May 15, 2021
Jocelyn DoCouto was born in Providence, RI and raised in Pawtucket, RI. She is first generation Cape Verdean and Senegalese. As the oldest of both parents, Jocelyn always felt the pressures of setting the bar through creating and accomplishing goals one after another. Throughout her young academic years, Jocelyn always excelled; remaining with high honors, high GPA, graduated high school with a full semester of college completed, and landed an academic scholarship to Boston University. Although she dropped out of college, Jocelyn always knew she was destined for greatness.
The road to success hasn’t always been the smoothest. Finding out she was pregnant with her first child at 19, Jocelyn became a mother at 20. Knowing that she may become a single mother considering her relationship with her child’s father began to go downhill, Jocelyn quickly began trying to find her way to provide for herself and her daughter through her retail jobs. Soon after she became a Corporate America worker trying to figure out her life career. In the mist of that journey, Jocelyn later became pregnant again and had her son at age 23. After her second child, Jocelyn knew she needed to make necessary changes and gain financial freedom somehow to feed herself and her two children because the corporate jobs were not going to provide it.
Jocelyn decided to reduce her hours and go from full-time to part-time so she can then work on her craft of doing hair.Jocelyn was always naturally creative and drew a lot as a child. She learned how to braid at the early age of 11 and always practiced freestyle designs to show her creativity through braids. She’s worked in barbershops as early as age 13 but she did not think she would ever consider doing hair full-time. In 2014, she realized that natural hair care started to become very popular and more people were putting the relaxers down. At that moment, Jocelyn figured that it was the perfect time for her to tap into her natural talents and grow her craft for natural hair care.In 2015, Jocelyn began looking into what were the requirements to open a natural hair shop.
She realized there was an issue in Rhode Island and decided to take action to help bring attention and get braiding deregulated in the state of Rhode Island. With this bill being passed, no one who desired to have a braiding shop that focused on natural hair care and protective styling would need to obtain a cosmetology license. After 4 long years of fighting, the bill was passed and the deregulation of braiding became a reality in Rhode Island’s state law. During the mist of all those years into present day, Jocelyn diligently worked on establishing and growing her natural hair care and protective styling business. She went from Jae’s Protective Styling, to The Salon JPS, and to where it stands today as JaeSlayed Studio.
She is located on 440 Central Avenue, Pawtucket, Rhode Island 02861. At this beautiful private salon studio, Jocelyn collaborates with her business partner and master makeup artist Margarita Luna who is known for her business Beat by Maggz.She became very popular locally for her great styling skills but also for becoming the personal hair stylist for many NFL greats such as Patrick Chung, Stephon Gilmore, Dont’a Hightower, Adam Butler, Kenyon Barner, J Jones, Brandon King, and N’Keal Harry. She’s also had the pleasure to work with Antonio Brown, Michael Bennett, and other amazing people in the music industry and athletic association. Constantly looking to grow her craft and acquire new skills, Jocelyn has also taken classes with LaceAssassin, Alonzo Arnold, Justin Kace, and Natita.Jocelyn now stands as a multifaceted stylist specializing in braids, locs, wigs, weaves, etc. Outside of her great hair artistry, Jocelyn is always keeping busy and finding ways to connect people with great products and services. She currently launching her haircare product line called JaeSlayed Products which is set to have its initial release on May 26, 2021.
Working in corporate America was very challenging for me because I have always struggled with time management and the overall the concept of having to work under someone else’s scope. I knew that I wanted to be my own boss and gain financial freedom but I needed my 9-5 to fund my business. I was also always so adamant about not doing hair for a living. As time went on and the demand for protective styling grew, I decided to just try it out and give myself 3 years and if it didn’t work out I’d go back to school and corporate. Once I dropped down to part-time at my corporate job and began building a clientele, I realized that I can make this a career and I started working towards opening a salon.
My true passion was to be an illustration artist or a tattoo artist. I just naturally had the talent to create very cool designs with braids and found doing hair therapeutic in a way.
My hardest part was deregulating braiding in Rhode Island. I mean you can always get a manager to help run your salon business but relying on people to remain with you in business isn’t logical these days because everyone wants to go on their own eventually.I took it upon myself to figure the steps of what is needed to get a law changed and I was fortunate enough to get help and assistance with the Institute of Justice.
