Interview: Ashley Kukay - Hairstylist
We like to take time to highlight women we see out in the world doing their part to make the world a little nicer. In this Real Nice Lady Spotlight, we’re talking to Ashley Kukay, a Kansas City-based hairstylist, about how she helps women embrace their natural beauty.
Job Title/Profession
Hair Stylist - Curly Specialist
Favorite Drink?
Lemonade
Favorite Food?
Chinese
Karaoke Song?
“I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston
What song are you listening to on repeat right now?
“What You Did” by Mahalia feat. Ella Mai
Female icon you would be for Halloween?
Kaliegh Garris - I just love what she stands for and love love love her natural hair!
Telling as little or as much as you want, how are you feeling these days?
I don’t think we have enough time. There’s a lot going on in the world which is very overwhelming and hard to process. I pray for all the families affected by Covid-19 and police brutality.
Where are you finding comfort these days?
I find comfort being with my daughter and husband. Just being with them makes everything feel alright.
What part(s) of your life during the pandemic (and 2020 in general) have made you rethink your "normal" life?
I think we took a lot for granted before. I never thought I would be a part of a worldwide pandemic. I miss doing everyday regular things and not having to worry about wearing masks, coughing in public, taking my daughter to the park, etc. Also with everything else in the world going on it just makes me concerned for my safety, my family's safety and making the hard decisions not to do even more normal things unfortunately.
What first attracted you to your current profession?
I taught myself how to braid in elementary school on my dolls. I’ve always wanted to keep them and everyone around me looking fresh! It just came naturally to me.
Did you go through school for this or are you self-taught? And why did you choose that route?
I did go to school for hairstyling, I went to Sheridan Technical College in Hollywood Florida. Hair always came easy to me and I started a YouTube channel ages ago to really dive into my own hair even more. I started doing my own research and taking care of my natural hair. It was an easy decision to go to school for it.
What is your favorite thing about your industry? Your least favorite?
My favorite thing about the hair industry is that there are so many categories to dive into! My least favorite thing about being a hairdresser is the feeling of always competing with the next hairstylist. Instead of learning from each other, there’s always a sense of not sharing our knowledge.
What have you learned about yourself over the course of your career?
I’ve learned that I think too much and I’m a perfectionist! I really need to chill out more.
What do you want for the future of your industry?
To grow in the natural hair world! There’s so many girls and guys out there that have no idea how to love their natural texture and not enough stylists to teach them what to do and how to love their natural hair.
Have you ever struggled with your natural hair?
I’ve of course struggled with my natural hair ever since I was younger. Being one of the only black girls in my elementary class, everyone else had straight hair and mine was thick, curly and unruly. I had my mom put a relaxer on my hair in middle school after begging and pleading with her. That’s when I really messed things up. I straightened, curled my hair, I mean everyday, practically. It wasn’t until I was in high school I stopped getting relaxers and tried to embrace my natural hair. Even then there weren't the products and tools like there are today because I still struggled with embracing my hair until my early 20’s. It was a long road to embracing my hair and that’s one of the reasons I specialize in curly hair. I want to help the next little girl love and embrace her naturalness, especially my daughter.
What advice would you give other women trying to succeed in your industry?
The advice I would give to other women in this industry is to always keep up with your continued education by taking classes and learning from other professionals. Follow your heart in regards to what will make you the happiest in this field. Find a specialty and really get into it!
What was a formative moment in your life that made you who you are?
Becoming a mom was the moment that made me who I was meant to be. I’ve always wanted to be a mother and it’s nothing how I thought it would be, but it’s defined me to become the person I am today.
What do you hope your child learns from you?
I prayed for her and I want her to have a different experience with her hair then I did. I hope my daughter learns that it’s okay to be different, her hair is beautiful no matter what texture it is.
When do you feel the strongest in your life? When do you feel the most vulnerable in your life?
I feel the strongest in my life when I’ve done something out of fear that I wouldn’t ever do normally, like flying in an airplane. I literally am deathly afraid of flying. That’s also my most vulnerable side, when I’m out of control and I have to trust that everything will be ok.
Who are five women that inspire you?
My mother, who is the strongest woman I know.
My older sister Jovan, who has overcome breast cancer.
My younger sister for loving my daughter like her own.
My best friend for being a boss business owner.
All of my clients that sit in my chair that are willing to put all their trust in me especially if they’ve been burned by other stylists in the past.