How Asha Downes got started with an organic business of hair coaching that is based on research and acceptance of self
Discover the ways Asha Downes turned her natural hair experiences into an educational-based business of coaching that is centered around radical kindness as well as the science of self-love and.
From a young age, Asha Downes dreamed of having hair with a long length. She enjoyed playing hairdresser with her friends and playing around with different styles However, she was advised repeatedly that it was impossible to build her hair Afro-like texture in the lengths she desired.
The world was transformed drastically after Asha was in the final stages of her teenage years. When she was browsing YouTube she saw a creator with her identical hairstyle and naturally long hair. Although everyone said it couldn't be done, the creator's hair was in good condition and was filled with nutrients. Asha was aware that if she could accomplish it, she should be able too.
Presently, Asha runs Naturally High Hair, a company that helps other women grow their natural hair through personalized mentorship and info-packed seminars . Asha has been awarded the 2022 Fall Creator Fellowship, and we were wowed by her exemplary, complete approach to caring for clients. Additionally she's on track to achieve the highest level of the field of trichology in order to increase the knowledge she has gained in her field of expertise.
This is the tale of how Asha made her love for hair into a coaching, educational and coaching company that's changing hairstyles of women and their lives in a positive way.
Making a passion-driven project a authentic business that is based on authenticity
When Asha began to research healthy hair and natural ways to take care of it, she wasn't alone. Many women from around the globe were also documenting their own hair-care experiences. In her remarks "This was before YouTube was the internet-based commercial platform we have now, and people were sharing their advice, recipes experiences, and even triumphs."
"It was a real eye opener to hear the sheer number of Black women talking about the issue in a group, even though we're all situated in different regions of the world. This is a common experience that's now got an official designation: "The naturally-haired movement."
If Asha decided to share her own story She was attracted to YouTube because it was where other creators had already been spending time. "I was joining with them," she explains. "I was not sure the direction I was taking. I was looking to see if I was part of the action."
Through her YouTube channel, Asha documented everything she encountered on her journey to discover and relearn how to take the proper treatment of her hair. It was an obsession that became a passion-driven project as well. Asha was focused on sharing her true personality. People loved watching when she told her story as she grew older, and over time, her YouTube channel as well as her Instagram profile have increased in popularity.
"While I was recording my journey in the beginning I was not absorbing the number of views or subscribers," she recalls. "It was a platform for me to share my journey of my hair. People found it interesting and began to follow."
The more Asha's reach on social media was growing, her process of creating got more organized, and she brainstormed future sources for her followers.
Meanwhile, Asha was working full-time as a freelancer while being a resident in various cities throughout Europe. Asha was looking for jobs that dealt with hair and for large companies, but they all didn't feel the way she wanted to be.
Asha began her career as filmmaker, aiming to share her story of personal experiences. The videos she made with her upbeat, transparent voice attracted attention from people and she realized that she could be a significant influence. The knowledge she gained about the possibilities of monetization could allow her to invest in her followers and expand her expertise. In her mind, this idea was evolving from a hobby to a business opportunity If she was able to give her complete attention. Once that was done, everything seemed to be in order.
Asha was on a trip to the Caribbean during the time the pandemic caused global lockdowns. With no place to go, and a lot of time left this seemed like an ideal time to dive into.
"There was no opportunity to get in for me to pursue what I was passionate about perform. The lockdown was the time that I could be myself that I decided I would create my own possibilities."
And Asha went to work.
The potential of a simple launch
Asha initially intended to sell cosmetics for her hair, but she was invited by a mentor who viewed her web presence, which was a huge one. He suggested that she provide customized consultations instead. The advice was accompanied by the difficulty of sourcing products due to the global pandemic caused Asha to go digital.
Her first product was a 1-on-1 regimen-building session. The question was what customers ' reactions would be as a product. That is why she created an easy launch strategy. She created the Typeform application, and posted her URL via Instagram along with an explanation of her coaching services.
"I disclosed what I was doing and encouraged applicants to consider applying," she shares. "I received more than 200 applications. They were only applying to be coached by me, so they didn't have to pay However, they provided me their email addresses and talked about their concerns about hair. They then contacted me and included a booking link."
It's an excellent way to assess an idea with out having to pay a significant amount upfront. Asha has made her product affordable and gauged how much interest the product was receiving from its target public.
With the help of these applications, they assisted her in understanding the demands of her clients in their own words and helped build her mailing lists. The people who thought they were a perfect match would become her first clients, and she demonstrated that the idea was feasible prior to spending hours and millions of dollars for the launch of an extensive campaign.
Asha began to meet with clients, but she realized quickly that the demands of clients' deeper than simply recommending products and formulating customized hair care routines.
"I found that this work requires much more than selecting the best products and styles. You'll need to be thinking differently."
