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

Carmen , appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

I have always wanted to assist in the betterment of my community . I have done just that with my on going work with black women and their natural hair . As well as my work with mindyourownwomb. I created mindyourownwomb due to my own battles and mistreatment discovering I have fibroids . I wanted to create a space where women can share their journeys and bring awareness to breaking societal norms in day to day conversation about women and their reproductive organs . Your body your day starting the conversation the right way . Questions about procreating can be triggering . If it is when , where , how , or why so many .

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

My full time career is a hairstylist . I have been actively servicing clients for the last 10 years going on 11 years. I graduated from Old Dominion University and due to some poor choices I made during college I was unable to receive the career of choice I was seeking in the fashion industry .

I helped my friend move to LA and came back home enrolled into cosmetology school and the rest is history . Once I started doing hair I realized that there was a major need for natural hair specialist who were well rounded and made sure their clients felt good about their crowns . I have worked in New York City , Richmond , VA, and Charlotte where I was able to cultivate my talents and help my curly haired sisters . With all of my works with celebrity clientele , fashion weeks , prom giveaways etc . I have been Allred the chance to be interviewed with the Guardian & a Canadian radio station.

In my later years of my career I created my statement apparel brand better known as Mind Your Own Womb . This brand came about from my own injustices with the hospital pressuring me into getting a Hysterectomy. I felt alone and misunderstood and not listened to . Once I began to share my story I realized a lot of women and specifically a lot of black and brown women were misdiagnosed or not listened to as well when it came to their womb health . I in return wanted to create something that let the world know this T-shirt , mug , bag , hoodie etc is my way of joining a movement . It allows women to discuss their womb health or decisions on their own terms . Mind Your Own Womb has allowed me the pleasure of being on several panels discussing womb health and all the injustices black woken face in that space .

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

For both of my businesses it has been grassroots. A lot of me going out in the community and connecting with people . Also finding likeminded people and connecting with them . So vending or passing out cards , making sure I have a presence on social has been a help as well .I also know sharing your story and allowing your clientele to learn you before they by into the brand is important .

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

So I’m order for me to give Mind Your Own Womb more time and attention. I had to cut back on my hours working my career. So instead of working 5 or 6 days a week I began to work 3/4 days a week and I saw a major difference in brand recognition and sales. You have to make sure you have a great work life balance which means allocating time for all aspects of life so they can all flourish

Contact Info:

• Website: Mindyourownwomb.com
• Instagram: Mindyourownwomb
• Facebook: Mindyourownwomb
• Twitter: MindYourOwnWomb
• Other: HairbyCarmenD.com is my hair website