We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shauntoria Craver. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shauntoria below.

Shauntoria , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

When telling the story of my mission, I always start with, “I didn’t choose locs, locs chose me.” My mission has always been to learn how to cultivate healthy and long lasting locs. It was more than about just being neat. Not only did I want to learn, I wanted to teach others what I know. I’ve learned that everybody is teaching themselves how to do locs. The best thing to do would be to learn from who you aspire your work to look like. This mission is meaningful to me because I started off as a self taught loctician. So pouring into others what I’ve learned to teach them the right way is important to me.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Shauntoria Craver AKA THE NAPPY NATURALIST. I am a proud pandemic entrepreneur. I always tell people that I didn’t chose locs, locs chose me! In a time in my life when I wasn’t really sure what direction I was headed, God sent me my first client. I posted on my FB and it took off from there. I went from traveling to people homes to working in a shop full time once they reopened. I am also proud to say that I have been in this industry longer than I’ve ever worked in corporate America. The best thing I could’ve ever did was bet on myself! I pride myself on being a self taught licensed loctician. My brand is me! I built everything that I have today simply by being myself and putting everything I have into my work and it shows. I make sure that I not only provide the best work, I also make sure team nappy leaves feeling more knowledgeable and confident in their loc journey. I am the creator of The Nappy Locs Loyalty Program. A program I designed with loyal clients in mind. This program has helped me keep a consistent clientele. My motto is walk in nappy and walk out neat! Team Nappy knows that I’m going to deliver every time! Their smiles when they leave let’s me know I did my part.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

What I know helped build my reputation within my market is consistency. I never paid attention to what anyone else in my industry was doing. I simply worked on perfecting my craft, being hungry for knowledge, and being consistent. Making sure that I market myself outside of social media. Creating innovative and engaging content. Being transparent about my journey. All of these things I know helped me build my clientele and reputation in the loc world.

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

For the past 3 years, I’ve had no boundaries in my schedule. I’ve always been head down and feet to the ground working. Until one day I realized that freedoms a way the reason I chose to change my career. Yes I want to make money. My freedom is much more important. Freedom to do the things I love. Spend time with my family and friends, cooking meals for my family, traveling and creating new memories with my soon to be husband. Once I learned that I was the solution to my problem, I adjusted my scheduled and stood firm on being unavailable.

Contact Info:

• Website: booknappynow.as.me
• Instagram: @The Nappy Naturalist
• Facebook: @The Nappy Naturalist
• Other: www.shopnappynow.com