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

Deirdre, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

I worked in healthcare for over 20 years. I worked through the pandemic from the very beginning. My compliance coordinator position was placed on hold as I had to work where I was needed due to the pandemic. I was sent to many different departments and once the Covid numbers decreased my position was eliminated. I was then forced into another position and at that moment, I knew healthcare was no longer my passion. I had a conversation with my oldest son, and began brainstorming on what my next business adventure would be. I was a life coach and a pure romance consultant during that time, but wanted something I loved to be my next business. My son mentioned I become a loctician as I have done hair over 20 years as a hobby. From this conversation, Deirdre Da Loc Goddess was born. I gave myself six months to see where this business would evolve into. I began planning and ordering supplies, I set up my space, and created my business name, logo, and set up my booking site. I started taking clients in my living room, October 1, 2021. I worked full-time at a local hospital and did hair part time. Every opening I had was completely booked and my clients grew beyond what I could have imagined.

The first year had many ups and downs, but I strived to be the best loctician in Baltimore. I wanted to be known for excellent customer service and salon experience. I set a goal to move into a salon by my 40th birthday which was in June of 2022. I called and visited a few salon suites before I found a location and signed my lease. My move in date was July 1, 2022. I had completed my goal soon after my birthday and was ready to dive in to be a salon owner. I continued working my healthcare job while growing my clientele, and set a goal to quit my healthcare job once I reached 100 consistent clients.

I was working 7 days a week, Monday – Friday at the hospital, and Thur-Sunday maintaining clients locs. By the end of July, my clientele was well over 100 and it was then time to decide when to quit my full-time. I updated my vision board to reflect my salon goals for the duration of the year and saw a quote, “Take the leap, the net will appear.” This quote inspired me to step out on faith and work for myself full-time.

I had created a system for my salon to be ran completely different than most. I took once client at a time, and eliminated wait times. With my system my clients walked in and sat in the shampoo bowl right away. Once the service was complete, that client walked out and the next was scheduled to walk in and get started. Clients loved that prompt service and I began growing my clients from review my clients left on Google.

With my growing clientele, I decided to quit my job on August 4, 2022. I took the leap and from there my salon business excelled. It was very scary at first, but I kept thinking positive and with the encouragement from family, friends, and clients, I knew I had to keep going. Being a loctician is more than just doing hair, its a form of art. I have met amazing children, women, and men who I encouraged and in return inspire me to me the more than just a hair stylist.

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?

I’m a mom of 3, sons who are 21, and 17, and a daughter whose 9 years old. As a mom, I have always taught my children to think outside the box and to do what makes them happy. I expressed to my children that I did not want them to just work a 9-5, but to actually work in fields they enjoy, and to work for themselves. I knew I had lead by example and show my children success can be done at any age.

From a young I enjoyed styling my dolls hair. My mom taught me to braid hair and from there I braided family and friends hair. I started seeing women and men with locs and fell in love with them. I started love ones loc journeys and knew I would start my own journey. I did the big chop and cut my hair very short in 2010. This was a year of evolution and my hair was the beginning of a new me. This is when my love for loc truly began.

As a full-time loctician, I provide more than hair styles. I provide an experience. My clients are treated with respect each and every appointment. They are serviced in a timely manner, offered. beverages including wine and snacks. We call this the ultimate self-care.

One thing that makes me stand out is that I often fix problems associated with locs. When clients locs are damage and not taken care of properly, I am the loctician who can fix the problem and pride in teaching clients how to maintain their hair the proper way. Healthy hair and locs is my ultimate goal for each and every client.

I have a growing TikTok channel (Dalocgoddessllc) where I teach the loc community proper maintenance of locs through videos.

I am most proud of how far I have grown my business while wearing many hats. I have just signed a lease for my very own stand alone salon. I will be opening my doors for clients the second week of March. This was a dream of mine and is currently on my vision board and screen saver on my cellphone. Some call me a mega manifestor as I speak about not lacking anything and manifesting whatever you desire.

I am building more than a brand, I’m building a strong community where I want to continue to teach, locs are a look, the real beauty is in positive thinking. This is the key to being seen. I have started many clients loc journey and I often explain there is no ugly stage, I call it a transitional stage. This is where they rediscover their natural beauty from within.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Social media has been a huge part of growing my buisness. I post daily on instagram and at least 3 times a week on Tiktok. I also have a Goggle business page where I answer questions, post pictures, and respond to all reviews. I’m able to connect to my audience because I comment on each and every comment. I want to be more than just a page. I want to connect to those that watch and take my advice. One piece of advice I can share is to be consistent. Posting consistently is key to keeping your audience engaged.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Setting boundaries and sticking with it. I have a salon rules in regards to timing management and respect of time for myself and the clients. I enforce my cancellation, late and reschedule policies. With this it keeps my business organized and allows the clients to book with confidence that they will be serviced with great service each appointment.

Contact Info:

• Website: dalocgoddess.as.me
• Instagram: Da_loc_goddess
• Facebook: Deirdre Da Loc Goddess
• Youtube: Da Loc Goddess
• Other: TikTok: Dalocgoddessllc