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

Alright, Andrea thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

Honestly, I think I started my business at a good time.. there really isn’t a “right or wrong” time for anything. I felt it within myself that I was ready to explore more of what I always dreamed of. I grew up in my godmother’s hair salon watching her and assisting when I could. And I had a friend I used to share mannequin heads with. We played with those things everyday after school.. lol I remember like it was yesterday… in our kitchens after school with 3 heads. We had 3 different styles on each but I always wanted to just braid. Around that time I was only 9 years old in the 4th grade. Just a kid with a big dream… per usual. Then at age 16 I started servicing clients and good enough to where I could charge them a decent price. Did that all the way up to my current age of 29, and of course the price is different ! lol I have built small salon spaces in my basement, worked in my kitchen.. salons and salon suites. Looking at it all, I am happy that I started when I did. I say that because I have taught myself so much and still have time for growth, and learning so much more.

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’m Andrea,29 year old hair stylist known as “freckles or freckleeface” to my clients from east Baltimore, MD. I started my business about 13 years ago but I did not start professionally in salons etc until a few years ago at age 25. My passion is braiding, but I am gifted to be able to do more than just braiding. Braiding is very therapeutic for me… when I may be feeling down, or not in a good space it uplifts me. I enjoy being one on one with my clients, having great conversation, where some conversations grow so deep. Their smiles and actions once a service is completed is what actually keeps me going . There are tons and tons of people that does exactly the same thing as me and my clients make me feel special ! I respect and appreciate everyone that has allowed me to service them. I have taken breaks from braiding while dealing with other life issues and my clients ALWAYS understand and they come back to me when I tell them I’m ready. It’s the loyalty … the loyalty as well that keeps me going because again, more than one hundred people offer the same services but they choose ME ! That is a blessing… I am so thankful.
When I grow bigger, they’re all coming with me .

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Funding my business… I have NEVER been in position to have all the necessary funds to put in my business. I just knew one day I wanted to open my own salon suite and have it so cute and looking like the girls on the internet…. Just praying my business grows much bigger to where I am in position to open a salon and maintain it. I was working a full time job but also just had a baby boy. My son was 1 years old and I felt like I needed my own schedule and be my own boss so that I could be available to him at any time. I told my mom I wanted open my suite and she stated “If you think you’re ready, then go ahead”. I always went with my own thoughts.. every time ! My mother gave me the money to go and give a deposit for my suite.. but the consistency was on me. I ended up using all the tools I had at home and eventually purchasing more as time went on. I kept asking myself was this a good thing to do…. and sure enough as I started seeing my clients and money rolling in, I said yup this is it. I ended ended up quitting my job to run the business full time. I was restocking my products, paying bills, having fun and being a mom, Opened my salon suite in June and closed it January that following year. Financially it was becoming a lot being a mom and paying so much . When the business was doing great… it was doing great and when it wasn’t as great.. I started feeling discouraged. Friends would assist when I asked but I still had to figure it out on my own. I was really sad because I did not properly set up things financially and had to shut down my suite.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I have always been into my social media. So once I started getting a little bit of following, I created my business page and was asking my other followers to follow me. Started doing videos and pictures of my work, posting content.. good or bad. I had to be seen and social media was the place ! I would make sure I posted something everyday and be available to all client questions and concerns. Clients started coming and trusting me, I gave them me, me myself and I. And the was the BEST thing to do because I had connections with everyone. As time went on, I knew who was returning and who was not. And that still was okay because again, they considered me.. they chose me and I am thankful. Friends & family started re-posting my work which helped out a whole lot because everyone had different following. Social media was the place for me.. at least I thought so anyway…. there is so much more and I want to work towards it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Braidsbyfreckles.as.me/
• Instagram: @frecklesbraids_ / @freckleeface