76 - Loni Jean on Finding Strength in Struggle, Grace, Empathy & Forgiveness

Rooted in GraceIn this heartfelt conversation, Joanne sits down with curl specialist, educator, and founder of Desert Curls Studio, Loni Jean Lafinier. Known to many as @‌desertcurlsstudio on Instagram, Loni Jean has spent years dedicated to helping people embrace their natural beauty and see themselves more fully. But behind every beautifully crafted curl is a woman whose strength was forged through some of life's most difficult seasons. Born into hardship and raised in uncertainty, Loni Jean shares with her humor and raw honesty how a childhood marked by addiction, abandonment and instability became the very foundation of her empathy, grace, and deep sense of purpose.What the Chair Teaches UsLoni Jean opens up about the profound parallels between healing and the work she does behind the chair every single day. From the client who worried about hair color during pregnancy to the simple, sacred act of feeling truly seen and heard, Joanne and Loni Jean explore how showing up authentically transformed both of their businesses and their lives. They discuss the power of vulnerability, the courage it takes to let people in and how the conversations that happen in a salon chair so often go far deeper than hair.Healing Ourselves, Healing Each OtherMore than a conversation about curls, this episode is a gentle and honest reminder that our wounds do not define us and that the inner work we do on ourselves ripples far beyond this moment in time. Loni Jean shares her long journey in therapy, the healing she has found in forgiving her mother and the deep personal growth happening in real time as she learns to listen to her body, release old abandonment wounds and trust herself more fully. Whether you are a beauty professional, a woman doing the hard inner work or simply someone who needs to hear that they are not alone, this conversation will leave you feeling held, seen and inspired to extend a little more grace to yourself today.Desert Curls Step by Step Online Styling Tutorials and Online ClassesBook an Appointment with Desert Curls StudioFollow Desert Curls Studio on InstagramFollow Desert Curls Studio on TikTokChapters: 05:26 Family background and personal influences06:48 Growing up with family challenges10:26 Childhood cul-de-sac memories14:01 Talking about relationships and therapy17:09 Reflecting on a mentor relationship19:53 Reflecting on personal growth and influence23:55 Embracing authenticity behind the chair27:56 Feeling and managing emotions31:15 Talking about life lessons35:04 Mentoring Winter and Miriam38:22 Focusing on passion in the salon41:28 Embracing authentic beauty and self-worthLet’s chat! [email protected] Join the Innersense™ Communityhttps://innersensebeauty.com/pages/newsletter-sign-up Let’s Stay Connectedhttps://www.instagram.com/joannestarkman https://www.instagram.com/innersenseorganicbeauty/ https://www.instagram.com/innersensepro/ https://www.facebook.com/InnersenseOrganic/ https://www.youtube.com/c/InnersenseOrganicBeauty Clean hair care & body productsUse code JOANNE15 to save 15% on first purchases at https://innersensebeauty.com/Want to elevate your salon? (New Pro Clean Color Line)https://innersensebeauty.com/pages/salonshttps://innersensebeauty.com/pages/education