We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Paige Dougar a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Paige, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I found my purpose through doing hair. When I first started doing hair, I was in it for the money mostly, like every other stylist. What changed it for me was a conversation I had with one of my clients. She came in, sat down and said “I don’t know why I feel the need to tell you this but I really need some help.” From then, regardless of where I’m at, from Uber rides to random people in the grocery store talking to me, I’m always finding myself at a point where there’s something that I can give them through this interaction. I never looked back since .
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m 27, born and raised in Milwaukee, WI and a proud Taurus ( may baby). I have two beautiful children. Josiah (9) and Jadore (4) who I believe came in my life at times where I needed love from people in general. In highschool I was a band major. I play the flute. For my 8th grade graduation, I was gifted my own flute by my band teacher for winning all of the solo competitions throughout high school which I still have present day. In 2017, I decided to sacrifice everything and take a bet on myself by moving to Dallas, TX all by myself . There I met a sister I never knew I had on my fathers side who accepted me with open arms into her home until I was able to move out on my own. I think almost every 3-6 months I had a new job. I was working at warehouses, call centers , inside the mall, dispatching you name it! Anything I could get my hands on I did it. The hustle in me never stopped but I was never satisfied working for a company. There was something in me who wanted more and it wasn’t about the money. What got me into hair was, I was working at IKEA. I was a cashier at the time and there were two ladies who came to my line and just LOVED everything about me. My looks, personality, tattoos everything. The initial transaction of information between us, was for me to be a model for their new shop they were opening up. She was an advocate for Locs and natural hair and at the time I had this big beautiful aFRO. Fast forward, once she reached out to me , I was actually for me to become a stylist at one of her shops. Not knowing anything about hair, I still took the position anyways because there was training available. That was 2018. From then until current time 2023
I’ve gained thousands of clients from Dallas to Los Angeles . The biggest thing about staying in something for so long is knowing your purpose in it. It stopped becoming about hair and just about the experience I’m creating and the interactions I’m having with every person I meet.
March of 2024, I will be launching one on one classes teaching people who already do Locs and just want to know more about them, or people who don’t know anything about hair at all, everything about Locs. From basic fundamentals to styling to just identifying hair types and textures. There will also be another service being provided but I don’t want to say anything until everything is set in stone but it’s going to take the experience up! Stay tuned
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Top 3 skills and knowledge would be Patience
Always be willing to learn
And being YOU!
Early on, it is easy to get lost in the money because it’s such a fast paced career . There’s no rush! Take your time ! Learn your clients & the people around you. Always be willing to pick up things from videos or people or places to be able to add to your clients experience. Be creative ! Most people will come sit in your chair and have no idea what they want to do or where they want to go with their hair and will leave it completely in your hands. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF ! You can make anything happen .
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
TAKE TIME ! When I first started I genuinely felt like I HAD to accept everything and every one, as if I couldn’t say no. It’s ok to say you don’t have time and maybe another day . Self care is extremely important. Most times I miss eating all day because it’s back to back clients . Take that lunch by yourself, go get a massage, go sit in nature, turn your phone off and just live . It’s extremely reviving and important.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.schedulicity.com/scheduling/LL2GD6E
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/lovelylocs22?igshid=YzAwZjE1ZTI0Zg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Image Credits
Me and my sister Josiah Jadore Me and ducey My first salon