"There's an under-current linkage between self-acceptance and having your hair thick and healthy at first. The hair you have remains alive until it is eliminated. It's dead hair. It's not possible to make it come back. therefore, whatever you do to your hair the hair's memories will influence its future."
Based on this knowledge, Asha shifted to a more holistic look and focuses on accepting hairstyles as well as self-love .
"One of the fundamental tenets of my program is the idea of absolute kindness. If you wish to feel gentle with your hair, then you must to accept it. Take it slowly and accept that you have at a particular style. I realized there's this connection with self-acceptance which is both profound and gentle as well as preserving hair to allow it to grow."
Paying attention to the comments of clients has helped Asha to expand the scope of her coaching curriculum and set the direction of her business overall. As she continued to work with customers, Asha realized that one-off coaching was helpful for proactive clients who already were happy in their haircuts. But, it wasn't effective for those that needed to take responsibility for their actions.
It inspired her to design an extensive coaching program called Longer Lengths(tm) that provides constant support for a prolonged time while helping clients build healthy hair mindsets and habits.
Today more Lengths(tm) is her signature offering of coaching and the primary method she employs to working with individuals on the basis of a one-on-one basis. If you have clients at different stages in their hair development, Asha provides the 90-minute Grow Your'Fro Long Hair course. .
Asha offers her online crash course as an on-demand service which lets customers have a quick win anytime they want, and she will also take larger groups of Lengths(tm) customers on a couple of times each year.
The deliberate mix of these courses is a good option to entrepreneurs offering coaching. Self-service solutions are cheaper and expandable. They give your customers the ability to talk with you prior to investing in a larger amount. Higher-end 1:1 programs are great for those who want to have a more intimate interaction. With both options, it's possible to reach many greater numbers of people who are within your target audience.
In the next part in the next installment, we'll examine Asha's approach to overcoming challenges as well as maintaining a profitable company that is in line to her enthusiasm for her work and the demands of her clients.
Advice from Asha to help you get rid from obstacles
Each business is prone to encountering its own difficulties, but Asha is able to overcome the challenges head-on. The secret to her success? Get help from experts, fight the imposter syndrome and tap on your individuality.
Helping others can save time.
"I know that I don't know everything."
"I am aware that I don't know the entirety of what is available... A consultation with an expert will help me to sort through the confusion and helps me avoid spending time. So, I place my highest importance on this type of knowledge."
Do you need assistance for your business but don't know how to begin?
Get evidence to tackle imposter syndrome head on
Keep an optimistic track. "I keep a record of the positive accomplishments I have made," Asha elaborates. "I have a list of my accomplishments, so I can train your brain to concentrate on the positive aspects of my life."
To keep your own excellent track record You must create an account for your personal computer, in which you can save five-star reviews and notes of appreciation from clients. If you're feeling low or uncertain, open your account and think of the awesome person you are.
The second stage is to become an authority on your field of expertise. According to Asha, "Another way to battle imposter syndrome is to become completely obsessed with what you're providing. I'm fine with being obsessive about certain things until other people think it's odd. I've got a huge collection of information about hair. I'm always reading regarding hair, as well as doing studies on hair."
Investigating your area of expertise and learning more about it can ease the anxiety. It is possible to do this via individual research, training in the field, or purchasing higher education qualifications like those of Asha .
In her conversation with her accountability mentor concerning the incident, they realized there was no information available, which made it difficult to film at the time The storyline for the video was not entirely formulated, and its goal wasn't clearly defined. After she had defined the goals and revisited the video with adjustments and modifications and adjustments, the being a fraud diminished.
Now, Asha asks herself, "How do I plan the project so that even if I'm experiencing those feelings, I still feel at ease? The reason I decided to create this video? And what would I like viewers to achieve after watching it? If I am able to answer this query, it's much more easy to accept any pain I'm experiencing."
In simple terms, the condition of imposter is normal for creators however it does not have to be a source of concern. According to Asha describes it "The great thing about dealing with this issue is that it allows you to become a person who isn't afraid to step out of fear."
Take advantage of the qualities that make you unique
Embrace the characteristics that make your business stand out as a creative. Certain traits or skills set could differentiate you from others and provide you with more potential customers.
"Apply yourself and go for the best," Asha says. "And keep applying yourself to other fields for a unique approach on whatever you're working on. For instance I also offer advice for German as well as Spanish."
Asha is also a researcher with a professional background. This adds to her writing a unique science-based flavor.
"Don't focus too much on the details of what other players in the space are doing. Find your own way to stand out and continue to strengthen your own strengths to help you to stand apart."
By asking for help in getting over imposter syndrome, and by sharing your unique skills and traits, you'll be on the way towards building a business that you're satisfied with .
"Follow your heart's desires. I'm extremely happy that I created this program that involves acceptance of oneself compassion, the ability to empathize, hair science, scientific research into cosmetics, accountable and nutrition, in addition to styling and health and to blend everything together."
This post was posted on here