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

Alexandria , appreciate you joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

Empress Locs & Braids LLC grew from love and a previous relationship I was in. I was dating a man who was affiliated with the Rastafarian culture and it was my duty to groom his crown. He taught me how to clean his locs properly, how to twist and braid them. This is where Empress Locs & Braids originated from. While learning these skills, I never knew it would transform me into a loctician and a successful business owner. As time went on, I was working at a call center, but I was so unhappy because I was underpaid and overworked. I had to find something else to do. I went on Facebook one day just to browse and I came across a young lady looking for a shampoo girl. I jumped on the opportunity. Fast forward, two and a half years later, I branched out on my own and began growing my empire.

After learning professionalism, cleaning up my customer service skills, growing my audience and perfecting my craft, I feel unstoppable. Yes, I’m solving problems with clients that do not understand the complexities of their locs. I’m teaching them and demonstrating the beauty of their crown. The most exciting part of my business is taking everything I love and combining it with a sacred service that each and every client will remember.

Alexandria , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

When I first dug into the hair industry, I only knew how to twist and braid locs, I mostly did men locs or my own. As I got more involved, I evolved to getting creative with women and kids. Today I do them all! I offer multiple loc services {Traditional Locs, Micro Locs, Starter Locs, Palm Rolling, Interlocking, creative Loc Styles, Loc Extensions and much more}. I also began creating my own line of oils that I use in my business every day. Natty Oils includes 4 flavors of oil and a cream. Each item is currently home made in the comfort of my kitchen. My products enhances hair growth, seizes itchy scalp, assists with flakey or dry scalp, provides moisture and much more!

I am most proud of the relationships that I have secured throughout the years. I have over 1000 repeating clients and close to 15,000 followers with all my social media platforms combined. I want my audience to know that I intend to continue growing my fortune like no other. I intend to continue helping others nurture not only their crowns but assist them in seeing the best versions of themselves when they sit in my chair.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When I first began Empress Locs & Braids LLC, I was in a full-service salon working with stylists that have been doing hair for ten plus years. At the time, I was an amateur and I had to find my place in the salon. In that time, I began braiding hair to begin growing my name. As time went on, I moved from Envy Hair Salon to servicing clients on the road. I jumped in my car and began driving from city to city {Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Fort Pierce, Port Saint Lucie, Orlando} I realized to get where I wanted to go, I had to work twice as hard. I was doing locs and braids from city to city. I told myself that whichever city gave me the most love, that’s where I will settle. That city was Orlando.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

Funding my business has been 100 percent on me. I do not have any investors. My business has been funded from itself. Once I complete jobs, my earnings circulate back to the business. This helps me with supplies, overhead, products, etc. When I first began the business, capital wasn’t needed. I found salon owners that were willing to believe in me and offer discounts for my chair rental at the time until I built enough clients to pay my dues myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: empresslocsandbraids.com
• Instagram: Lifewithempress
• Facebook: facebook.com/hairbyempress
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=empress+locs+and+braids+llc