Today we’d like to introduce you to NisaRenee Collins.
Hi NisaRenee, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in the beauty industry. My parents have always been by biggest inspirations . My mother, Renee Wiggs had been licensed since I’ve been in this world. I grew up working in her salons. While in high school it was important to my parents that I picked up a trade, so while in high school I obtained my 90hrs in early childhood education and my Cosmetology license. Education has always been an important part of my life, and choosing to pursue business in college and cosmetology as a career came with the commitment to learn all I could in this field. In 99 my parents and I opened a full service salon together in owings mills Mall where we not only thrived but helped generations of new stylist grow and build. I went on to do hair for various publications, artist, and product companies. My parents relocated to Florida to retire and I relocated to NY continuing to do hair for various companies and artist and in this mist fell in love with teaching. Working with different cosmetology schools and product companies, has opened my eyes to soo many aspects of this industry. In 2018 I relocated back to Maryland met my husband and chose to go into the public school sector teaching cosmetology, all along still servicing my clients here and in zNY that have been with me since the beginning. I love this industry an am always looking for ways to encourage the next generation. This field has been life changing for me and so I started Curls On Call, which started out as a mobile service, where I’d primarily do weddings and hiring independent stylist and makeup artist, giving them ways to make some additional money from behind the chair. Now I’m opening a Curls On Call physical location in Reisterstown Md. Where my focus will be training up new stylist to help make that transition from school to workforce smoother. To give them the tools to succeed in a field that has truly blessed me. A place where professionalism and education thrives.
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?
Nothing great comes without its challenges. I came back to Maryland right before Covid hit. When people were being played off, businesses were closing, I still was able to rely on my clients. I thank my parents for that push to get a trade, If Covid didn’t teach us anything else , it taught us that you can’t rely on corporate America to have your back. That you need to always have a way to sustain and take care of yourself, because these jobs are not guaranteed. I love teaching at a vocational school, because I understand the importance of education and the importance of having options.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a Maryland Licensed Senior Cosmetologist, Certified Trichologist, and a Baltimore County Licensed public School Teacher. I specialize in Hair loss & restoration, color, and color correction. I have clients that travel to me from all over for those specialties. I teach cosmetology in school, in salon. And for various product companies. I am most proud of my education. I love everything about this field and I pride myself as a forever student as my grandmother would say. I don’t just do hair, I want you as a consumer, as a future or current professional to understand why it does what it does, why a product works for this person and not for that person. I want to help future professionals learn that they don’t have to sacrifice professionalism for creativity. I want to be an asset to my industry because it has blessed my life and my family’s lives.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Helping to build up a knowledgeable, professional next generation of cosmetologist is what matters to me. Yes traditional education is important, but it should be paired with passion, and natural and learned skills, otherwise it’s just a piece of paper that millions have, and unless you keep paying for the next piece of paper you may find yourself lost in a sea. That trade schools are really the back bone of this country and that they maintain you when these jobs don’t.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Curlsoncall.com
- Instagram: Curlsoncall
- Facebook: Curls On Call
