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

Isis, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

The first client is ALWAYS such a huge deal! You feel pumped, adrenaline pumping and just ready because you know it isn’t a friend or family member; your work caught someone else’s eye. The feeling is incredible. My first client actually came from a Facebook group I was in. I had been promoting myself for a few weeks, and in the middle of me posting, I received an inquiry about box braids on short hair. I was just so overjoyed that a complete stranger stumbled across my work and wanted to sit on my chair next!

She had come all the way from Macon, Ga, (I’m located in Riverdale, Ga), so that commute alone really touched me. That ignited something inside of me: hunger for the dream. I’ve always wanted this, but that first client booking SOLIDIFIED that God heard my prayers. That’s also a major key role, I had been praying to God to help my business to flourish, to breathe life over my business, to erase any self doubt I may have/feel. In that moment he answered those prayers immediately; my client came at 6:30 that morning and we finished a little before 12 pm. She even gave me a tip and that made me cry even more.

Seeing your dream actually flourish before your eyes is literally one of the most overwhelming and beautiful moments of your career; all the prayers, the hard work, self promoting, its worth in at every single phase of your journey.

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.

Well I’ve always loved doing hair. It started at an early age, but when I got to high school and discovered one of the vocational classes was cosmetology, I HAD TO SIGN UP! Our instructor Ms. Sims covered the basics: wet styling, proper sanitization, proper way to give a manicure, thermal styling etc. We learned finger waves, roller set styling, the proper way to shampoo/condition and more. On Fridays, we got to practice on one another and even enter our mannequin heads into a little competition. It was were I felt most alive,

The braiding? I taught myself. I remember I used to experiment on my own head at first, braided Mohawks, yarn braids, individuals, anything you can think of? I DID IT! It was so liberating. I remember always saying “I’m going to do that one day, hair? Yeah that’s my field”. Fast forward to the present day, I’m living that dream.

I’ve turned my passion into my career and it is beyond amazing. The flexibility in the hours, the many different people I encounter, and the creativity that flows from me onto the canvas (their hair), it’s the most freeing thing ever. And their reactions once I’m done? PRICELESS.

I specialize in protective styling, it is my job to not only care for you hair, but to also educate you on what products best fit your hair texture and to ensure your hair is protected INSIDE each style. That’s the biggest thing. Of course we always want our hair to grow, but we want it to be protected and HEALTHY as well. That would be the thing that I am proud of the most. The progress you see within my clients hair and the progress in my skill. Both really go hand in hand.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

My advice would be to join all those groups you see online pertaining to your business field. THEY ACTUALLY HELP! I’ve gained more clientele than I can count from social media alone and always promoting myself in those groups.

Remember STRANGERS WILL HELP BUILD YOUR EMPIRE.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I think what helped build my brand, is word of mouth. Word of mouth will literally take you a long way, that and incentives. Your reputation will always precedes you, and people love to feel appreciated, so remember to give back is always important as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://blessedbyisistiara.as.me
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063623767457&mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Youtube: @blessedbyisistiara
• Other: TikTok.com/@isistiara