myself that I would never turn someone away because I lacked the education or technical skills to work with their hair texture. I wanted to build a career where every client felt welcomed, respected, and cared for regardless of their hair type or background. That commitment continues to drive my passion for continuing education and professional growth.
Beyond the salon, I also developed my own professional hair care line because I wanted products that aligned with my philosophy of healthy hair, scalp wellness, and intentional ingredients. Every product and every service is designed to work together to help clients achieve healthier hair over time instead of relying on temporary solutions.
What I’m most proud of, though, isn’t a particular hairstyle or product—it’s the trust I’ve built with my clients. Hair is deeply personal. It impacts confidence, identity, and how people see themselves. Being trusted to walk alongside someone on their healthy hair journey is something I never take for granted.
At the end of the day, I don’t just want to be known as a hairstylist. I want to be known as an educator, an advocate for healthy hair, and someone who helps people restore confidence from the inside out. As I continue to grow my businesses, my mission remains the same: to build a beauty and wellness empire rooted in education, excellence, integrity, and genuine care for every person who sits in my chair.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
When I think about who deserves credit for my journey, it’s honestly difficult to narrow it down because so many people have poured into me in different ways. I may not have had one formal mentor who walked beside me throughout my career, but I’ve been incredibly blessed to learn from teachers, family, clients, fellow professionals, and even people I’ve admired from afar.
One person who immediately comes to mind is Marie, one of my instructors at Aveda Institute. During school, she challenged me in ways I wasn’t always comfortable with. I remember her calling me a “kitchen beautician,” and at the time, I honestly didn’t appreciate it. Looking back now, I understand she wasn’t trying to tear me down—she was trying to push me beyond what she knew I was capable of. After I graduated and received scholarship opportunities, including recognition surrounding the NAHA competition, she told me, “I saw so much potential in you. That’s why I pushed you the way I did.” That conversation changed how I viewed constructive criticism, and I’ve carried that lesson with me ever since.
Above everyone else, though, my daughter, Jaliejhnae Brown, has been my greatest motivation. I became a mother as a teenager, and in many ways, we grew up together. She gave my life purpose and reminded me that quitting was never an option. Watching her grow into the remarkable young woman she is today has been one of my greatest accomplishments, and she continues to inspire me to become a better woman, mother, and business owner.
My wife, Kendra Spencer, also deserves so much credit. Before she came into my life, I was carrying the weight of everything on my own. Having someone who believes in me, encourages me, challenges me, and reminds me to keep going—even on the days I doubt myself—has been an incredible blessing. Entrepreneurship can be lonely, and having someone in your corner makes all the difference.
I also carry with me the lessons my late father, Isaac J Brown jr, and my late brothers, Joseph Givens and Jerald Hayes, taught me. My father always told me, “Whatever you do, do it well. Put your mind to it and do it.” My brothers taught me resilience and independence. They never allowed me to believe someone else was coming to rescue me—they taught me to work for the life I wanted. Before my brother Jerald passed away, he wanted to invest in my business. I told him I didn’t want his money—I just wanted him to be proud of me. He looked at me and simply said, “I already am.” That conversation is something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.
I’ve also been inspired by women whose careers I’ve followed over the years. Entrepreneurs like Jesseca Dupart- Harris and Courtney Adeleye have shown what’s possible for Black women in the beauty industry. Women like Queen Latifah have demonstrated what it looks like to build a legacy with confidence, authenticity, and purpose. Although I’ve never met many of the people who’ve inspired me, their stories reminded me that success doesn’t have to look one way and that it’s possible to create opportunities where none existed before.
Most importantly, I have to thank my clients, customers, friends and community. They trusted me long before I had all the credentials, long before I had my own product line, and long before I felt like I had everything figured out. Their trust gave me the confidence to keep building.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that sometimes we become so focused on the people who aren’t supporting us that we overlook the people who are quietly cheering us on every single day. When I look back now, I realize I’ve never truly been alone. I’ve been surrounded by people who believed in me, challenged me, prayed for me, encouraged me, and celebrated my success. Every one of them has played a role in helping me become the woman and business owner I am today.

Pricing:

• New client Hair & Scalp analysis + Reset $195- $333
• Ju’Ellz Crown Memberships $265- $350
• Professional Hair care products from $ 12 and up

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.juellzdesignz.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/julyethehairboss and instagram.com/juellzdesignzhaircare
• Facebook: facebook.com/juellzdesignz and facebook.com/juellzdesignzhaircare
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juellzdesignz
• Youtube: Ju’Ellz Designz
• Yelp: Ju’Ellz Designz
• Other: google.com/ juellz designz