Heart For Hair: A 10-Year Natural Hair Salon journey is celebrated

Why was it important for you to focus on healthy, natural hair in our community?

It was important for me to focus on textured hair and scalp health in our community because I’ve seen firsthand how much confidence and pride come from embracing our natural textures. Growing up in South Florida’s humidity, it was nearly impossible to wear your hair straight unless you had a relaxer. My mother made me wait until I was twelve before getting one, mainly because styling my natural hair at home became more challenging for her. Fortunately, I had an amazing beautician who cared for my hair, so it was always healthy and long—but I still had no idea what my natural curls looked like or what they could do. In 2007, my mother and I moved to Nashville, Tennessee. At that time, I had no passion for doing hair, so I continued visiting beauticians for styling. The Nashville climate wasn’t as humid as South Florida’s, and my stylist encouraged me to stop getting relaxers and simply straighten my natural hair. Even though my hair remained healthy, I still hadn’t seen or embraced my natural curl pattern. That changed in 2010 while I was in college. I visited an old friend, and I admired his mother’s curls so she desired to style my hair for me. She was the first person to truly show me what my curls could do and encouraged me to wear my hair in its natural state, as my relaxer had completely grown out. Once I embraced my texture, it felt like I discovered a new part of myself. That moment sparked a passion for natural hair care that has only grown stronger ever since. I started styling my own hair, then helping friends with theirs, which eventually led me into the beauty industry. Today, I’m a dual-licensed natural hair specialist and cosmetologist, and now a trichologist in training—a ‘hair doctor.’ For a long time, many people felt pressured to alter their hair to fit certain beauty standards, often at the expense of its health. I wanted to change that narrative by helping clients learn how to care for and love their natural hair—hence our motto, *‘Where healthy hair meets style.’* This mission extends to adopted or biracial clients whose parents want to learn how to properly care for their child’s textured hair. My goal is to educate, restore, and celebrate the beauty of textured hair while keeping it strong, healthy, and versatile. It’s about more than styling—it’s about empowerment and helping people feel their best in their own skin. Whether someone chooses to wear extensions, keep their hair straight, or rock their curls, I want to help them first embrace what they have and then explore styling options that fit their lifestyle.

That’s one of the reasons I’m bringing back *‘Curls Night’*—an event where people with all curl types can come together to connect, uplift one another, shop with local beauty and wellness vendors, and simply have a great time. There aren’t many spaces like that for the textured hair community in Nashville, so I’m passionate about creating and cultivating more events that celebrate and unify our community through hair.

What does it mean for you to celebrate 10 years in business?

Celebrating 10 years in business meant so much to me—it was a moment of gratitude and reflection. It reminded me of how far I’ve come, the challenges I’ve overcome, and the amazing clients and community who’ve supported me along the way. Building this business from the ground up wasn’t just about doing hair; it was about creating a space where people feel valued, confident, and cared for. Reaching this milestone showed me the impact consistency, passion, and community support can have. It motivates me to keep growing, learning, and giving back to the people who helped make those ten years possible. It also gave me great joy to see my community connect and support one another as we celebrated together.

Photography: Laws of Ace Films