How Asha Downes came up with a natural hair coaching business founded on self-acceptance and science |

Discover the ways Asha Downes turned her own natural hair journey into an educational coaching business centered on radical gentleness as well as science and self-love.

From a young age, Asha Downes dreamed of being able to have long hair. She was a hairdresser who loved playing with friends and experimenting with various styles. However, she was always told that it was difficult to get her Afro-textured hair into the lengths she wanted.

The world changed drastically when Asha was at the end of her teens. When she was browsing YouTube, she discovered an artist with the same hair texture that was growing naturally, long hair. Although everyone said this couldn't happen the hair of the creator was strong and healthy. Asha realized that if her creator was capable of it, she should be able too.

Today, Asha runs Naturally High Hair, a company that helps other women grow hair naturally through personal guidance and info-packed workshops . She won 's 2022 Fall Creator Fellowship, and we were wowed by her kind, comprehensive method of caring for her customers. In addition, she's working towards the highest level of trichology certification to increase her understanding of the field she works in.

Here's the story of how Asha made her love for hair into a coaching and education business that's changing hairstyles of women and livesto the good.

Turning a passion project into a creative business through authenticity

As Asha started learning about healthy hair and natural ways to care for it She wasn't the only one. Women from all over the world were also documenting their personal hair-care adventures. She recalls "This was before YouTube was the commercial space like it is today. the people shared their tips, recipes, trials and tribulations."

"It was an eye-opener to hear so many Black women discussing the same thing, even though we're all located in different parts of the world. We're all living through this journey that's now got an official name: "The natural hair movement."

If Asha was deciding to tell her story publicly, she was drawn to YouTube since it was where many other YouTube creators were spending their time. "I was joining with them," she explains. "I didn't know where I was headed. I simply wanted to join in."

Through her YouTube channel, Asha recorded everything she experienced as she began to unlearn and relearn how to take care of her natural hair. This was an obsession project, and Asha was focused on sharing her authentic persona. People loved watching her videos with her, and as time went on, her YouTube channel and her Instagram page have grown.

"While I was recording my experiences in the early stages, I wasn't looking at the views or even the readers," she remembers. "It was an opportunity to document my experience through my hair. People found it interesting and began to follow."

The reach of Asha's social media increased, her creation procedure became more methodical, as she thought of new resources to assist her followers.

In the meantime, Asha was working full-time and was living in various countries throughout Europe. She looked into hair-related jobs with big corporations, however they all didn't feel appropriate.

Asha became a creator just to tell her story of personal experiences. Her upbeat and transparent videos attracted attention from viewers and she realized that she could have a real impact. She knew that monetization would let her invest in her fans and advancing her knowledge. She believed that this hobby was going to transform from a hobby to a business opportunity If she were able to dedicate her complete attention. After that, everything was in place.

Asha was between jobs visiting the Caribbean when the pandemic forced global lockdowns. With nowhere to go and no time the situation was like a sign to jump in.

"There wasn't an opportunity in front of me to do something I believed in. When I was in lockdown, I was able to be my own thoughts that I decided that would make my own opportunity."

Then Asha began to do her job.

Powerful and powerful simple launch

Asha originally planned to market physical haircare products, but an advisor looked over her online presence, which was a huge one, and recommended that she provide personalized consultations instead. This suggestion, along with difficulties sourcing supplies during a global pandemic, sent Asha on a digital journey.

Asha's first product was a 1-on-1 regimen-building session. She was unsure of what her customers would think of it to her product, which is why she made her launch strategy simple. She made the Typeform application and put the link up to Instagram with an explanation of her coaching services.

"I spoke about the work I was doing , and encouraged people to apply," she shares. "I received over 200 applications. They were only applying to have me coach them which means they don't need to make a payment, however they gave me their email addresses and discussed their concerns about hair. They then contacted me and included a booking link."

This is a genius method to try out the idea with no initial investment. Asha put her idea in a market that is accessible and analyzed how much enthusiasm the product was receiving from its target audience.

By using the apps, she learned what her audience needed by putting it into their own words. She also built up her email lists. Those who felt like it was a good match became her first customers, and she demonstrated that her concept was viable before spending endless hours and millions of dollars for the launch of a major campaign.

Asha began to meet with customers, however she soon realized that her audience's needs went beyond recommending products or developing customized hair care regimens.

"I have realized that my job involves much more than picking the right items and designs. We're going to have take on some mental work."

"There's an underlying link between self-acceptance and making your hair healthy and long in the very first time. Hair can only be kept alive and then damaged. It's a dead fiber. It's not revivable, so everything you do to your hair, your hair's memory will alter its future."

