When Courtney Jones was a little girl, her mother encouraged her to wear her hair in a natural style. “It wasn’t an easy decision at the time,” she recalls. “All my colleagues, other Black women, were letting their hair loose, but I finally decided that this is who I am. This is how I want to present myself to the world.”
Throughout high school and college, Jones experimented with natural hairstyles for herself and friends. Three years ago, she opened The Curl Conqueror on Main Street in Stone Mountain. According to its website, the salon is “staffed with natural hairstylists who provide unique styles tailored to clients’ personal and professional needs.”
Although Jones studied business administration in college, he said he really learned about running a business through hands-on experience. “There are so many different types of businesses that it’s impossible to teach the specifics of each type. I had to learn as I went along, and I’m still learning. Other stylists, other business owners, customers… I’m open to learning from all sources. If someone has something of value to offer me, I’m happy to take it.”
Jones started her business by renting a booth at a salon in the Redan Road area while saving up to open her own shop. “Stone Mountain is where I grew up, so I wanted to be here. I wanted my salon to feel like home. Then I noticed this converted residential building was available. I said, “That’s it.” I want to open my own salon there. ”
The main color of the salon is mustard yellow. This is more than just a decorative choice, Jones explained: “Starting this business was an act of faith. I started doing hair for money in my senior year of college. The Bible says that the faith of a mustard seed can move mountains. I put reminders everywhere, including the colors I use in my decor. I give each customer a sachet of mustard seeds to encourage them to have the faith they need to follow their dreams. I am giving it to you.”
The waiting room is equipped with living room-style furniture such as sofas with cushions. “I take pride in welcoming people as if they were in my home. People ask who will do my cleaning, because I want my hair styled to my standards. , I tell them I’m doing it myself,” Jones said, adding that she not only wants her clients to love their hair when they leave, but also to enjoy their experience at the salon. “No matter what they do for a living, no matter how stressful their lives are, I want them to feel relaxed and at peace here. I treat all my customers as if they were celebrities, even though I have some celebrities.”
The signage inside the salon, many of which are a distinctive mustard yellow, is inspirational. Someone says, “Love yourself, if you don’t curl, no one will.” Another said, “If I can’t play curls, I’m not going.” Yet another message urges visitors to “embrace all the curls on your head without shame.”
“I love playing around with the word ‘curl,'” Jones says. Jones said she coined words like “Karl Munity” for her community and hopes her style inspires “Karl Fidence.”
Carl Conqueror currently has one stylist in addition to Jones, and another in training. “I personally train each stylist in my business in techniques that I have developed. I don’t want it,” Jones said.
Jones declares his business a success as he has a steady stream of customers, both men and women, not only from the Atlanta metropolitan area but also from other states and countries. “I have over 80,000 followers on Instagram and I believe we have the #1 natural hair styling salon in metro Atlanta,” she said.
