Meet the Women who started
CocoLemon Education
Ashley Lewis
AKA @the_blondologist
Ashley has been trying to perfect her craft behind the chair of achieving the most believable and blended blondes since 2006. This obsession has lead to her honing her skills by developing foiling patterns and techniques that enhance and contour a crafted blonde for each guest.
Through independent education Ashley found a passion for helping other stylists grow to their full potential by encouraging them to bet on themselves. Ashley’s goal is to "work hard, crack bad jokes, giggle a lot, and to help others truly feel and look their absolute best!"
Ashley is the co-owner of CocoLemon Hair, a hybrid salon and education company located in Richmond, VA. She is currently a 11 time finalist for behindthechair.com One Shot awards in multiple balayage categories. She was a member of The Behind The Chair Team for 4 years. Traveled the country educating for thebusinessofbalayage.com and has been a brand ambassdor of multiple international companies online including
FRAMAR, JOICO, EUFORA, SALON SCALE, SOLA SALONS, SCHWARZKOPF, and more!
She firmly believes in the unique magic possessed by each stylist and strives to create a safe and supportive environment for them to cultivate and unleash their creative abilities. Her ultimate aim is to empower them to show up as their best selves and share that transformative magic with their own clients.
SarahMarie Smith
AKA @thevividbrunette
SarahMarie, or Sarah, has built an extensive client list of business focusing on brunettes or grey coverage/blending guests. She has traveled the country educating other stylists since 2016. Behind the chair and in education she found a passion for developing & shareing wearable & dimensional brunette looks for even the whitest of hair by incorporating a multitude of techniques and placements. Believing even the trendiest education needed to apply to clients we meet in the salon.
In 2014 Sarah’s first son was born and she found herself back from maternity leave miserable, broke & with a very small client list. She decided things needed to change. Two years later she was a lead educator for an independent education company with a full client list & buying her family their dream home. Her dedication to technical skill, top notch customer service & a professionalism in a comfortable environment were exactly what guests had been looking for in their new stylist.
Sarah was a lead educator & course developer for the Business of Balayage from 2016-2019 was nominated as one of Modern Salons top 100 stylists & salon owners in 2021 and has been given the opportunities to speak on panels focused on Boundaries and Communication for HairLove Retreat.
Her goal as an educator is to help the next generation of stylists learn not only how to do hair but how to take care of their guests to keep them coming back again & again. She believes hair isn’t just about getting it perfect for a picture but making every guest feel their best and that THAT is the magic sauce to a beautiful career.