Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimyata Hawthorne.
Hi Kimyata, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am the product of a hard-working, two-parent household. From a young age, I was always told “no one owes you anything and if you want it, it’s yours to take. So, I knew whatever I wanted I could obtain. My journey started watching my now 100-year-old grandmother (btw is still LIVING) do hair in the kitchen just to make ends meet. The way the women felt after their service, I knew then I wanted to be a Cosmetologist. 16 years in the field has allowed me to touch many people lives. I opened Hair Love Beauty Salon 5 years ago to be a place where women can come, relax, take a break from the outside world all while receiving A1 service. While servicing clients and listening to stories I began to realize there was a gap in my community that needed to be filled. Many stories included how residents didn’t have access to certain resources or basic needs. It sparked a new passion in me for Community Development. With Hair love Beauty being located in downtown Lorain, Ohio I knew I could get resources to those who needed it. I also use my platform to get the information out to the community from jobs to training, to transportation, camps, food banks, and much more. In the middle of the pandemic, I realized in the black community we weren’t getting information as other communities so I knew I could do something about that which is why I started my non-profit C.A.R.E.S (Communities Allocating Resources Everywhere). While I still love the beauty industry, making sure my community is taken care of has become top the list.
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?
No road is smooth. There was the struggle of working in salons with unprofessionalism and no outreach which prompted me to open Hair Love Beauty. As far as Community Development the challenge I see is not letting someone else’s situation become mine. I think because I am so passionate it’s hard to not let it affect my every day.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Hair Love Beauty Salon is my very first business that has opened the door, my eyes, and passion for all my other businesses. Inside Hair Love Beauty we are a one-stop shop that takes you away from the outside world to peace and tranquility all while being pampered. Hair Love Beauty has allowed me to step into community development and start HLB Media which is a media company that focuses on helping people start, maintain and/or grow their business. HLB Media has sponsored or produced many events focused on business growth and entertainment. Last but not least C.A.R.E.S (Communities Allocating Resources Everywhere) is my non-profit focused on making sure people are getting the resources they are qualified for, education, and training to better their life and situation. What I am most proud of brand-wise, is the non-profit. I feel with this I can help many people not just here in Lorain, Ohio but one day worldwide. I want to be a place or resource people can turn to, to receive help or communication they need to get to the next step. Kimyata Hawthorne just might be the BRAND.
We’d love to hear about what you think about risk-taking?
Risk-taking is a part of being an entrepreneur. You will win and you will fail but looking at your failure as a win is the difference in a lot of people. I look at it all as wins. One may get you to the finish line sooner the other may give you a detour, but you keep going and learn something new on every stop. Without risk there is no reward.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hairlovebeauty.com
- Instagram: @kimyata_hawthorne, @hairlovebeautyllc, and @hlbmedia2
- Facebook: Kimyata Hawthorne Hair Love Beauty
Image Credits
Anichole Photography