In this way, Asha shifted to a more holistic method of focusing on hair acceptance and self-love .

"One of the fundamental tenets of my program is this concept of extreme tenderness. To be gentle when it comes to your hair, you must to be willing to accept the fact that it is. It is important to have patience with it and be okay that it looks a particular way. I realized there's this connection between self-acceptance, radical acceptance and kindness as well as preserving hair to allow it to grow."

The feedback she received from her customers was a huge help in helping Asha develop the contents of her coaching program and establish the direction of her business overall. While working with clients, Asha realized that one-off coaching was helpful for proactive clients who already had a positive relationship with their hair. But it was not working for customers that needed to be more accountable.

This inspired her to create an extensive coaching program known as Longer Lengths(tm), which offers ongoing support for more time and helps clients build healthier hair habits and mindsets.

Today, Longer Lengths(tm) is Asha's signature offering of coaching and the principal way she works with people on a personal basis. To accommodate clients at all stages in their hair growth journey Asha also offers an 90-minute Grow Your'Fro Long Hair Training Course .

Asha is selling her on-demand class as an evergreen product so customers can be quick to win at any time as well as she accepts batches of lengthier Lengths(tm) customers several occasions per year.

An intentional blend of different programs can be a good choice for creators who offer coaching. Self-serve products are more affordable and flexible, giving clients the chance to communicate with you before making a bigger investment. High-end 1:1 services are perfect for customers who prefer direct interactions. If you have both of them the ability to connect with the larger audience of your demographic.

Next, we'll examine the strategies of Asha to overcome challenges and maintaining a sustainable business aligned with her passion as well as the demands of her clients.

Tips from Asha for getting out of your own way

Each business is prone to having its own challenges But Asha has learned to handle obstacles with confidence. What is her secret? Get help from experts, fight the imposter syndrome and tap toward individuality.

Asking for help can save time.

"I realize that I do not have the complete answers."

"I know I don't have the complete answer... Talking to an expert helps me get through the muck and avoid wasting time. That's why I place an emphasis on that kind of insight."

Do you need help with your business , but aren't sure where to start?

Finding proof to face imposter syndrome head on

First, keep an upbeat track. "I keep a note of everything good I have done," Asha elaborates. "I am able to keep track of my achievements, and I begin to train my brain to think of positive aspects in my life."

For your personal positive record, set up the computer with a folder where you save five-star feedback and kind notes from customers. When you're feeling low or uncertain, open the file, and think about how awesome you are.

The second step is to make yourself an authority within your area of expertise. According to Asha, "Another way to battle the imposter syndrome is by becoming completely obsessed with what that you're selling. I'm fine with being obsessive about an item to the extent that some people find it a bit strange. I've got a huge database about hair. I'm reading constantly regarding hair as well as hair research."

Exploring your area of expertise and gaining knowledge can lessen those feelings of uncertainty. You can do this through individual research, practice or making the investment in higher-education qualifications like those of Asha .

In her conversation with her accountability mentor regarding the incident, they discovered the lack of details made it hard to film during the present moment. the video script wasn't fully formed, and the purpose was not clear. Once she defined her goals, revisited her video, and made changes and adjustments, the feeling of imposter syndrome faded.

And now, Asha asks herself, "How do I plan this task in a way that, even when I'm feeling those sensations, I'll feel at ease? Why did I decide to create this video? And what do I want viewers to accomplish after they watch it? When I know that I'm able to sit through any discomfort that I'm experiencing."

Simply put, imposter condition is aspect of the creative process for all however it does not have to be a dealbreaker. In the words of Asha says, "The great thing about facing that situation is that you start to develop into a person who does not run from fear."

Lean into the things which make you different

Take advantage of the qualities that will make you stand out as a creator. Being a person with a certain characteristic or skill will set you apart from the competition and connect you to more potential customers.

"Apply yourself to the task and then go for the best," Asha says. "And keep applying yourself in other areas in order to add your own unique spin to what you're doing. In my case I also offer advice on German and Spanish."

Asha is also a researcher with a background, which gives her writing it's own scientific flavor.

"Don't focus so much on the specifics of what the other players do in your field. Find your own unique perspective and keep enhancing the things that help you stand out."

In asking for help, managing imposter syndrome, and sharing your unique skills and talents, you'll soon be on the way to building a company that you're confident about .

"Follow your heart's desire. I'm very happy to have developed this program which focuses on acceptance of oneself compassion, empathy, hair science, cosmetic science, accountability and nutrition, as well as styling as well as health. I've also merged all of that in one."