*Ouley Beye came to the US from Senegal and founded her career on hard work and a dream.*

This is the next story in a series about the women entrepreneurs and business owners along Upshur Street in Petworth. Join us as we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8th with a special community event free for the whole family.

by Wanda Lucas

Ouley Beye, owner of Ouley’s Hair Salon at 834 Upshur Street NW, opened her shop in 2012. Enthusiastic about her second location, she changed the wall color to purple, her favorite, and selected furniture to support five stylists. While she is concerned that business on Upshur has slowed in recent years, she remains optimistic.

Ouely arrived in the United States in 2001. As a recently divorced, young woman from Senegal she found it difficult to find a job as a non-English speaker. People close to her explained the growth potential for providing hair care services. She decided this was an area she wanted to pursue and quickly began her quest to have her own business. She learned English in addition to the other three languages she speaks and began braiding women’s hair at a shop on Minnesota Avenue. She studied, developed a loyal customer base and soon opened her first shop on West Virginia Avenue, NE.

Ouley Hair Gallery at 834 Upshur Street NW

What appears to drive Ouley as a business owner is greater than just being profitable. She loves to empower others to fulfill their dreams. “It’s still going to be a dream until you make it happen,” she said.

Ouley proudly states, “If I can make it, anyone can.”

Through her business she is able to help other stylists develop and grow a solid group of clients as well as learn the hair styling business. She offers assistance to individuals desiring to open their own business and looks for persons who want to believe in themselves and are willing to work hard toward their dream. “I tell them all of the time. If you put 10% into your dream, you will get 10% back. But if you put 100% of your effort behind it, your dream will become a reality.”

Ouley’s bright smile illuminates her beautiful, smooth skin when she describes the joy she receives from engaging with her customers. Since I had her attention and was familiar with the therapist like role hair stylists can play in the lives of their customers, I questioned her about good hair care. She spoke prophetically about the importance of using natural products whenever possible to clean and deeply condition one’s hair. She further explained how healthy eating and drinking lots of water help not only your hair but also your skin. The secret to her glowing skin - drinking water infused with aloe vera juice.

Ouley is offering a discount to first time clients who mention this story! Stop by and see her at 834 Upshur Street NW.

More Articles in this Series…

Featured

Mar 14, 2019

Photos and thanks from the #WomenOfUpshur event

Mar 14, 2019

An amazing evening with a phenomenal bunch of entrepreneurs and a crowd of great people — that’s a long but accurate description of the event on March 8th celebrating the woman business owners along the Upshur Street corridor. See a large photo gallery!

Mar 14, 2019

Mar 8, 2019

Christine Lilyea finds her dream job and an unexpected treasure at Slash Run

Mar 8, 2019

With years of experience managing restaurants and music venues, Christine Lilyea realized what started out as just a job became a career. When she took over Slash Run in 2018 after managing it for two years, she knew she found her dream job. She manages both the kitchen and the front of the house, it’s lot work.

"But I'm up for it," she says. "I didn't know this was going to be as difficult as it is, but I just don't stop. I keep going. As long as I keep pushing, it works."

Mar 8, 2019

Mar 7, 2019

Anna Bran-Leis starts a second act and finds culinary and personal success

Mar 7, 2019

“There are so many challenges to being a woman in the culinary industry,” Anna said. “You don’t know how many times we go to events and set up tasting stations, and my sous chef is a guy, and they come up and say, "‘Hey chef,” talking to him. You’re automatically, as a woman, not given the same respect and the same recognition.”

Anna appreciates where she is now and what the future holds. She believes in helping others, like younger female entrepreneurs. “You have to reach back,” she said. “Whether she’s an immigrant or she’s not. The next generation of women that are coming up behind us, it’s our job as women, that they’re better than we are. That they surpass anything that we’ve done. We reach back and we help them.”

Mar 7, 2019

Hannah Oliver Depp shows how passion becomes a happy livelihood

Mar 7, 2019

Raised to focus on hard work by self-described hippie parents, home schooled, with a large extended family, Hannah was taught the benefit of the do-it-yourself mantra and being immersed in being busy. Self-determination and "anything is possible if you work hard enough" mixes with a strong inner (and outwardly focused) passion.

“I can make something out of nothing,” she laughs. “You give me a hot glue gun… we’re going to have a store.”

Mar 7, 2019

Mar 6, 2019

Holley Simmons, Petworth's 'Petal Pusher,' doubles down on Upshur Street

Mar 6, 2019

It had been six days since the blockbuster opening of her flower shop, She Loves Me, and Holley Simmons was freaking out a little. The Upshur block felt sleepy that Friday under a coat of fresh snow, and Simmons had decided to let her employees stay home. Then, suddenly, the delivery and Valentines Day flower orders started pouring in.

“Shit.”

Mar 6, 2019

Upshur's 'veteran,' Julie Wineinger, is learning to juggle everything on the road to success

Mar 6, 2019

I walked into Lulabelle’s Sweet Shop on a sunny Friday afternoon to interview owner Julie Wineinger about what it’s like to be a woman business owner. Before I could even sit down, the scene before me spoke volumes: there was Julie, one hand on her laptop, fielding questions from her staff behind the counter while discreetly nursing her five-week-old son inside a cloth carrier.

It was the epitome of the juggling act that every working mom performs, and is even more acute when that new mom is a business owner.

Mar 6, 2019

Mar 5, 2019

Dani Moreira accidentally starts a business and becomes Petworth's 'Carb Queen'

Mar 5, 2019

Now that she’s broken through, Dani Moreira gets a sense of satisfaction working alongside other immigrants and showing them that there is a way up the ladder.

“I enjoy seeing all these women next to me and showing them there is a future,” Moreira says. “As an immigrant, showing other immigrants that they don’t have to be stuck washing dishes.”

Mar 5, 2019

Mar 4, 2019

Ouley Beye came to America and found her place on Upshur Street

Mar 4, 2019

What appears to drive Ouley Beye as a business owner is greater than just being profitable. She loves to empower others to fulfill their dreams. “It’s still going to be a dream until you make it happen,” she said.

Ouley proudly states, “If I can make it, anyone can.”

Mar 4, 2019

Mar 3, 2019

‘Thrifty Fia’ Thomas sounds off on having it all

Mar 3, 2019

Fia Thomas runs her successful vintage and used clothing shop, Fia’s Fabulous Finds, while working a full-time government job and raising two daughters. But she says the hard work is worth it.

“I’m really a business owner who has it all,” she says. “I’m married with kids, and I have a passion that I’m pursuing.”

Mar 3, 2019

Mar 2, 2019

Carlie Steiner: The cocktail maven of Petworth's Himitsu

Mar 2, 2019

Of the women I interviewed for these series, Steiner is the most outspoken and unapologetic feminist. Her wines are female, her staff is free to kick sleazy men out of the restaurant at will, and she doesn’t care if you don’t like it.

“You can be hospitable and still stand up for yourself,” she says.

Mar 2, 2019