This Louisiana Native Is Using Her ‘Growing Hands’ To Grow Her Brand & Raise Up Other Black Women

As the saying goes, a woman’s hair is her crown and hairstylist Ayanna Amar wants her clients to rock theirs with pride. That’s why she opened her Hairology salon in Louisiana. 

[SEE ALSO: How To Tap Into Your Beauty Brand’s Superpower – And Make More Money]

For the past four years, Amar has made it her mission to help Black women build their confidence by achieving healthy, natural hair through her coloring and styling services. The Baton Rouge native is also using her styling talents to grow her brand with her Growing and Glowing Hair Growth Oil.

Since launching last August, it has become an essential part of many of her clients’ haircare regimens and in-high demand. And, even in the midst of the pandemic, she was able to acquire a new salon space in December and grow from a salon of one to bringing on a second hairstylist and a makeup artist.

“Hairology is now a one-stop shop,” Amar announced in a recent Instagram post celebrating the move and new artists.

We recently sat down with Amar to discuss her brand’s glow up and the impact of seeing a Black woman owning a business. 

— Lara Ashley

SADIAA: What inspired you to start your own business?
AYANNA AMAR: My mom. When I worked for a salon, it wasn’t the best experience. I complained about it all the time! From there, my mom told me to step out on faith and do my own thing. I listened to her, stepped out, and started Hairology. 

SADIAA: What is your hair speciality?
AYANNA: I do a lot of silk presses and colors. I cater to natural hair. 

SADIAA: What do you think makes your business stand out?
AYANNA: I care for my clients. I genuinely want their hair to be healthy. I’m not in this industry for money; I’m in this for my passion. I want them to look good and for them to take care of their hair. 

SADIAA: You also launched your own hair growth serum with ingredients like black seed, grapeseed and castor oils. Can you share the inspo behind that?
AYANNA: My clients would always tell me I have ‘growing hands,’ referring to their hair growth. I wanted to create something that would help my clients’ healthy hair journey become more effective when they are not in the salon. The Hairology Growing and Glowing Oil is essential for women’s hair because it promotes hair growth. helps with hair loss, and strengthens weak hair. It’s very lightweight and can be used daily.

SADIAA: Did you experience any challenges while opening your shop or creating your products?
AYANNA: I faced a lot of challenges! Entrepreneurship is not easy! I had to deal with getting contracts from the city, trial and error of testing out products, losing money, and starting from ground zero. My grandmother is a judge in Louisiana, and my mother is a CEO, so they instilled in me a good work ethic. People assume that I have more than I have, but I grind for what I have.

SADIAA: What has been the most rewarding part of owning your business?
AYANNA: Making my clients feel beautiful and being able to help my friends out. The girls who work in my salon now are the ones I went to hair school with. I like helping them fill their clientele.

SADIAA: Why is it important to celebrate Black beauty and Black beauty brands?
AYANNA: Black beauty wasn’t celebrated as much back then as it is now. I want to educate younger girls to grow to love themselves, no matter how their hair is or what they look like. It’s essential to teach them to embrace who they are. 

As for Black beauty brands, females in Louisiana need to see brands that represent them. Sometimes it feels like a popularity contest to receive recognition. Sometimes, it’s not about what product is good. It’s about who you know. I always want to support other girls who are just starting in this industry because it is hard. It’s essential to keep one another.

Hairology is located at 4433 Perkins Rd, Suite 102 in Baton Rouge, LA.

Click here to search our directory of Black-owned salons and beauty brands.