How Asha Downes came up with her business of natural hair coach that is based on research and self-acceptance |

Learn how Asha Downes turned her own natural hair-loving journey into an education-based coaching company that is founded on radical kindness scientific research, self-love, and science.

From a young age, Asha Downes dreamed of having long hair. She was a hairdresser who loved playing alongside her peers and trying out different styles, but she was always told that it was not possible to grow her Afro-textured hair into the lengths she wanted.

All of that changed once Asha was in her late teens. When she was browsing YouTube she came across another creator who had the similar hair type with naturally, long hair. While everyone was saying this couldn't happen his hair was healthy and full. Asha realized that if her creator was able to do it, she would be able to do.

Presently, Asha runs Naturally High Hair, a company that assists women in growing their natural hair through personalized guidance and informative workshops . Asha was awarded the 2022 Fall Creator Fellowship, and we were amazed by her caring, holistic approach to caring for the clients she serves. On top of that she's working toward the advanced level in trichology to deepen her expertise in her field.

This is how Asha made her love for hair into a coaching, education and coaching company that is changing women's hair -- and lives -and lives -.

Making a passion-driven project an innovative business with authenticity

When Asha began to learn about natural hair care and how to maintain it, she was not alone. Women from all over the world were also documenting their personal hair experiences. Her words "This was prior to when YouTube was the internet-based commercial platform like it is today. the people shared their tips, recipes, trials, and tribulations."

"It was a paradigm shift to witness an array of Black women discussing this issue together and yet we're located in different parts of the world. Everyone is living through this journey which is now getting a name: The natural hair movement."

As Asha was deciding to tell her story publicly She was attracted to YouTube as it's where the other YouTube creators were already spending time. "I was joining with them," she explains. "I wasn't sure which direction I was taking. I just wanted to participate in it."

Through her YouTube channel, Asha recorded everything she experienced while she was attempting to learn and re-learn the art of taking proper care of her hair. It was a personal project, and Asha was focused on sharing her authentic herself. Her audience loved following along as she shared her story, and throughout the years, her YouTube channel and her Instagram page increased in popularity.

"While I was recording my journey in the very early stages, I wasn't watching the view or the subscribers," she recalls. "It was a place to share my journey with my hair. People found it interesting and started to follow."

The reach of Asha's social media increased, her creation process became more strategic, as she thought of new resources for her users.

In the meantime, Asha was working full-time as a freelancer and living in different cities throughout Europe. She was looking into jobs related to hair with big corporations, however they all didn't feel right.

Asha was a YouTuber just to tell her story of personal experiences. Her upbeat and transparent videos resonated with people, and she realized that she could have a real effect. The idea of monetization was to allow her to invest back in her fans and growing her expertise. She believed that this dream project was changing from a hobby to something that could be a profitable business, if only she could devote her entire attention to it. Then everything fell into its proper.

Asha was between jobs visiting the Caribbean when the pandemic forced global lockdowns. With nowhere to go and time on her hands the situation was like an opportunity to jump in.

"There was not a chance in front of me to do something I believed in. It was during lockdown when I had that time to myself that I decided I would make my own opportunity."

So Asha went to work.

The power of a super simple launch

Asha originally planned to market the products for hair care in physical form, however a mentor looked at her extensive online presence and recommended that she provide individual consults instead. The advice, coupled with the difficulty of sourcing products in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, led Asha on a digital journey.

Her first offering was a 1:1 regimen-building consultation. She wasn't sure the response of her clients, so she kept her launch plan simple. She developed an Typeform application, and posted the link to Instagram together with an explanation of her coaching services.

"I shared what I was up to and offered encouragement people to apply," she shares. "I received over 200 applications. The applicants were just applying to have me coach them which means they don't need to payfor it, but they gave me their email addresses and shared their hair concerns. They then contacted me and provided a booking form."

This is a genius approach to evaluate the idea with no initial investment. Asha created a product that was affordable and gauged how much interest the product was receiving from its target audience.

With the help of applications they helped her understand the needs of her customers by putting it into their own words. She also built up her email lists. Those who felt like they were a perfect match became her first customers, and she showed that her idea had legs before spending endless hours and millions of dollars for a big launch.

Asha began to meet with clients. However, she quickly learned that her audience's needs went deeper than recommending products and creating customized hair care regimens.

"I realized this work involves more than simply picking out items and designs. We're going to have to do some mindset work."

