She in the past labored in govt, serving as a legislative assistant to Area Appropriations Chair George Cushingberry Jr. from 2006-10 and group coordinator 2013-18 for Detroit Town Council in District 7.
Lewis finished the cosmetology program at L’Esprit Academy in 2012. She served as an “Elite Stylist” with Ulta from 2019-22, advertising herself as a curls specialist and servicing about 80 purchasers each and every month.
Lewis started scratching her cosmetology itch all through her time with Ulta. She changed into a best earner in her retailer’s district and grew a shopper base that were given too giant for the store. When Lewis believed she’d long gone so far as she may cross at Ulta, she got down to discover a area to start out her personal mission in spring 2021.
Lewis began Joyola Mei Hair with $125,000, together with $100,000 in loans from Michigan Girls Ahead and ProsperUS Detroit, in conjunction with a $25,000 money grant from Motor Town Fit.
Lewis knew providing this kind of distinctive carrier generally is a failure. She additionally knew the area of interest industry she deliberate had a big clientele she may faucet into.
“There don’t seem to be many salons focusing on curls,” Lewis stated. “Even for myself, it used to be tricky to discover a stylist for my curly hair. I should not have the solution to why it is so tricky. Other folks have their personal tastes. If I needed to name it one thing, curls were not totally normalized when it got here to getting your hair accomplished.”