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How long have you been doing hair?
About 25 years, 19 of them professionally
What do you like most about being a hairstylist? What's your least favorite part?
My favorite part is making people feel good about themselves and my least favorite part is the hours and setting boundaries for your personal time.
Do you specialize in anything? If so what?
I specialize in Silk Pressing without compromising the integrity of the natural curl pattern.
Do you think specializing limits hairstylists?
No, I believe specializing creates a special lane just for you.
Tell us about "Deeper Than Hair".
Deeper Than Hair is my salon. We are in the heart of West Philly and we specialize in natural hair care.
We know being an owner/stylist has more responsibilities, but is it more rewarding? Why or why not?
I think it depends on who you ask. For me personally it definitely has it's hard days being the leader but once you accomplish not only your dreams and aspirations but help others accomplish theirs as well, that's the most rewarding part.
How important would you say retail is to the success of a salon?
Retail is not a necessity at the salon but it definitely has its perks. Not only financially but also with being able to recommend products to your clients while they're away from you to keep their tresses healthy.
What's the key to building and keeping clientele?
The Key is being a great stylist is not only taking care of the clients hair but you should have great energy, a great work environment, good work ethic and treats each client like they're the only one!
What inspires you as a stylist?
I stay driven by always remaining a student. The more I learn, the more I'm inspired to try.
How important is it for stylists to continue their education?
That's funny because my last answer was just about remaining a student! Education is important because over time, the hair industry is always developing and if you don't keep up, you'll get left behind.
How has social media impacted you as a stylist?
Social media has helped my career tremendously. Free marketing is ALWAYS a good idea. I also love watching other stylists execute! It motivates me.
Are you for or against stylists showing "how to's" on Youtube?
Well, as a YouTuber with over 1 million subscribers, I'd say um absolutely fine with it lol! Nothing in hair is sacred anymore. You should never give your secrets away but everything else is a go!
How would you describe your brand?
All things haircare.
What are you most proud of as a stylist?
I'm most proud of being retired from behind the chair as of one year ago at 36 years old.
What advice would you give to stylists on how to have a successful career in the beauty industry?
My main advice to stylists is to Grind as hard as you can, keep God first and have the ultimate patience.
Tell us about All Hair is Good Hair.
All Hair is Good Hair is my children's book that I wrote to uplift children (and adults) to love their natural hair texture.
What is your goal as an educator/author?
My goal is to continue to spread positivity about our natural coils and curls. I also want to keep pushing the agenda of options and not judging each other for what we choose as individuals to do with our hair.
How important is social networking to your business?
Networking is very important because the people you are talking to get to experience you and your personality first hand. It's also good for others to network for you because word of mouth is one of the strongest forms of marketing their is.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANNAGJID TAYLOR/SO SHEAR GENIUS
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