"There's there is a significant relationship between self-acceptance, and the growth of your hair to be healthy and long in the very first time. The hair you have is saved and removed. It's dead hair. It's impossible to revive it. so everything you make to your hair the hair will remember and affect its future."

With this understanding in mind, Asha shifted to a more holistic approach that focuses on acceptance of hair as well as self-love .

"One of the core principles of my program is this concept of absolute kindness. When you are gentle with your hair, you must to be willing to accept it. 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."

Being attentive to the feedback of her clients helped Asha develop the contents of her coaching curriculum as well as define the structure of her business overall. While working with clients Asha found that one-time coaching could be beneficial for clients who were happy with their hair, but it was not working for customers that needed to be more accountable.

The result of this inspired her to develop the comprehensive program of coaching called Longer Lengths(tm) and gives ongoing assistance over an extended period as clients develop healthy hair mindsets and habits.

Today, longer Lengths(tm) is her signature offering of coaching and the principal approach she takes to working with individuals individually. For clients who are at different stages in their hair growth journey Asha also offers a 90-minute Grow-Your-'Fro Long Hair Training Course .

Asha offers her online crash course as an in-demand product that allows customers to get a quick win at any time, and she takes batches of lengthier Lengths(tm) customers a couple of times per year.

An intentional blend of different programs can be a good choice for creators who offer coaching. Self-service products are less expensive and expandable, giving your customers the opportunity to talk to you before making a bigger investment. The higher-end programs for 1:1 are great for customers who prefer personal interactions. By having both, you can reach many more of the people within your targeted segment.

Next, we'll examine the strategies of Asha to overcome challenges and sustaining a business that is in line with her interests as well as the demands of her clients.

Asha's tips for getting free of obstacles

Every company has its share of challenges But Asha is able to overcome challenges with confidence. Her secret? Bring in experts, wrangle an imposter syndrome and then lean towards individuality.

Helping others will save you time.

"I am aware that I don't know everything."

"I am aware that I don't know everything there is to know... Talking to an expert helps me cut through the clutter and avoid wasting time. This is why I put a high value on that sort of understanding."

You need assistance with your business , but aren't sure what to do?

Finding proof to face imposter syndrome head on

The first step is to keep an optimistic track. "I keep a list of all the good things that I have done," Asha elaborates. "I keep a record of all my achievements. I begin to train my brain to think of positive aspects that happen in my life."

To create your own positive record, set up the computer with a folder that you keep five-star feedback as well as notes of appreciation from clients. When you feel down or uncertain, open your file and remember the awesome person you are.

Third, you should make yourself an authority within your area of expertise. According to Asha, "Another way to battle imposter syndrome is to become extremely enthralled by the product you're offering. I'm not afraid to be fascinated by things to the point where others think that it's odd. I've got a huge collection of information about hair. I'm reading constantly about hair and hair science."

Diving into your niche and gaining knowledge can lessen your anxiety. This can be done through individual research, practice or making the investment in higher-education qualifications like those of Asha .

In her conversation with her accountability mentor about the incident, they discovered that the absence of any specifics made it hard to film during the present moment. the video script wasn't fully developed, and its purpose was not clear. Once she defined her goals, revisited her video, and improved it, her feelings of imposter syndrome faded.

And now, Asha asks herself, "How do I plan the task so that even when I'm feeling those sensations, I'll feel okay? Why did I decide to create this video, and what should I expect users to do once watching the video? If I can answer that question I'm able to sit through any discomfort I'm experiencing."

In simple terms, imposter's condition is common occurrence for creatives, but it doesn't have to be a cause for concern. According to Asha puts it, "The great thing about confronting this issue is that you begin becoming a person who does not run from anxiety."

Take advantage of the qualities which make you different

Be aware of the traits that help you stand out as an creative. Being a person with a certain quality or expertise could differentiate you from the competition and connect your business with more clients.

"Apply yourself to the task and then go for the best," Asha says. "And then continue applying yourself to other fields to bring your unique twist to whatever you are doing. In my case I also offer assistance on German and Spanish."

Asha also has a research background which lends her work it's own scientific flavor.

"Don't be too focused on the details of what the other players do in your field. Find your own unique perspective and keep enhancing the things that help you stand out."

If you ask for assistance, managing imposter syndrome, by sharing your own unique talents and talents, you'll soon be well on the road towards creating a business you're confident about .

"Follow your passion. I'm really glad to have developed this program which focuses on acceptance of oneself, empathy, hair science, scientific research in cosmetics, accountability hair styling, nutrition and health and to merge all of that into one."