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Women Entrepreneurs on the Rise: Meet Stephanie Cox, Director and Founder at Stephanie Hair Extensions

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Stephanie Hair Extensions, founded by Stephanie Cox, is a well-known salon with a large and dedicated clientele from all over the world, and was the first hair extension boutique in Yorkshire to operate. With over 12 years of expertise in the field, they are true perfectionists. Their team of eight devoted and highly qualified employees ensures that the enormous demand for their services is met, and focuses on providing their clients the VIP hair treatment they deserve. 

When and how did you come up with the idea of starting up your own hair extensions business? 

I started the business from scratch as a single parent 12 years ago. Through hard work and dedication, I have achieved global success. I have always been passionate about hair extensions and love how hair can make you feel inside and out. I used to save all my wage to spend on my hair and would travel up to 6 hours for my own hair extensions fitting as there were no salons in my home area offering the luxury hair extensions that I desired. Noticing a niche in the market I decided to take the leap and began to build my own hair extensions business.

Tell us about the beginning of your career as a young woman entrepreneur. 

I started out on my own, working from the living room of my small rented home in Leeds, offering hair extensions, fittings and maintenance to up to 6 different clients every day with no breaks in between. I would often find myself sat up tipping and preparing the hair until early hours in the morning ready for the next day ahead. I soon built a large client base and opened up my first hair extensions salon , the first hair extensions salon in Yorkshire. As the business grew from strength to strength, I knew I had to take the next leap for my business, although I was quite resistant at first. The growth was daunting – I needed to hire staff, and that’s a big step, as then, you have other people you’re responsible for. This is a responsibility I take very seriously, and the very low turnover of staff in my business is just one demonstration of my effective employment style.

As your business grew, how did you manage to keep up with the popular demand for your services? 

Within the first year of opening the business, I had an army of 11 team members to keep up to the popular demand of our services. In 2015, the salon extended, opening up Stephanie hair boutique, offering hairdressing services and providing 5 extra full time jobs to newly qualified hairdressers.

As well as being a hair extension specialist, you are also a hair extensions trainer. Tell us more about your training academy and your students. 

In 2018, I became a hair extensions trainer and opened up Stephanie hair extensions training academy. My academy is the leading hair extensions academy in the UK , training students from all over the world, online and salon based. The thriving academy offers specialist hair extensions training to refreshers as well as beginners. I thrive on empowering my training academy students to always reach for their goals and to not give up on their dreams.

I train men and women of all ages with the most popular student being in their early 20’s. A lot of these students are not really settled or yet sure about their career, boyfriends home life generally they just want it all, they want everything all at once. On Instagram it can look easy, it looks like people have these perfect lives, but they don’t realise the hard work that goes into it all behind the camera. That’s what I try to teach the young students I work with today. My trainee students receive an instant trade account which gains them huge trade discount savings on this hair.

How did Stephanie Hair Extensions go global? 

2019 saw the launch of Trade & Retail hair wholesale and I began offering my highly in demand Luxury Quality hair to the public and salons world wide. Our brand offers over 30 shades among 5 different hair extensions methods with lengths up to 28”, priding ourselves on only sourcing high quality luxury hair that can be reused for up to 3 years. 

What are the services you provide at Stephanie Hair Extensions? 

At Stephanie hair extensions, we provide multiple hair extensions services. From professional hair extension fittings, training and luxury hair sales for retail and trade customers. Our team understands the importance of hair in enhancing a woman’s self-esteem, which is why we inspire to grow the confidence of our clients and empower them to look and feel good. The salon offers multiple hair extensions methods all which are incredibly safe and gentle to the natural hair.

What was your strategy to gain recognition among the beauty industry? 

We have earned recognition amongst the beauty industry through our hard work and passion for these products & exclusive collaborations. I work hard to always understand my customers’ needs and am always researching for the next up and coming products and services. With regular photo shoots and campaigns taken in different locations all around the world for the brand. Stephanie hair extensions are also worn by many celebrities and influencers today but it’s not only the celebrity recognition that I pride myself on. I enjoy ensuring my prices are always affordable to the public so that many women are able to purchase the hair extensions, giving them the confidence that they deserve.

As a successful entrepreneur, what motivates you to keep your business thriving? 

I have always thrived on doing well for myself and I always knew I wanted my own business. I am very focused and I believe concentrating on my own business and never comparing myself to others is the way to success . When I first got into the industry, hair extensions would take up to 6 hours for one sitting and they were also very expensive and mainly only worn by celebrities. I have worked hard to create more affordable, less time consuming hair extensions techniques, allowing normal working women with busy lives to easily access hair extensions.

A word of encouragement for all new customers who would like to use Stephanie Hair Extensions? 

Stephanie hair extensions can be used for adding thickness, adding length or adding a new colour. I pride myself on making hair extensions much more accessible to the general public, and feel privileged to have the power to help so many women from all around the world to gain self confidence. Our luxury hair is made from the highest quality 100% Russian Cuticle Correct Human Hair. We believe this hair to be every customer’s most powerful accessory. With a swarm of social media fans and thousands of salons / ambassadors offering our products worldwide, we bring you the very best luxury quality hair extensions & products to date. Stephanie Hair Extensions may help you reach any of your goals, whether it’s to entirely change your look, add length, or simply add volume. These days hair extensions are not only used on celebrities, they are also used on brides who want to feel an enhanced version of themselves just as much as they are used for everyday life. 

Stephanie Hair Extensions recently joined the list of bronze sponsors for this year’s prestigious National Reality TV Awards, as the Official sponsor for Best Talk Show category. How excited are you to partner with the National Reality TV Awards? 

Stephanie Hair Extensions is super excited to be sponsoring this year’s National Reality TV Awards. This is way out of my comfort zone, and when I was contacted by the National Reality TV Awards I was so overwhelmed with excitement but also absolutely terrified. I have had to push myself to accept this amazing opportunity, I knew I would only regret if I let my nerves hold me back from what I feel is the next leap in my career. I get to walk down the red carpet with my SHE team and I cannot wait to share this experience with them! Scary but so excited. This is the biggest recognition we have had since beginning to trade and I feel so proud of us.

 

Finally, where can readers reach you to enjoy your services?

You can visit our website : http://www.stephaniehairextensionsyorkshire.co.uk/ ,

Instagram: @stephaniehairextensionsuk

Facebook: Stephanie’s hair extensions & training academy

The 11th annual National Reality TV Awards returns to London on the 28th of July at the Porchester Hall, London. Check out the NRTA website  to stay up to date with all latest updates.