Turning a passion into a paycheck isn’t easy, but for some students, it has already become a reality.

Kennedi Luckett, a senior at Hazelwood West High School, is the owner of two businesses, Donebykenn and Luxuriesbykenn, which began as a small idea and quickly grew into something more.

She said her passion for hair started early. “I stopped letting my mom do my hair around fifth grade.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, she practiced braiding on herself.

When schools and public spaces opened back up, classmates and community members started asking who did her hair.

“That’s how I started,” Luckett said. “I knew I never wanted to work for someone and I accidentally found something I liked that I could make money doing.”

Now, four years later, she operates her own businesses while managing a demanding school schedule. She attends both high school and cosmetology school, doubling her coursework and responsibilities. 

“Organization is essential”, she said.“I still haven’t mastered balancing everything.Getting my website and writing everything down really helps. If I don’t write down an assignment or a client, I’ll forget.”

Her typical schedule runs from three p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends. She takes Mondays and Wednesdays off from clients to focus on schoolwork.“If I get everything done while I’m at school, I can work more,” she said.

Despite her success, the journey has not been easy. Luckett agreed burnouts have been one of her biggest obstacles.

“I do get overwhelmed,” Luckett said. “Junior year I had a really bad burnout.”

Which led her to shift her focus from braiding to becoming a weave stylist. However, the transition required rebuilding her client base. “I was a braider, and most of my clients only wore braids,” she said. “I had to completely start over.”

Rebuilding clientele tested her, but she said the most rewarding moments make the hard work worthwhile. “I truly love doing hair,” Luckett said. 

“When clients come from far away or out of town, it makes me so happy. You could’ve chosen someone in your city, but you came and picked me.” said Luckett.

Luckett said making clients feel confident motivates her to continue growing her business.

Luckett is entirely self-taught. She uses trial and error, along with online resources such as TikTok, for helping her develop her skills.

“Most of the time I watch one or two TikToks and go straight to it and try it,” she said. “I learn best by just doing it.”

Through her business, she said she has developed strong communication and time management skills.

“I talk to clients every day so many different kinds of people,” she said. “I learned to over-communicate because I want everything to be understood and easy for clients. I care a lot about my business.”

She also said her parents are her biggest supporters. They provided space for her to work and helped her launch her hair selling business. “They always push and support any ideas I have,” she said.

For other students interested in starting a business, she encourages focusing on personal growth rather than comparison. “I did a lot of comparing my work when I started,” she said. “But it’s not a competition. There’s enough money in the world for everyone.”