“Diamonds in the Ruffâ€, a luxurious pet spa/salon, was founded by Master Pet Stylist Ashley Ann. Ashley Ann is the first African-American to complete a master’s at Yin Lin Grooming School in Chongqing, China and DolAll Grooming School in South Korea. To date, she remains the only African American woman to do so.
For the last decade, Ashley has been grooming dogs and cats and has developed a unique client listing which includes local residents, business executives, and celebrities all who favor the finer details of grooming for which Ashley folds into her practice while individualizing each breed for their unique look to further defining a dog’s personality. The New Jersey resident is the sole-owner of Diamonds in the Ruff†and has been in business for over four years. She has a large Facebook and Instagram following and has been featured on dog specialty shows as far as China and most recently on “The Pet Show with Dr. Katy”, ABC News Studios in Washington, DC.
With over 12 years of grooming experience, Ashley Ann is devoted to and passionate about enhancing the beauty of pets and strives to create an environment, where both the pet and pet parent can enjoy a trip to the grooming salon without feeling apprehensive. Her mission is to provide exceptional service but also to create a fun and loving atmosphere for all pets. Ashley is passionate and dedicated about her craft and what makes her unique is the genuine love for pets. Get better acquainted with this grooming extraordinaire below.
Fancy: How would you describe your swagher? What makes Ashley Ann, Ashley Ann?
Ashley Ann: I would say swagher is the perfect word to describe my uniqueness and my confidence in my own skin. I’m quite rebellious, I can be spontaneous, and I like to think outside of the box. Those three qualities are a recipe for something extraordinaire, and that’s exactly what I am. I believe in breaking boundaries and setting the bar high.
Fancy: So what sparked your interest in pet grooming?
Ashley Ann: I just admire dogs and cats so much. Honestly, I’ve been that way since a little girl. I connect with them, sometimes better than with people. It’s fulfilling to create such an impact on families just by making their fur babies beautiful. I’ve shared such special moments with clients; I’ve groomed for weddings, gender reveals, bar mitzvahs, engagements, and the list goes on. I’ve realized this is just my gift from God, and I’m so grateful for the journey that pet grooming has allowed me to discover.
Fancy: Tell us more about “Diamonds in the Ruff” and what types of services you offer.
Ashley Ann: “Diamonds in the Ruff†is NJ’s luxurious pet grooming salon and spa located in Lincoln Park. It’s shining bright enough to capture the attention of celebrities from various parts of the U.S. Teresa Giudice from “Housewives of New Jersey”, Shanda Freeman, and Celebrity Stylist Alisa Maria are a few of the many stars that have their fur babies groomed by me. Being a celebrity groomer and master stylist, I usually like to add a splash of life and creativity to my grooming, such as meticulous fu-fu cuts, nail polish, doggy stencils, feather extensions, and colorized paw designs. My goal is to have heads turning when walking down the street with your baby.
Fancy: What do you think makes your services unique?
Ashley Ann: I am one of the foremost high-end pet groomers in the New York metropolitan area and warrants the servicing of celebrity pets on a daily basis. What is especially unique about me is that I traveled to China and Korea to further my dog grooming studies and expertise. In Asia, pet groomers hold a very high valued position and grooming one’s pets is an art form. I currently am the only one in my state that holds this level of degree.
Fancy: To what do you attribute your success?
Ashley Ann: Definitely my faith in God, it absolutely attributes to my success. Any successful person will tell you that the road is not easy. When you hit those points where all hope seems to be gone. You MUST have faith. That’s the one thing that has helped me to understand “Everything is all part of the processâ€. Secondly would be my daughter and my passion for my talent. My daughter gives me an indescribable strength and my passion is a powerful love. With those two put together, I feel like I can make it through any obstacle.
Fancy: Now I’m not very familiar with the grooming industry, but I think it’s safe to say as an African-American woman, you’re in the minority within this industry. What is that like for you?
Ashley Ann: It’s an amazing feeling, it’s such a powerful thing just to exceed expectations in the industry, yet there may be a few more obstacles such as finding the right resources or having access to the necessary tools to further my grooming education. It’s fulfilling that I can inspire other minorities to think outside the box with their craft, showing them the sky is the limit, constantly raising the bar and paving new roads. I feel that by doing this it helps to push other aspiring groomers to figure out what makes them feel alive. I’m incredibly humbled with the way so many other minorities see me in their eyes, it really helps me to push myself even further every day.
Fancy: Where do you hope to see yourself and your business in the next five years?
Ashley Ann: I plan to really give back as much as possible and to focus on teaching grooming. My goal is to open a grooming school, the first to be owned by an African American in the US. I enjoy having the privilege and honor of going on such major platforms such as ABC7 and speaking as a professional expert in my field, spreading knowledge about an over-looked grooming industry. Pets are a part of our lives, and I think it’s time to start bringing awareness to the pet industry and to start spreading knowledge about proper care for your fur baby.
Fancy: What words of advice would you give to others considering a career in pet grooming?
Ashley Ann: Make sure you’re passionate; our passion as groomers will bring us so far in the industry. Constantly work on your craft, there are grooming courses all throughout the states be sure to attend a few each year. The more you know the better you will become. Make sure you invest in yourself and your craft. Most importantly build new relationships, that has truly been the most amazing part of my journey. Meeting people all around the world who share the same love for grooming as I do.
Fancy: Who is Ashley Ann outside of work?
Ashley Ann: I’m a single mother before anything. My 4-year-old daughter has me working around the clock. I have to pay the bills and keep her happy. Besides being a mother to such an amazing little girl, I like to give back. Whether its something that I’d like to support by sponsoring/donating for a specific cause, focusing philanthropy, or being a mentor to a young person who needs some guidance. I like to stay busy.
Fancy: How do you practice self-care?
Ashley Ann: I like to practice self-care by really focusing on my mental state. I truly believe that our mental state is very important.  Every morning and every night I like to listen to motivational videos on YouTube. I often listen to people like Bishop T.D Jakes, Oprah Winfrey, Les Brown, Zig Ziglar, and Jim Rohan to name a few. I’ve noticed when my mind is good everything else is in balance. I am able to be a loving mother first, a salon owner, I can also work on building my empire and most importantly I can love myself.
Connect with Ashley Ann below.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diamondsintheruff190
Instagram: @groomingextraordinaire
