Not often we feature Hairstylists as Young Professionals, but Christine A. Ewers is one with a difference. She is already the youngest Entrepreneur is her family, gaining that title after taking on the challenge to chart her own course based on a passion she shares for hairdressing as a little child. Photo: Provided

She said some of the challenges of the job includes having to deal with a variety of hair types and learning how to master each hairstyle that her clients requests. Photo: Provided

Citing the importance of hairstyles to cultural identity especially that of Caribbean people, our Young Professional told this news website that hairstyles shape the identity of the people who wear them. Photo: Provided

Our Young Professional in parting advice encouraged other encouraged young entrepreneurs to never be afraid to pursue what they love, and always remember to be the best that they can and whatever is it they do. Photo: Provided

Becoming an Entrepreneur 

Christine, who resides in the Fort Hill area of Tortola said her job as an entrepreneurial hair stylist includes making sew-ins, braided hairstyles, installing wigs, plaiting of female hair and crafting day to day hairstyles.

Included in her skillset is the ability to craft and create custom wigs, a skill that even the most advanced hairstylist sometimes struggle to do.

"I enjoy making people look even better than how they already look and just watching them enjoy the hairstyle that I did for them," Christine stated as one of the most gratifying parts of the job.

She said some of the challenges include having to deal with a variety of hair types and learning how to master each hairstyle that her clients request.

"My biggest life lesson was probably overcoming criticism, I learned to deal with that by just taking what they said and perfecting my talent," she told Virgin Islands News Online (VINO).

Dreams into reality 

For Christine, who attended Elmore Stoutt High School, although she has bigger dreams of being an air hostess, she said her current career field is one that she always wanted to do. 

"Honestly, I always knew that I wanted to do hair since I was a little girl. I would always braid my doll’s hair," she said. 

Citing the importance of hairstyles to cultural identity especially that of Caribbean people, she told this news website that hairstyles shape the identity of the people who wear them.

'It gives the people more variety and uniqueness versus the others, and I said that mainly because I find with me doing hair this young, I know what everyone wants because it’s in style for our generation."

According to Christine, in the hairstylist industry, there is also a generational gap, "The other generation may not know how to properly execute the style the way I do and I find that’s what most young women are looking for now."

Our Young Professional already has years of experience under her belt as a hair stylist and holds certification from Ray Cochrane Beauty School in London.

Growing Self 

Before becoming an entrepreneur, our Young Professional said she worked for the EWA hair studio and previously at the 365 hair studio as a hairstylist.

She said family and friends are the people who keep her focused the most and having her own large hair salon in the future remains the ultimate goal.

Coming from a line of young entrepreneurs she said, "My brother, he also has a car rental company, it does feel good being the youngest, it's letting me know I started good as a young age and I don't have to wait until I get older to make my own money and work for myself," she said.

Shining the spotlight on friends Felicia Tonge-Fenton and Shai Dye, our Young Professional said they inspire her simply because they execute what they do so well in the hairstylist field. 

Parting Advice 

"Keep your head on and never give up no matter what," Christine left as parting advice to other youths looking to enter the entrepreneurship space.

She encouraged young entrepreneurs to never be afraid to pursue what they love, and always remember to be the best that they can and whatever is it they do.