Rising Stars: Meet Deja Monet of Raleigh, NC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Deja Monet

Hi Deja , 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 my career in Cosmetology on paper in the year 2023, I attended Paul Mitchell school of Raleigh and graduated with honors. I can truly say my passion for my creativity that got me to this point started with dancing. I started dancing at the age of five in church. I was choregraphing artistic pieces and was often used as the “example” for when or how to do something. I’ve always had a natural ability to do things. This eventually led me to taking it more seriously, I started attending professional dance classes in Richmond, VA under Sisterly Grace Ministries owned and operated by Letricia Loftin Russell. I was exposed to Jazz, Ballet, Tap dancing, Hip-Hop, Salsa and even exposed to the Fashion World.

We often times participated in local and abroad shows which showed me my creativity for expression didn’t have to be put in a box. I truly believe I was created to create! Eventually I ended up relocating to North Carolina but was still eager to find ways to express myself and empower others artistically. I decided to join a Majorette Dance team in middle school in Durham, NC called “The Dancing Diamonds”. In between my time at Sisterly grace from first to second grade up until middle school I had no further training! I never lost my passion and my own will to train whether I was in a studio or not, so I auditioned and felt quite inferior. I was up against girls who seemed more appealing, more qualified and over all just better dancers. I didn’t have an audition piece, so I ended up freestyling. I’ve always lived by “if I can visually see it in my mind, I can properly execute it”.

I ended up not just making the team but becoming captain. Long story short, this new position opened up the hair and makeup portal in my mind. Part of my job as captain was to help my teacher pick makeup looks, hairstyles, hair accessories etc. and I loved it. I ended up loving it more than I did dancing. Even when I attended Wake Forest High School in Wake Forest, NC I started my own dance team and decided what our looks would be based on themes and concepts. A few years later I decided to hang up my leotard and pick up a comb and start enhancing my new passion. I started with makeup, braids, things that I could learn rather quickly and things that were trendy so I could get the experience I needed. I ended up slowly but surely enhancing my skills, making side money, but I still was struggling to decide if I wanted to pursue this full time as a professional. A few years go by, its 2017, I’m in High School in Maryland, it’s my senior year and I’m still practicing my beauty skills and focusing on my education as an honor roll/ early college student, and I end up pregnant.

This was a dark moment for me and a very confusing time for me. I was a smart girl, academically gifted, had dreams, aspirations and on top of that I’m a church girl. For the first time in my life, I felt a strong sense of shame. I was the only person in my school pregnant and at the time I literally had to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Even today I live by this way of thinking. Wanting to be comfortable can keep you complacent if you’re not careful. Ultimately at five to six months pregnant I was forced to terminate my pregnancy due to my son having a severe heart condition known as Tricuspid atresia (congenital heart failure).

I was a teenager dealing with a lot mentally. I found myself questioning God and was even distant from God because he allowed me to be pregnant, I took accountability, and then he turned around and had me deal with a challenge that some grown women haven’t experienced. I was so broken at the time, but now I have the spiritual maturity to say sometimes God breaks us down, to build us up. It’s not always comfortable, it’s not always easy. If I never had to be bold, courageous and resilient I wouldn’t be who and what I am present day. I went through a season of grief, silence, solitude, so strong that sometimes I would go days without hearing my own voice. I literally stayed in the dark physically, I didn’t want to let any form of life in, not even the sunshine peeking through my blinds.

I was at a point where I didn’t want to be here anymore. For whatever reason I just couldn’t fully lose my will to remain present. Ultimately, I ended up graduating on time, with honors and with great support behind me. I relocated back to North Carolina shortly after, worked salon jobs and continued to perfect my craft and learn salon culture. In 2020 I gave birth to a healthy baby boy named Dezmond and he healed a lot of my trauma and even revealed some areas that I had to rebuild as far as confidence in myself after such a loss. In the year 2022, the anniversary of my first child’s passing I started my first day at Paul Mitchell School of Raleigh. I came in courageous, ready and excited to embrace any challenge that came my way, and I excelled in this program with Honors in Spa, Texture and Makeup Artistry.

I graduated early, gave birth to my daughter Dej Lo’Ray and even got married to my husband Dezmond L. Clanton Sr. I left the program with so much gratitude and joy. I immediately knew I didn’t want to be in a traditional salon environment, I knew I wanted something of my own. I moved by faith and got my own salon suite fresh out of cosmetology school. Financially I haven’t lacked, I’ve been able to sustain what I prayed for, and I’ve found a new strength in having my own place of work on a professional level. Even getting and maintaining clients old and new hasn’t been a challenge for me. When you go through your process, and you learn to suffer or deal with issues knowing its preparation, not permanent you set yourself up for blessings and favor.

Now I am working on expanding my business. This year in April I will be getting my instructors license and I’m going to continue to encourage, educate and empower women and young girls through beauty. I’ve been honored to participate as a hairstylist in NYFW, Miami Swim week and the Breezy Bowl located in Miami, FL. Hopefully in years to come you’ll see on some new industry adventures collaborating with big names and brands. This is only the beginning of my greatness!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not always been a smooth process! Aside from my trauma, I had to also deal with me. I had to move and operate knowing and truly believing in myself. I’ve always been big on “go big or go home”, “do it well or don’t do it at all”, “do things with excellence”. A part of me always felt like I wasn’t qualified. A part of me use to feel like I needed permission to be great. I had all this “logical” approach but failed to realize how I was putting unnecessary pressure on myself. This would cause me to overthink and it’s hard to create and really do your best when your mind is consumed! At 26 I’m a wife, mother, business owner, sister, daughter etc. It’s a lot of roles I play on a daily basis. Now I just shoot for the stars and pray God guides me. I’ve learned to thrive under pressure.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At Freedom Bound Beauty, I specialize in providing excellent service and personable experiences. I specialize in makeup, extensions, braids, nails and overall hair care. I always want to make it my job to educate my clients and give them quality and excellent results. It’s my job as a beauty professional to under promise and overdeliver to exceed my client’s expectations as often as I can. This method has allowed me to be transparent with my clients and often times I find its appreciated.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I don’t look at success as a specific destination in life. Success to me is being diligent in how I serve others. Success to me is being persistent and being intentional. Success is finding happiness in what I do. I know having these characteristics will allow me to live a stable life. This mindset will open up opportunities for me that will allow me to provide for my family, build genuine connections and help others.

Pricing:

• Consults $20
• K-tip installation starting price $700
• Alopecia care starting at $75
• Sew-ins $200
• Tape-ins $300

Contact Info:

• Website: https://fbbeauty.as.me/schedule/cb895421
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CuvlXPSss2I/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1000305818587494