Meet Kaleel Joy | Hair & Lifestyle Enthusiast

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kaleel Joy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kaleel, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The thought process behind starting my own business initiated when I graduated college and took a job in Elementary Education in Dallas, TX. I was paid to move to Dallas to teach as the city needed more African American male teachers. For the longest, I thought I was following my dreams of being a teacher, however, I was following the dreams of my god-sister who I shadowed in teaching majority of my life. She made it look so cool, fun, and effortless. I loved that attribute about her and thought I would do the same in life.

Shortly after moving to Dallas (approximately 2 months haha), I knew that teaching curated to curriculum was not for me, Yes, I quit teaching after just 2 months of moving to Dallas for the new position. I remembered how much I loved taking baby dolls out of my grandmother’s bins of Christmas gifts purchased months before the holidays. She would have one bin for the girls and one bin for the boys of the family. I never wanted the action figures, I always wanted the baby dolls. I was not the one to play house with the dolls, however, I wanted to play in the doll’s hair. So yes, I developed the idea of being a hairstylist and one day teaching others how to do the same.

I gathered with the public of Dallas in different venues and knew instantly the city was behind some years on the looks and I wanted to help with that. A month passed in my work of being an aspiring hairstylist and I dreamed of my mother doing hair in an all white hallway. I woke up confused, happy, and teary eyed. Moments shortly after, I called my mom crying. She refreshed my memory by letting me know she use to do hair in the kitchen of our home when I was younger. Never knew it would bring us much closer together than before. That was one of the puzzle pieces of my childhood that I needed to not only continue my journey… but to really get started.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a jack of all trades. I have done so much and honestly anything I want to do, I can do. What sets me apart from others is my resilience. I recover well and quickly from difficulties. Many people complain about how long things take and sometimes the frustration of it all makes them stop pursuing what they initially sought after. I am most proud of how out of all the challenges I’ve faced in my life, I did not let them stop me from being who God as called me to be… a teacher. It might not have been a teacher in curriculum, but I am teacher in every situation. This is doable when you embody being a life-long learner.

I am where I am today professionally because I stick to the course of what I am pursuing no matter how long it takes or what/who I have to face to get through, It was not easy. If it was easy, everyone would be doing the same. I overcome my challenges by making sure what I am doing is not only blessing me but being a blessing to others. I believe I was put in this position to service others and enlighten the dark paths of those around me.

Along the way, I’ve learned to live in the moment. People drop from earth like flies daily and it is important to live in every moment like there is no tomorrow. Take care of yourself- I have been invested in other’s success my whole life and seeing other people happy in all avenues of life. Take a moment to do it for yourself and your whole world changes. Be willing to change- be a life-long learner. Change can be a lot sometimes but I promise when you change a little, so much more comes from it. You find more and more happiness in things you never would have thought you would. Be kind and forgiving- People will do you so dirty and make you reevaluate yourself as if you thought everyone was suppose to be as genuine as you. Thing is, people come from different backgrounds and some have not experienced the same as you, YET, so their morals and values can tend to be different. Focus on your own path- Focusing on other people’s paths can be the thief of your own joy so you have to stay focused on what God has called you to do so you get the fulfillment of life with no regrets.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting the area and I wanted to show them the best time ever, I would explore with her in general since I haven’t been living in Los Angeles long. I am mainly here for work and its isn’t very often when I get the chance to go out and explore. I believe some interesting things to check out LA are the restaurants all over, and the beaches. I am sure I would be working last minute if my best friend was to come into town. So, she would probably tag along with me backstage while I work on some of the worlds favorite celebrities.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to shoutout my mother for instilling me with the visual of what hardworking looks like. It is my mother who I honor for how hard I work and how resilient I am when I am faced with challenges.

I also would like to shoutout my God-Family for showing me empathy in my younger years of life when I needed it the most. They are the ones who kept me grounded with my feelings and kept me seen around my peers and to help make a difference in this world.

Shoutout to my bestie, Danniesha, for she saved me when I felt like giving up and still to this day encourages me to be the best I can be without any nouns detouring the process.

Biggest shoutout to God for He is my only Father who have never left or forsaken me in my time of doubt and/or sin. He is always by my side!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joyboylace/

Image Credits
Francis Shad, Chris Martin, Shaun-Andru, Kaleel Joy