Rising Stars: Meet LaDashea Oakley of Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to LaDashea Oakley.

Hi LaDashea, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always had a passion for hair since I was a little girl, There’s something incredibly special about helping people feel beautiful, empowered, and like the best version of themselves. What started as a love for hair has grown into a career that I truly cherish. Over the years, I’ve especially fallen in love with bridal hairstyling. Being apart of such an important day and helping brides feel their absolute best is something I never take for granted.

Outside of my career, family is at the heart of everything I do. My boyfriend, Dallas, has been an incredible support system, and becoming a bonus mom to my stepkids, Amiyah and Amari, has been one of the greatest blessings in my life. They inspire me every day to work hard, lead with love, and appreciate life’s little moments. I’m also incredibly grateful for my mom, dad, brother, sister, niece, and nephew, who have always supported and encouraged me throughout my journey.

I’ve experienced losses that have deeply shaped who I am today. My mamaw was one of the most important people in my life, and I continue to carry her strength, kindness, and unconditional love with me every day. Losing my best friend, Kaitlyn, was one of the hardest experiences I’ve ever faced. She was such a significant part of my life from childhood all the way to adulthood, she taught me so much about cherishing every moment, loving deeply, and living life with purpose. Through those losses, I’ve learned not to take a single day for granted and to truly value the relationships and memories we create with the people we love and living life with purpose and gratitude.

My journey hasn’t been without challenges, but every experience both joyful and difficult has helped shape the person I am today. I feel incredibly fortunate to have built a career doing something I love while creating meaningful connections with my clients. For me, hairstyling is about so much more than hair it’s about helping people feel confident, cared for, and beautiful while building a life centered around family, love, gratitude, and purpose.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. One of the biggest struggles was self-doubt wondering if I was really ready or good enough to step out on my own and leave the stability of commission work behind. Moving from a commission stylist to an independent stylist was a huge mindset shift. On commission, a lot is handled for you walk-ins, structure, steady flow. Going independent meant I had to build everything myself, my clientele, my schedule, my confidence, and even trusting my prices and my worth. There were moments of fear too being nervous about slow days, wondering if I made the right decision, and stepping way outside my comfort zone when it came to marketing myself and fully owning my craft. But even with all of that, it’s been worth it. The growth, the freedom, and the ability to build something that’s truly mine has made every struggle part of the journey, not something that held me back.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in bridal styling, vivid colors, and lived-in color and I looove reds. I love being able to switch between soft, timeless bridal looks and bold, creative color transformations it keeps my work fun and lets me really express different sides of my artistry. Bridal work is definitely one of my biggest passions. Being part of someone’s wedding day is something I don’t take lightly. I focus on creating looks that last all day, photograph beautifully, and still feel like you.

What I’m most proud of is honestly myself choosing to believe in my talent and stepping out to build something I’ve always dreamed of. Going from doubt and comfort zones into a space where I’m fully independent has been a huge accomplishment for me.

What sets me apart is that I really care about the full experience, everything is customized no appointment is the same, It’s not just about doing hair or makeup for me it’s about helping people feel confident, seen, and beautiful when they leave my chair. I put a lot of intention into my work, my consultations, and making sure every client feels like their look was created specifically for them, not just a trend.

Any big plans?
In the future, I definitely have a couple of exciting things in the works, I’m still in the process of shaping all the details. I also see teaching cosmetology in my future , I’m always in a mindset of growth and learning, and I really want to continue elevating not only my skill set, but the overall experience my clients have when they sit in my chair. I’m looking forward to adding more services that expand what I can offer things that allow me to be a more well rounded artist and give my clients even more options in one place, I want to continue building something intentional and highend, where every client feels taken care of from start to finish. I’m focused on growth, consistency, and creating an experience that feels elevated, relaxing, and personalized every time.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Makeoverswithdasheao @Foursznbridalmoments
• Facebook: La Dashea Oakley