Rising Stars: Meet Letoshia Howard-Simmons

Today we’d like to introduce you to Letoshia Howard-Simmons. 

Hi Letoshia, 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?
Always having a passion for beauty at a young age, my sister and I would do each other’s hair. Being raised by a hard-working single mother we did not always have the luxury of going to the salon to get our hair done. So, we did our hair on the toilet seat (lid down of course) in the bathroom. From back to school, picture day, even homecoming I have always loved doing hair and being creative. In 2009 I decided to push my passion and go to cosmetology school. After completing the program at Vanity School of Cosmetology in less than a year I landed my first job as a beginner stylist at JC Penney’s styling Salon. Over the course of the next 3 plus years, I was blessed to be offered a number of continuing education classes from product knowledge with Affirm/Keracare, Redken, Matrix color classes to any and every haircutting class I could get my hands on. Whatever JCP offered, I attended. Before leaving I was promoted to Master Stylist. The more I learned the more confident I became and realized that I could be a successful independent contractor. With this title under my belt, I stepped out on my own as a booth renter at a local salon. Within a year I went into partnership with a stylist friend and co-founded Healthy Hair and Styles in June of 2014. Starting off working only 3 days a week and still in the mind frame of a booth renter, I continued to grind and was determined to be successful. In 2017 my business partner and I parted ways and I decided to stay at Healthy Hair and Styles. At this point, I was wayyyyy over my head! Questioning my passion for several months I ended up at an Ashtae class at a salon nearby and learned so much more than product knowledge and technique. The CFO of Ashtae challenged me to want and push for more. That very day I began using and retailing their products. The product income was a plus due to the fact that I was in the salon alone. Since that time, I have taken over 25 continuing education classes (hands-on, In-Class, virtual), my clientele has grown at least 30 percent, and I now have 3 amazing booth renting stylists and an awesome assistant. As a wife and mother of 4 I am still pushing my passion and loving it every step of the way. Not only do I provide hair care services for my clients with all hair types I take pride in encouraging, uplifting, praying, and motivating each and every client that sits in my chair. I believe that every client can have Healthy Hair and Style! 

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?
With most things, there will always be some obstacles along the way. Being in the salon alone made me question if I was in my purpose. The feeling of being defeated made me want to just quit working as a hairstylist and get a job. When my business partner and I decided to part ways, I was so far over my head that I was just in the motion of doing what I had to do to continue to help support my family. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a local salon owner in my small town of Lorain, Ohio. I work behind the chair, as well as being an educator, and of course, taking care if my small business. I specialize in Health Hair; I love love love being able to give people Healthy Hair and Style. It’s the best of both worlds. I am most proud of the fact that my clients can depend on and trust me as their stylist knowing that I will always do what’s best for the hair. My passion sets me apart from others. The passion that I have is what pushes me to do more and better. The passion is what makes me continue to do more and more education, so I can bring that knowledge into the salon and pass it along to my clients and stylist friends. 

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can support Healthy Hair and Styles by continuing to spreading the word about our salon, like us on social media, and reviews on social media and google. 

Contact Info:

• Email: toshiah2s@gmail.com
• Website: healthyhairandstyles.godaddysites.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthy_hair_and_styles/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HealthyHairandStyles/