Rising Stars: Meet Joy Harris of Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joy Harris.

Hi Joy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
When I look back over my life, I realize that so much of who I am today was shaped by experiences I never imagined would become part of my story. My journey has been one of perseverance, sacrifice, faith, reinvention, and learning that sometimes life has to take you in an entirely different direction for you to discover what else is inside of you.

My love for the beauty industry began with my own personal struggles with self-image and confidence. Growing up, I didn’t always feel beautiful or comfortable in my own skin. What started as a desire to feel beautiful eventually became a passion for helping other women see the beauty in themselves.

I went on to spend 33 years as a professional hairstylist, eventually becoming a salon owner and entrepreneur. During those years, I wore many hats. I navigated a difficult marriage that eventually ended in divorce, became a single mother, cared for my aging mother, operated my salon, and even ventured into the catering business. I was determined to make things work, provide for my family, and create a better life for us.

But carrying so many responsibilities came with a price.

Like many women, I became very good at showing up for everyone else, even when I was running on empty myself. I was juggling motherhood, business ownership, caregiving, and the everyday challenges of life. There were seasons when I was physically exhausted, emotionally drained, and still pushing forward because I felt I had no other choice.

Eventually, I had to come to terms with the fact that I couldn’t continue carrying everything. I had to learn how to release some things, make difficult decisions, and understand that letting go didn’t mean I had failed. Sometimes it simply meant I was making room to survive, heal, and grow.

After more than three decades behind the chair, the physical wear and tear of the beauty industry had begun taking its toll on my body. When the pandemic arrived, it became a turning point in my life. I was faced with the difficult reality that it was time to retire from the profession I had known for most of my adult life.

That was not an easy decision. Hairstyling wasn’t just what I did; it had been a major part of my identity. For the first time in a very long time, I found myself wondering what life would look like without the career I had spent so many years building.

I didn’t have all the answers. I didn’t even know what I was going to do next. But deep down, I knew there was still more inside of me.

During that same season, my son and I made another life-changing decision. We packed up our lives, stepped out on faith, and moved away from everything familiar to give ourselves an opportunity for a fresh start. We didn’t know exactly what was waiting on the other side, but we believed there was something more for both of us.

My journey also included becoming disabled, which brought another set of challenges and adjustments. There were things I could no longer do the way I once had, and I had to learn to accept a different pace of life. But one thing I refused to accept was the idea that my circumstances meant I no longer had anything valuable to contribute to the world.

I had spent so many years taking care of others, encouraging women, listening to their stories, and helping them navigate life’s challenges. I began to recognize that perhaps the very experiences I had lived through were preparing me for something greater.

So, in my fifties, I stepped out on faith once again and pursued my certification in life coaching.

That decision opened the door to an entirely new chapter. Today, I am the founder of Joyfull Connections Life Coaching, where I serve as a Personal Development Strategist Coach for beauty professionals. I use my 33 years of industry experience, along with the lessons I’ve learned through my personal journey, to help beauty professionals look beyond the chair and become more intentional about their lives, businesses, and futures.

I’m passionate about changing the culture behind the chair, particularly the mindset that overworking, burnout, and sacrificing your physical and emotional well-being are simply part of being successful in the beauty industry. I want beauty professionals to understand that they can build successful careers without losing themselves in the process. I encourage them to think about financial wellness, healthier business practices, personal development, and preparing for the day they may no longer want or be able to work behind the chair.

As I continue building my coaching business virtually, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with some incredible people, build meaningful relationships, and discover new possibilities I never would have imagined for myself years ago.

One of my greatest joys has also been watching my son step into his own purpose. The little boy I worked so hard to raise as a single mother is now a Cincinnati firefighter/Paramedic and I couldn’t be prouder to be a firefighter mom. Looking at where we started and seeing where life has brought us today reminds me that every sacrifice, every difficult decision, and every leap of faith was part of a much bigger journey.

And the beautiful thing is, I’m still growing.

At 58 years old, I can genuinely say that I have never felt more present in my own life. I’ve never experienced this level of peace, self-awareness, or appreciation for the woman I’ve become. I’m discovering gifts, talents, and abilities that I didn’t even realize I possessed. Sometimes I surprise myself with the things I’m learning and the things I’m capable of creating.

I’m also exploring new creative opportunities through The Beauty Gallery by Joy Harris, which allows me to express another side of myself through artistic vision and visual storytelling.

For so many years, my life revolved around what needed to be done, who needed me, and how I was going to make everything work. Today, I’m finally experiencing what it feels like to be fully present for myself, to pursue things that bring me joy, and to build a life that reflects who I am now, not just who I used to be.

I don’t look at my past with regret. Every obstacle, disappointment, sacrifice, and unexpected turn taught me something about resilience. I’ve learned that starting over doesn’t mean starting from nothing. Sometimes you’re starting with decades of wisdom, experience, and strength that you didn’t even realize you had accumulated.

My life certainly hasn’t been without challenges, but I refused to allow those challenges to write the ending of my story.

At 58, I’m not trying to get back to the woman I used to be. I’m embracing the woman I’ve become, and I’m excited about the woman I’m still becoming.

If my journey has taught me anything, it’s that life doesn’t stop offering you possibilities because you’ve reached a certain age, experienced setbacks, or had to close a chapter you thought would last forever.

Sometimes the most beautiful chapters of your life begin when you finally have the courage to turn the page.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been a smooth road but a necessary road, there were lots of losses and lots of hard decisions, like when I had to make the decision to close my salon business and my catering business to care for my ailing mother who eventually passed away I had to get used to being divorced while raising a son on my own and grieving I lost my home other things I had worked so hard for but I still kept the faith because I knew that I wasn’t finished yet.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am proud of the 33 years I spent in the beauty industry! And I’m proud of the pivot I had to make in my life entering a cohort to become a certified life coach, I love working with beauty professionals to help them elevate themselves emotionally mentally and business-wise, I want to make a shift in the beauty industry where hair stylist no longer are in hustle culture but working smarter and not harder as they are incorporating and creating other forms of income streams, and planning better for when they make their exit from behind the chair, and to preserve their health, something that I learned a little too late. I feel like what sets me apart is my ability to care, being a non-judgmental person, my ability to love people without conditions and how I’m always cheering and always supporting the betterment of others, I love how easily people open up to me and they share their stories their pains their challenges with me and they feel comfortable and they always feel like I help them solved a problem and I make them feel seen and heard people always tell me that I make them feel relevant in my communication skills are one of my other strong suits.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
When I love best about my city is that is a melting pot of people from all different cultures! I love that we have the Cincinnati Bengals stadium and also soccer stadium, all the beautiful historic buildings and murals that are on the buildings the beautiful parks and it’s a very wonderful eating metropolis perfect for foodie, when I like the least is the traffic sometimes, then they’re really high crime areas which is not everywhere but certain areas but otherwise is so beautiful and amazing here.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.joyfullconnections.com
• Instagram: Joyfullconnectionslifecoaching
• Facebook: Joy Harris