Conversations with Annabelle Eason

Today we’d like to introduce you to Annabelle Eason.

Hi Annabelle, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started cutting hair after having my first child, but I already had a career in special needs education. As a neurodivergent and queer woman, I have often had difficulty in finding my “safe spaces”. I also have many loved ones and family members with neurodivergence, mental illness, physical impairments, etc. After 14 years of professional barbering as well as color specialization within the hair industry, I learned that there was a genuine need for a situation that a corporation just simply couldn’t provide. It needed to feel safe for EVERYONE. I have a small loft in North Raleigh with all settings to provide the correct ambience, vibe, and secure setting for people who may not feel comfortable going into a space that they’re unsure of. My booking system allows each client to speak on who they are and what they want their personal experience to be. I’m prepared to offer whatever someone needs to get their target hairstyle. Everyone should feel awesome about who they see in the mirror; however, they also need to see that reflection identify who they are internally as well. I work with MANY children on the autism spectrum, and so far I’m blessed to say that I’ve seen each of these rad kids grow leaps and bounds in terms of their sensory issues with my tools. I built a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community, and I also still provide both color services as well as precision based old-school barbering in a more “traditional” manner, if that’s your thing. When you enter my shop, it’s YOUR space. I’m so grateful to have had these last two years reciprocating love and creating a sense of community and fellowship with my clients using my skill sets as a vehicle. I couldn’t ask for a better career.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Before I answer, I’d like to explain that I have the filter of a Keurig. I don’t judge, and I’m an open book. In full transparency, BEFORE I opened my business, I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to continue to do hair at all. I had recently gone through some personal challenges within my former workplace and also in my personal life due to that. As a mental health advocate, I immediately reached out to my therapist. I also spent a lot of spiritual time meditating and thinking on what my path should look like. At the end of this, I decided to build something that I would have needed when I was a kid—terrified of the lady with the scissors, who innocently didn’t think to explain what was about to go down with those sharp metal things. I built something that my OWN children and family would need. I swiftly realized that if MY family and friends and communities, and even MY self have specific needs, then SO DOES EVERYONE ELSE. It was right in front of me the entire time—I just didn’t see it. We’re all human. We’re the same, but we’re different. I’d like to believe that we’re ALL out here doing our best. Everyone’s best looks different, and that’s okay. It’s also okay to not be okay. You probably still need a trim, though. Don’t isolate. Come to the safe space, my friends! It wasn’t easy for ME to be vulnerable and open about who I am, but how can I expect others to feel secure with me if we haven’t developed trust? Of course I’ve had my “upside down days” along the way, but my clients and I have built something that we can all feel proud of—but most of all, WELCOMED in. I’d like to also say that I could NOT have built my business without the support of my family, clients, friends, and the communities that I identify with. I didn’t do this alone. My fiancé and children missed me at home at times, but believed in my dream WITH me. My business is just as much their labor of love as it is mine, and I REALLY hope that they know that.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in:

-Sensory Considerate Appointments
-Men’s Barbering/Straight Razoring
-Haircolor/Lightening
-Waxing
-Beard Trims and Shapings
-Strans for Trans Business
-LGBTQ+ gender affirming haircuts

What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite memory as a child is riding around for hours with my beloved “Mema”, singing along with Patsy Cline until the tape popped, and heading back to Wal-Mart to buy another cassette just to start it all over again. She was my best friend. I’d like to think that she’d be proud of the path I’ve chosen.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://annabelles.place/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BQvonXKkD/