We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Koi Reid a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Koi, appreciate you joining us today. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard

I am a mobile loctician, which differs from the industry standard in two main ways. First, I travel to do hair – I meet clients at their homes or hotels, rent chairs in partner salons, and meet clients outside in public spaces. Along with feeding my desire for travel and adventure, I am able to operate my business without paying rent or many of the other fixed fees that come with operating a physical hair salon.

The second is that I have hyper-specialized in one skill. I have been crocheting dreadlocks for six years, which is a version of dreadlock maintenance and installation that uses a small hook to work the hair. Unlike other methods, it is unique in that it does not require products, you can wash your hair as often as you’d like, and it can be used on any hair texture. I am not afraid to turn away potential clients who are looking for services outside of those I provide, which helps ensure that everyone I work with is happy with their hair.

Finally, having a mobile business gives me a wide array of options for where I might take my business in the future. Recently, I have begun to vend at Reggae and Folk music festivals. As a music-lover myself, it is exciting to interact with clients in such a different atmosphere than the home or salon.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

​​I use the crochet method to do dreadlocks, which allows me to install, maintain, repair, and combine locs for people of all hair textures. This differs from other dreadlock methods, which often only work well on kinky (afro or curly) hair. This makes my services perfect for people who do not want to use products on their locs, wash their hair often due to an active lifestyle, are dealing with balding, or need repairs. It also means that hair is instantly locked up (meaning it won’t unravel), and the extensions I put in are permanent.

Often, those who use my services have tried other dreadlock methods and did not get the desired results, are struggling to control their hair, or are going through a health issue. It is a relief to these clients to have someone who can work with them on such a niche problem, especially as people are often judged or criticized for having dreadlocks if they don’t look “clean”.

My mobile business structure gives clients a bit more responsibility than they may be used to. They need to work with me to determine when and where we will meet, especially if we are not currently located near one another. Because I do not wash hair, they must follow pre-appointment care instructions to ensure their hair and space are ready for the crochet process. If they want extensions, I help them pick and order the hair instead of providing it. Afterwards, they need to have a plan to take care of their dreadlocks between crochet sessions, which can be a few months for certain areas. I have seen the pride that comes from understanding your own needs, and the great client-stylist relationship that comes from each of us being responsible for different aspects of hair care.

I began my career working for Dreadlock Central when I lived on the East Coast. It is a group of several stylists working together to cover a large area, all providing a similar mobile structure to the one I do now. I am most proud of branching out and starting my own business after spending so much time as part of a collective. It was difficult and frustrating, as I went from having dozens of good reviews online and a constant stream of clients to an empty business page and a trickle of tentative people. But I become more confident every day as an independent business owner, and I am excited for the future.

I am passionate about my business because it introduces me to so many new people, and it has the ability to grow alongside my other passion, which is travel writing. I see myself having clients in many different states or even countries, and vending at big music festivals. The first music festival I will be working at is a local New Mexico Bluegrass festival coming up in a few weeks.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

I foster brand loyalty by giving clients a good experience they cannot get anywhere else. Because crochet services take anywhere from two to ten hours, I spend a lot of time in the client’s home getting to know their families, sharing meals, talking about life, and enjoying their favorite media such as movies, video games, and podcasts. Many clients consider me a friend and enjoy having me around just as much as they enjoy getting their hair done.

I also don’t try to compete. I make it clear that their hair may need care in between sessions with me, and try to strike up relationships with local salons so I have people to recommend. If a client likes me, they will want my services alongside those of their barber, hair stylist, or partner.

Finally, I encourage clients to stay in touch by asking for tips on hair care or about my travel schedule.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

As I am essentially restarting my business from scratch, creating trust with potential customers is important for growing clientele. I have found that my two most effective and budget-friendly methods have been good old-fashioned word-of-mouth and paper flyers. My clients spread the word to their partners or friends, and I ensure to talk about my business to any who might be interested or have connections. It is important not to be shy about asking for reviews, as good reviews can push a business out of the shadows of the Google algorithm and onto the front page.

Flyers with clear pictures and a simple explanation of the business have helped me to grow my clientele after moving from the East Coast to the Southwest. My favorite places to put flyers are hair and nail salons, coffee shops, and dispensaries. I also like to ask new clients how they heard of me so I can tell what is working and where I can improve on building visibility.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dread-king.com/
• Instagram: @dread_king_locs
• Other: Tik Tok: @queervagabond – includes hair videos along with travel experiences
  Blog: https://www.queervagabond.com/ – my travel blog!