Ashlee began her career as a hairstylist in Los Angeles, California and, after four years in the industry, was promoted to Bumble and bumble Network Educator in 2007. She spent seven years educating within the salon, gradually building a community of peers through her presence on social media.
In 2015, Ashlee transitioned to an Independent Educator, a move that felt like a natural next step as her network grew. She began traveling internationally to teach hairstylists and partnered with global brands such as Schwarzkopf Professional and K18 Hair.
Over the past decade, Ashlee has taught 30-45 classes annually in 15-20 cities. She also expanded her offerings to include online education, consistently releasing new digital courses since 2018.
Ashlee’s commitment to education extends to custom tools and apparel designed to simplify modern hairstyling. Her family-run business manufactures and distributes these products, with her father handling production and her mother overseeing distribution. Their work has been featured at international trade shows, including IBS, ABS, and Premiere.
While building her educational brand, Ashlee also started a family, welcoming three children between 2015 and 2022. She continued to tour and teach throughout, balancing professional growth and family life. Ashlee often says that AN Academy was built on blood, sweat, tears, and breastmilk.
Ashlee’s educational philosophy centers on teaching theory first, rather than relying on memorization of techniques or tips. She believes that instructing students in logic and problem-solving empowers them to use critical thinking, enabling them to find solutions beyond simply learning “how” to do something.