Today we’d like to introduce you to Toy-Joan Gilliam.

Hi Toy-Joan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started out not really knowing exactly what I wanted to do. When I graduated high school I had absolutely no plan. The day after graduation my mother came to my room and said, “I understand that you have no interest in college, but you have to get a job. She commanded me to get on the bus, go to Our local mall and not to come back without a job. Lo and behold I ended up with two jobs that day. One as a sales associate at Express and another at the Greenburgh/White Plains CAP Office. Little did I know that the woman that hired me at the CAP office would be the one that connected me to beginning my journey as a cosmetologist. She knew many celebrities and people in general and I desired to be in that circle. She had a friend that encouraged me to go to hair school, get licensed and work with celebrities so that I can make money. As a young 18 year old, this idea put fire and desire in me. I finally found what I wanted to do!! That same lady that hired me was my model for my hair exam and connected me to the very first salon I worked in after I graduated and passed my exam. She later passed away. I know she would be so proud of me. While working at that salon as an assistant I also began to slowly build a clientele and pick up basic skill sets as a professional. I transitioned from that Salon to a barber shop where I was the only hairstylist . At that time I desired to work for a hair company and get my “name out there”. At the time I was interviewing for two major hair companies. Thay position was to be a platform artist/educator. I would be on stages styling hair and educating about hair products. While still in the process I realized that I needed to get back into a salon and be amongst other hair stylist so that I can pick up more skills. I left that barber shop and moved into a well known salon in New Rochelle. One of the stylist at that new Rochelle location was actually packing up while I was moving in. And guess what, she happened to be an educator for the company that I was interviewing for. She explained to me that she was moving to Atl and she thought I d be a good fit for the position. I followed through and became an educator/platform artist for Design Essentials. Looking back, I realized that God was walking me through each and every step of the way. I stayed at that salon for two years. While there I learned even more about hair and hair care. If I be totally honest, my transition from that salon caught me a-little of guard in the end. I had an opportunity to move and become a celebrity hair stylist for a reality show that was very popular at the time. So I gave up all my clientele, sold my car, and let go of my apartment. But guess what I DID NOT get the position. I had to move back home with my parents with no car and no clientele. I was embarrassed, sad and it left me in a state of depression for months. One day I was on the phone with my mother feeling sorry for myself. She said Toy forget about the past and just move forward. I actually listened, it’s like something in me got a grip. I got off the phone with my mother and called my distributor. who I worked along side of for Design Essentials. I knew he would know who was hiring and what salon I’d be a great fit for. (He sold hair products all over Westchester so he knew a lot of salon owners and stylist. During our conversation he directed me where to go and who to speak with. I began working in that salon a few weeks later. Being at that salon was like the icing on the cake. Whatever knowledge and skill set I hadn’t gotten from the other salons I picked it up there. It was like the top coat, the polisher, the final stop that I needed before I was able to open up my own salon. I was at that salon for 1 year. In the meantime I found my own location to set up shop. Exactly 1 year later I opened up my own establishment that I named after my late grandmother “Joan Emanuel Salon”. I was 28years old with my own salon, had been featured in magazines, an educator for a major hair company and had a growing clientele. Just when I thought things were moving smooth it got alil shaky. It was time to renew my lease. The amount to stay at that location was out of my budget. I was so worried of where I would go what I would do. But God made a way. After being there for 7 years I left and moved to white plains ny where I have been now for the last 8years. During these last 8yrs I have study Trichology which is the study of hair loss and scalp diseases. I graduated with honors from trichology school. I am now a Certified Trichologist & Holistic Health Practitioner. I assist women in finding the root cause of the hair loss using physiology mapping.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve listed some of the rocky roads in the last question. Life had definitely thrown me challenges but God got me through them all. Please see some of the road blocks in the question before this one.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a Trichologist, a holistic health practitioner and licensed Cosmetologist. Trichology is the study of hair loss/alopecia and scalp maladies. As a HHP I assist in creating changes from a naturopathic approach. I assist women in finding the root cause of their alopecia by way of better decision making which impacts their overall health. I find the hidden causes of their alopecia by using a Method called physiology mapping That means through the mind:body connection I am able to connect the dots as to why the hair is falling based on what’s going on internally. What sets me apart is that I have skills as a cosmetologist to care for hair, I am gifted to grow hair and I am educated as to why hair falls through Trichology. My brand pH. C also known as Pretty Healthy Confident, LLC assist women in becoming the best version of themselves. We help build Confidently (C) Balanced (pH) women by helping them find new perspectives on how they view themselves wholistically. Most times the hair is falling because of what is going on internally. My brand helps with healthy living from the inside out. When you feel good about yourself it brings about a glow on the outside. My brand offers events that assist with self esteem, balancing emotions and hair care.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I honestly don’t believe in luck. I believe that God orders my steps ..,I believe that if I choose to be directed by God that all things will work for my good even if it seems like a bad situation.

Pricing:

• I offer a complimentary Alopecia Liberation Session it’s 15min, it’s a phone call and it lets us know how we can move forward.
• I offer a full C.A.H.L.M (combating against hair loss & maladies) consultation that features bloodwork reading from an optimal perspective, a tongue analysis, a bio scanning, a comprehensive questionaire about genetics and lifestyle. This consultation gives you the root cause of your alopecia. $480
• I offer to topical treatments (price varies depending on if one needs a full 12 or 16 week package.

Contact Info:

• Website: Prettyhealthyconfident.com
• Instagram: Ms_ph.c
• Facebook: Prettyhealthyconfident, llc
• Other: Toy J. Gilliam on Facebook

Image Credits
Coche productions