I contacted the Institute of Justice after reading their untangling regulations report they had did in 2014. They worked with me for four years producing campaigns, lobbying, presenting our case to the House Representatives and Senates, etc. In 2019, not only did it get passed through house and senate but it also got signed into law with Governor Raimondo. With this bill being passed into law, anyone seeking to open a braiding and protective styling shop can do so without having to acquire a license through cosmetology or barbering. This elevates the cost of the schooling that would have been required as well as the headaches of always having to follow guidelines that technically doesn’t apply to us. This bill also allows creation of jobs and businesses which helps the economy of our state.
Honestly I would love to work with more NFL and NBA clients, especially Derrick Rose, Kawhi Leonard, Julio Jones, Cameron Jordan, and Colin Kaepernick. My goal is also to work with some dope artists like J Cole, NLE Choppa, Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, Lil Durk, Lil Baby, etc.
What to and not to invest in and how to best structure the make-up of the salon and services. I wasted a lot of money and time through trial and error because I didn’t have anyone who can guide me properly.
EXTREMELY important! Hair is our confidence on the outside but how we feel inside is equally important. Establishing a relationship with my clients is more than just building rapport. Watching them grow and prosper in life and with their personal relationships is very rewarding for me.
Honestly, it’s still a working progress. I would say that the first 3 years there’s A LOT of sacrificing and it’s nothing personal towards your loved ones, however, it’s necessary to keep the business as the focal point. If you can take the first three years and devote most of your energy into your business every year that follows will become easier. I started working 7 days a week my first year opening, to working 6 days my second year, 5 days my third year, and now I’m presently working 4 days.
I’m currently working on my life coaching which will be an extension of my current business seeing how as a stylist I’m like an unconventional therapist. The chair does something to the clients where they feel most comfortable to talk about things they normally wouldn’t share to people. I believe it has something to do with me as the stylist seeing them with their most vulnerable part of them, their hair. My focus with my life coaching is to help people especially single parents become their most authentic self and their best version of themselves so that they can effectively parent better and help their children form healthy and long lasting bonds. My haircare line is designed for all hair types but focuses on natural hair from type 3a to 4c.
Giving up is always lingering when place in tough positions. Especially, when those tough times seem to be never ending. My children have been and still are my driving force. Without them I’m not sure where I’d be right now. Knowing that I inspire them makes me happy and assures me I’m moving in the right direction.
Jocelyn DoCouto was born in Providence, RI and raised in Pawtucket, RI. She is first generation Cape Verdean and Senegalese. As the oldest of both parents, Jocelyn always felt the pressures of setting the bar through creating and accomplishing goals one after another. Throughout her young academic years, Jocelyn always excelled; remaining with high honors, high GPA, graduated high school with a full semester of college completed, and landed an academic scholarship to Boston University. Although she dropped out of college, Jocelyn always knew she was destined for greatness.
The road to success hasn’t always been the smoothest. Finding out she was pregnant with her first child at 19, Jocelyn became a mother at 20. Knowing that she may become a single mother considering her relationship with her child’s father began to go downhill, Jocelyn quickly began trying to find her way to provide for herself and her daughter through her retail jobs. Soon after she became a Corporate America worker trying to figure out her life career. In the mist of that journey, Jocelyn later became pregnant again and had her son at age 23. After her second child, Jocelyn knew she needed to make necessary changes and gain financial freedom somehow to feed herself and her two children because the corporate jobs were not going to provide it.
Jocelyn decided to reduce her hours and go from full-time to part-time so she can then work on her craft of doing hair.Jocelyn was always naturally creative and drew a lot as a child. She learned how to braid at the early age of 11 and always practiced freestyle designs to show her creativity through braids. She’s worked in barbershops as early as age 13 but she did not think she would ever consider doing hair full-time. In 2014, she realized that natural hair care started to become very popular and more people were putting the relaxers down. At that moment, Jocelyn figured that it was the perfect time for her to tap into her natural talents and grow her craft for natural hair care.In 2015, Jocelyn began looking into what were the requirements to open a natural hair shop.
She realized there was an issue in Rhode Island and decided to take action to help bring attention and get braiding deregulated in the state of Rhode Island. With this bill being passed, no one who desired to have a braiding shop that focused on natural hair care and protective styling would need to obtain a cosmetology license. After 4 long years of fighting, the bill was passed and the deregulation of braiding became a reality in Rhode Island’s state law. During the mist of all those years into present day, Jocelyn diligently worked on establishing and growing her natural hair care and protective styling business. She went from Jae’s Protective Styling, to The Salon JPS, and to where it stands today as JaeSlayed Studio.
