Today we’d like to introduce you to Aundrea Watkins.
Hi Aundrea, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
As a teenager, I dreamed of becoming a hairstylist — but it actually started in my parents’ basement doing nails. I had my own little station set up and would do nails for my proms, my friends’ proms, and school dances. Even then, I knew I loved helping people feel beautiful.
While attending the University of Pittsburgh in 1999, I started taking hair more seriously. College students don’t exactly have salon budgets, so I began doing hair in my dorm room — charging $7 for a shampoo and curl! What started as a way to help friends quickly became something bigger. I began styling for campus fashion shows, and that’s when the spark was truly lit.
After graduation, I worked a few corporate jobs using my business degree, but I felt completely unfulfilled. I was even fired from my second job — which felt devastating at the time. Looking back, it was divine redirection. While collecting unemployment, I enrolled in cosmetology school and earned my license in 2005.
I later worked at the well-known natural hair salon Salon Etae, where I built my foundation and refined my craft in natural hair care. In 2007, I co-owned my first salon, Naturally Ever After, with two close friends. We worked together until 2011.
Eventually, I opened my own intimate salon, Simply Natural. That space was small but powerful — it’s where I truly found myself as both a stylist and a business owner. By 2020, the business had grown exponentially, and I knew it was time to expand.
I signed a lease on a beautiful, larger space on Ridge Avenue — and one month later, the pandemic shut the world down. I had to abruptly close Simply Natural. Like so many business owners, I panicked. How would I pay rent? Would my clients follow me? What would happen next?
Instead of giving in to fear, I poured all of my energy, creativity, and savings into designing my dream salon during the shutdown. In July 2020, I officially opened the doors to Salon A’Marie. To my relief and gratitude, my clients came back — and we were busy from day one. I built a full team, and the salon has continued to thrive.
The following year, I was honored to win Best of Philly for Natural Curls Specialist — a milestone that affirmed the years of faith, risk, and hard work.
Today, Salon A’Marie continues to grow, and I’m incredibly proud of the team and community we’ve built. My next goal is to open a second location in the coming years. The journey has been full of pivots, resilience, and purpose — and I truly believe I’m just getting started.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not a smooth road, the biggest hurdle was when I was forced to closed down one month after signing my lease. Due to the pandemic. I was closed for 4 months.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Salon A’Marie ?
At Salon A’Marie we specialize in natural hair care. We pride ourselves in how we cater to our clients the moment they walk through the day. We offer luxury treatments at the shampoo bowl. Complimentary coffee, tea, wine and snacks. We want our clients to truly feel catered to.
What sets us apart is our excellent customer service skills and timeliness. We get our clients “in and out” .
I’m most proud of winning best of Philly literally my first full year and after surviving the pandemic. A lot of businesses didn’t make it unfortunately.
At the salon we offer our hair care expertise first and foremost but I also offer a safe space for women to come, feel at ease and enjoy being pampered to, while learning more about how to take care of their hair. We aren’t just hair stylists but hair educators as well.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My advice to those starting out is to first have a vision for yourself. If you can envision yourself doing it then you can indeed accomplish it. Don’t give up if you have setbacks. Try toalways be kind and fair to the people you employ, and your customers. You should always be approachable as a boss. That is the key to a long lasting business and success.
Pricing:
- Silk Press $95
- Natural Texture Stylist $125+
- Hair Color 65+
- Cuts $35-75
- Consultations $50
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.salonamarie.com
- Instagram: @salonamarie
- Facebook: Salon A’Marie
