Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashe Aurora.
Hi Ashe, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
For as long as I can remember, beauty has been a part of my life. Sundays were “hair days” in my Cuban, multigenerational household, so I was applying hair color on my grandmas roots from when I was so tiny I had to use a step stool. I was doing braids & updos out of my bedroom throughout middle school & high school. I even did my own hair for prom. (My boyfriend’s prom. I got kicked out of school & banned from my own)
My plan was always to attend Cosmetology school after I graduated high school, & then pursue a college degree while working as a hairdresser. This plan changed however, when I became pregnant with my daughter at 16. I conveniently gave birth on the last day of my Junior year in 2006.
My priorities obviously changed, & I decided to postpone school in general until she was old enough for kindergarten. I wanted to be there for her during her formative years, but I promised myself that when she went to school, I would too. & I did.
I went to college for a semester, but felt like it wasn’t the right time for me to be there. At that point I was more focused on making money. This urge to quit was confirmed during my grandfather’s last days, when in his lucid state said “if I had to do it all again, I wouldn’t do anything unless I was passionate about it”. I felt like spirit was speaking through him. I immediately quit college & enrolled in cosmetology school.
Those 10 months were the hardest of my life. I attended school for 8 hours a day, Tuesday through Saturday, & worked as a barista at night. My daughter was in 1st grade at the time, still very little, & very much attached to me. I virtually never saw her. In fact, during the first 3 months there was not a single day I didn’t have school, or work, or both. With no car might I add.
I eventually graduated in 2013 & began a year-long apprenticeship at Tribeca ColorSalon. It was difficult, & at times I swore I was going to be fired (idk why they didn’t honestly) but I learned so much more than I ever thought I’d know & eventually completed it successfully.
I finally got to start doing real life hair in my own chair of a beautiful salon.
I worked through the level system quickly, grew my clientele & was fully booked. The five years I spent behind the chair at that salon were some of the best years of my life. I thought I’d be there forever.
Life lifed, as it does, & I was presented with a once in a lifetime opportunity to go to LA. I landed a job with Disney, & began working on actors from the Freeform channel. Although on paper, this might seem like my biggest achievement, I really don’t like talking about it.
I eventually came home, fell into a deep depression. I stayed in bed for 4 months. My friends & some of my family didn’t even know I was home. I felt like a failure & decided I never wanted to do hair again.
I pulled myself out of it & knew I needed a fresh start. I decided to focus on my favorite part of every hair appointment: blowouts & styling.
I started with Drybar in October of 2018. Two years later, I was promoted to store manager of their new location & then the unthinkable happened. For all of us. Covid. I was let go. But an amazing thing happened: people started hitting me up left & right to do their hair in their homes. (Masked up of course)
This led me to the incredible realization that I could do hair beyond the confines of a salon & still make a living.
I decided to focus on styling & bridal, two things I’d always been passionate about. I joined a bridal company for 5 years, doing 2-6 weddings consistently every week while also working as a teacher at the same cosmetology school I attended. In 2025, after 14 years of being a hairdresser, I finally decided to start my own bridal business, which eventually led to the opening of my own bridal glam suite.
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?
Although I have been incredibly blessed with a loving supportive father, grandparents, aunts, cousins & friends, & have landed opportunities that can only be attributed to luck & favor, it has not been easy. At all.
Being a young, single mother, balancing 2 jobs at a time, & determined to grow as a stylist really took its toll on me at times. It wasn’t until my daughter turned 18 that I was able to give my career its full attention. & I have no regrets about that. My daughter & our relationship has always been my #1 priority. & still is, & everything else always took a backseat. Now that she’s an adult (20) I can be more present for myself.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in special moments. Weddings, baby showers, birthdays, anniversaries…any event a woman wants to look her absolute best for & have a good time getting ready.
Styling wise, I think I’m known for updos. But my undone, tousled, sexy hair down & curled looks catch some attention too.
Truly what makes me the most proud is the relationships I’ve cultivated throughout my career. Clients that were with me in the very beginning are still calling me to do their hair for events & referring new people to me. I love creating a comfortable, fun vibe where a girl can just enjoy herself & maybe even relax a bit before the biggest moments of her life. & I think people are really drawn to that.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
“Link in bio”
Just kidding. But really. Click the link in my bio if you’re a bride looking for a stylist that will listen, show up, & deliver.
I also love collaborating with content creators & talented makeup artists. A lot of what you see on IG is just 3 girls hanging out while we glam. It’s so fun!
Other than that, a like & a follow helps more than you know.
Pricing:
- Between 175-550 for a bride or event
- Packages for hair & makeup for the entire bridal party are available
- Custom quotes provided upon request
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @ashe_aurora_hair
