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

Anica, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?

Believe it or not, I earned my first dollar as a creative at the age of 11. From an early age I showed to be a creative thinker/person in general. One of my creative outlets, and my primary means of income to this day, has been hair styling. I would always do my own hair as a child and one day my friends mother asked me to do her 2 daughters hair and asked me how much I would charge! It was at that moment I realized that I had a talent that was recognized by not just my peers, but also my elders and it was the biggest boost of confidence. I actually still have one of the daughters as a client today.

Anica, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a natural hair stylist first, and product creator second. What that means is that I have over 20 years experience in the natural hair industry, from cornrows, to extensions, to Locs. However, I have recently discovered a passion in finding items that I like or have a need for, and creating them exactly how I want them. I make products for my hair clients to enhance the health of their hair and skin ( growth oil, rose water hydration spray, hair and body butters) and I also create items to enhance their personal space as well ( candles, aromatherapy items, home decor). What I enjoy most about my craft is the challenge. I am definitely a critical thinker in all aspects of life. I enjoy figuring things out vs having the answer handed to me. It’s that quality about me that keeps my brand growing and evolving because I’m constantly looking for ways to enhance my products and make them the best they can be for everyone.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Facebook groups! I wish I had known the beauty in the communities that are Facebook groups. There are so many people in the world with so much knowledge to share as well as so many people who can benefit from my knowledge. I could have saved so much time and energy and touched so many more people if I had known how useful these groups were years ago.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is that my possibilities are endless. If I feel stagnant in what I’m doing, I just find a new project. I’m not tied down to just one lane. I also get to share my career and crafts with my daughter and show her that there’s a world of opportunities out there and she has the ability to create and mold her future, not fit into someone else’s mold of what it should be.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.t2sbotanicals.com and www.thestyledsidebeauty.com
• Instagram: @t2sbotanicals and @thestyledsidebeauty