Today we’d like to introduce you to Dani Leigh.
Hi Dani, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
Hi! I’m Danielle. At the age of 16, I enrolled in cosmetology school at Northview High School in Sylvania where I would spend the next two years obtaining a cosmetology license. Immediately after graduating high school and taking my state boards, I enrolled in college for business. Unfortunately, hair salons were really difficult about my limited availability so it pushed me into doing nails instead of hair at a local nail salon where I was a consistent customer. After 2 years of employment, I moved on to working at regal nails and still going to school. My boss decided to sell the salon after I had been working there a year, and I asked my dad if he would consider purchasing it so I could manage. After 3 long months of working 7 days open to close my dad finally took me serious enough to buy regal nails. 2 years later, I became pregnant with my daughter Mia and decided I didn’t see her enough because I was constantly at the salon. I wanted to be in a field more related to my business degree from Lourdes. I soon enrolled in real estate school, left regal nails, and sold 50 houses my first year licensed. I became a manager of a team of agents 6 months into my career. I eventually moved to Danberry and have been there now for 4 years and have been in the presidents’ sales club every year since being licensed. During Covid, I decided to study and get licensed in Michigan as well. Soon after passing the test, I decided that I missed having a salon. After laying in bed contemplating “Glossed up by Dani leigh” came about and now has been open for a year! Glossed up is a full nail salon with lashes and waxing with 7 full-time employees who are like family. 7 months after opening glossed up, “Dolled up by Dani Leigh” got started a hair, makeup, lashes, and boutique salon. During this time “beauty by Dani leigh” got created and I now have a full makeup line sold in both salons! I’m now in the process of opening my 3rd location which is a glossed-up II. Another nail salon.
I’m still full-time in real estate and average over 7 million dollars a year in overall volume. I have a 9-year-old daughter Mia and a supportive fiancé named nic. Luckily my parents Larry and Dianne are very supportive also and have made many sacrifices to help me achieve what I have. My aunt Lynn has also always been very helpful with my busy schedule.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would be lying if I said it was easy. There’s been a lot of sleepless nights, tears, questioning if I could handle the pressure. In both real estate and the beauty industry there are almost daily issues. Along with being a parent and making sure I’m taking time to be with my daughter who is truly my main priority. After years of trying to do everything myself I now have great managers, a reliable assistant, and family willing to help when needed. Sometimes you have to realize you can’t do everything yourself!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Even though the salons are my businesses and my brand. My daily life consists of selling houses. That is truly where my skill set is best used. I used to specialize in first-time home buyers, and now am 50% on the listing side. Meaning I have the sign in the yard instead of having the buyer. What sets me apart from other agents is my negotiation skills and my drive to complete transactions and problem solve. There is always a way to get things done! I would have to say I was very proud hitting nearly 7 million dollars in 2021 while having glossed up, building dolled up, and creating my beauty line. It was a ton of work and a hard emotional year but 2022 seems to already be looking even better!
What does success mean to you?
To me success isn’t about the bottom dollar, it’s not monetary anymore. When I was young my thoughts of success were a nice house, a nice car, new purses, and clothes. Truthfully, I bought my dream car at the age of 25. I made my first 6 figures when I was 26, and bought a nice house and whatever designer items I wanted. Now success to me is being able to take time off to go to every one of my daughter’s basketball games and come home to my family at night. And take vacations with them. To me, success is freedom.
Contact Info:
- Email: Beautybydanileigh@gmail.com
- Website: Beautybydanileigh.com and Glossedupnailbar.com
- Instagram: Miss_dani_leigh
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielle.leigh.942