She is located on 440 Central Avenue, Pawtucket, Rhode Island 02861. At this beautiful private salon studio, Jocelyn collaborates with her business partner and master makeup artist Margarita Luna who is known for her business Beat by Maggz.She became very popular locally for her great styling skills but also for becoming the personal hair stylist for many NFL greats such as Patrick Chung, Stephon Gilmore, Dont’a Hightower, Adam Butler, Kenyon Barner, J Jones, Brandon King, and N’Keal Harry. She’s also had the pleasure to work with Antonio Brown, Michael Bennett, and other amazing people in the music industry and athletic association. Constantly looking to grow her craft and acquire new skills, Jocelyn has also taken classes with LaceAssassin, Alonzo Arnold, Justin Kace, and Natita.Jocelyn now stands as a multifaceted stylist specializing in braids, locs, wigs, weaves, etc. Outside of her great hair artistry, Jocelyn is always keeping busy and finding ways to connect people with great products and services. She currently launching her haircare product line called JaeSlayed Products which is set to have its initial release on May 26, 2021.
Working in corporate America was very challenging for me because I have always struggled with time management and the overall the concept of having to work under someone else’s scope. I knew that I wanted to be my own boss and gain financial freedom but I needed my 9-5 to fund my business. I was also always so adamant about not doing hair for a living. As time went on and the demand for protective styling grew, I decided to just try it out and give myself 3 years and if it didn’t work out I’d go back to school and corporate. Once I dropped down to part-time at my corporate job and began building a clientele, I realized that I can make this a career and I started working towards opening a salon.
My true passion was to be an illustration artist or a tattoo artist. I just naturally had the talent to create very cool designs with braids and found doing hair therapeutic in a way.
My hardest part was deregulating braiding in Rhode Island. I mean you can always get a manager to help run your salon business but relying on people to remain with you in business isn’t logical these days because everyone wants to go on their own eventually.I took it upon myself to figure the steps of what is needed to get a law changed and I was fortunate enough to get help and assistance with the Institute of Justice.
I contacted the Institute of Justice after reading their untangling regulations report they had did in 2014. They worked with me for four years producing campaigns, lobbying, presenting our case to the House Representatives and Senates, etc. In 2019, not only did it get passed through house and senate but it also got signed into law with Governor Raimondo. With this bill being passed into law, anyone seeking to open a braiding and protective styling shop can do so without having to acquire a license through cosmetology or barbering. This elevates the cost of the schooling that would have been required as well as the headaches of always having to follow guidelines that technically doesn’t apply to us. This bill also allows creation of jobs and businesses which helps the economy of our state.
Honestly I would love to work with more NFL and NBA clients, especially Derrick Rose, Kawhi Leonard, Julio Jones, Cameron Jordan, and Colin Kaepernick. My goal is also to work with some dope artists like J Cole, NLE Choppa, Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, Lil Durk, Lil Baby, etc.
What to and not to invest in and how to best structure the make-up of the salon and services. I wasted a lot of money and time through trial and error because I didn’t have anyone who can guide me properly.
EXTREMELY important! Hair is our confidence on the outside but how we feel inside is equally important. Establishing a relationship with my clients is more than just building rapport. Watching them grow and prosper in life and with their personal relationships is very rewarding for me.
Honestly, it’s still a working progress. I would say that the first 3 years there’s A LOT of sacrificing and it’s nothing personal towards your loved ones, however, it’s necessary to keep the business as the focal point. If you can take the first three years and devote most of your energy into your business every year that follows will become easier. I started working 7 days a week my first year opening, to working 6 days my second year, 5 days my third year, and now I’m presently working 4 days.
I’m currently working on my life coaching which will be an extension of my current business seeing how as a stylist I’m like an unconventional therapist. The chair does something to the clients where they feel most comfortable to talk about things they normally wouldn’t share to people. I believe it has something to do with me as the stylist seeing them with their most vulnerable part of them, their hair. My focus with my life coaching is to help people especially single parents become their most authentic self and their best version of themselves so that they can effectively parent better and help their children form healthy and long lasting bonds. My haircare line is designed for all hair types but focuses on natural hair from type 3a to 4c.
Giving up is always lingering when place in tough positions. Especially, when those tough times seem to be never ending. My children have been and still are my driving force. Without them I’m not sure where I’d be right now. Knowing that I inspire them makes me happy and assures me I’m moving in the right direction.
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