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

Jakecia , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Everyone has crazy stuff happen to them, but often small business owners and creatives, artists and others who are doing something off the beaten path are hit with things (positive or negative) that are so out there, so unpredictable and unexpected. Can you share a crazy story from your journey?

One day me and one of my loyal client is getting a braid service and a young ladie walk in my suite. And was like are you Keta I was like huh ?? With a loss look on my face since everywhere on my door and wall next to this lady said StylesbyKeys. I said No she says she told me she was going to do my hair today and I was coming by to drop the deposit off. I told her I’m sorry I don’t know who that person is and no one owned or work in my suite with that name only me. So the was the first of many scammers using my business name and whole address including my suite to scam people.

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 have been braiding since the age of 9 years old. Braiding has always been a passion of mine since I been a child. Going through very traumatic experiences in life Braiding saved my life. I offer and specialize in Knotless Braids, stitch braids, feed in braids, leave out sew ins, men braids, box braids and soft/distressed locs. I also offer braid services to men and woman who have Alopecia. I want them to know that they are beautiful inside and outside and can look just like everyone else. I take pride in my work without a piece of hair out of place. My art creative skills with braids have had clients from st. Thomas, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, New York, Augusta, Florida, Virginia, Connecticut, and more places come just to not only get luxury quality braids but the “Come Get These Hands” experience. I love to service my business owners, corporate clients, actors, school district, teachers, principals, college students and staff, doctors, nurses, surgeons, chefs, and military personnel. All my clients are very passionate people and I love having them and my new clients as well. I’m the type of braider that if you show me something I design the style to your head to fit you. And I give you the service you want not what I want to do to your hair.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The very best way is begin yourself don’t pretend to be someone else. Stay consistent with everything even though everything changes all the time. I pray for every client to be sent to me from God. God has my business I just do as he tells me. Never stop learning and take correct advice from others.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to learn how to manage home bills and Business bills. It was very hard at the beginning cause I was walking by faith with opening my suite. I had a slime amount of clients so I still had to work a full time job at one point. I finally had to learn on my own how to juggle both set of bills.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.keystrapp.com
• Instagram: @stylesbykeys
• Facebook: Stylesbykeys braiding studio llc
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@mskey89
• Other: TikTok @stylesbykeys Google: Stylesbykeys Braiding studio llc

Image Credits
Myself