Taylor Danielle is a 27-year-old serial entrepreneur. She received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Spelman College and a master cosmetology license from Aveda Institute Atlanta.
In 2017, Danielle opened Taylord Styles Beauty Loft, a boutique salon specializing in hair, makeup, lash extensions and nails. She is passionate about empowering women, whether that be by making them look beautiful on the outside or feel beautiful on the inside.
She spoke with rolling out about the challenges of opening her business and shares advice for other entrepreneurs.
How did you get into the beauty industry?
It all started in my mom’s kitchen when I was in high school. That’s when I knew I wanted to do hair. From there, I went to Spelman College in Atlanta and then to Aveda Institute to get my master cosmetology license. I opened a suite shortly after, and soon after was able to open my dream full-service salon.
What was the driving force behind creating your salon?
I wanted to recreate the old-school beauty salon atmosphere. I feel like as a whole our industry has lost the salon networking and pampering and just [the] overall culture of the beauty salon experience, so I wanted to bring back those vibes with a relaxing, open-floor concept to recultivate those vibes.
What services do you offer?
We offer hair, makeup, lashes and nail services. We [are] also retail[ing] some small business beauty brands as well as hosting events and renting our space for parties and pop up shops.
What has been the biggest challenge in opening your salon?
The biggest challenge has been stabilizing my business model. I didn’t know anyone who owned a salon in the structure that I wanted, so everything has been trial and error. I’ve started out doing things that I now don’t do and developed new things that I never thought of before. I’m constantly trying to perfect my model.
What sets your business apart from others in the market?
What sets us apart is the fact that we are a fresh approach to an old-school concept. We pride oursel[ves] in delivering the most professional experience as possible, and our clients appreciate that. We also offer a complimentary cocktail that is exclusive to our salon called “Glam Juice” that is our own secret recipe. That definitely sets us apart.
What advice do you have for female entrepreneurs looking to follow in your footsteps?
My advice to new entrepreneurs is to have a plan and map out every angle before you get started. It’s important to be at least mentally prepared for your plan going a few different ways. That way no situation can break your motivation. Understand that there are “a million ways to get to Walmart,” and be comfortable and mentally prepared for having to take another route.
