Rising Stars: Meet Alathea Reese

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alathea Reese.

Hi Alathea, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started doing hair 20 years ago in Orange County California, most notably at a Toni and Guy salon when their “bedhead” products and trendsetting haircuts were at their peak. From there I eventually ended up in Los Angeles with salon clientele and gig work in film/TV. I fell in love with Detroit after a few visits and decided to move here in 2017. After almost three years of adjustments, dipping my toes in other career paths and continually flying back to LA every 6-8 weeks to maintain my salon clientele the pandemic hit and everything shifted.

I found a space (and the time to fix it up) for my own salon here in Hamtramck and took the plunge. It was risky and I didn’t know how I’d make rent in those early days but things fell into place. Today we are an intimate, chic salon and I’m proud to offer a serene space for another stylist (and one nail artist) to thrive in their business.

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?
It definitely not the smoothest of roads. I opened up in November of 2020 when we were still in deep pandemic mode. I took out a lease on a space without knowing how I’d get a business loan to cover expenses in that first year. It was sink or swim. With the limited in-person social aspect of the pandemic, I had to utilize Instagram and other social media to promote.

Photography, website design, booking platforms, point of sale systems, algorithms, and social media marketing were all things I had to learn and implement myself without the budget for outside help. The physical aspect of transforming that first drab (and a bit dilapidated) storefront into an actual salon was a challenge as well. Fortunately, I had the help of friends for some of the physical tasks and plenty of time during lockdown to learn new skills.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in curly hair, shags, layers, precision cuts, and lived-in color. I strive to have everyone that sits in my chair achieve their hair dreams with the least amount of styling effort, to embrace their natural beauty. I love a wash-and-go style that lays perfectly without any fuss.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
You can do anything you put your mind to.

Pricing:

• Haircuts $60-$90
• Color $85-$300

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.theconversationdetroit.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theconversationdetroit?igsh=MW0wMzdyMjkxaDRwdQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr