Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to JJ Wes. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

JJ, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Crazy stuff happening is almost as certain as death and taxes – it’s technically “unexpected” but something unexpected happening is to be expected and so can you share a crazy story with our readers

How Do I Do It? How do I own and operate- a barber/ beauty shop, catering service, and lawn service all at once and being the primary if the not sole person doing all the work? ( and let’s not forget finishing my Masters in Business) Do everything by appointment.
I have had 3 home lawns to cut, a chicken wing platter to prep and deliver, as well as 2 hair appointments and 2 pedicure appointments…all in one day. Plus a thesis paper due and an exam coming up. I am the sole operator for 2 of my 3 businesses. On a day like that, you can’t afford to sleep in or have a dead phone. I will start my day at 6 am and sometimes not finish my day until 3 am.
I have found it easier that as long as I give myself time in between to get to the next task or appointment and have general set days to focus solely on one of the businesses and/ or their operations- billing, marketing, invoicing, etc.
I try not to freak out. I have a mentor who also works three or more jobs, including barbering and food services, that I talk to- sometimes cry on. It can be overwhelming. But it works out, I just have to keep a schedule and weed out nonsense clients. I have a rule for all of them, no deposit, no appointment/order, no work/service/ food, and for my downtime scheduled or natural, I do my school work. I’m scheduled to graduate in Feb 2023.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am Jilian A Jones-Wesco, better known as JJ Wes. Think Mae West…but smaller and Black (smile) I’ve been in Houston, TX for a little over a year. I decided during the pandemic, due to my lack of full-time employment to take on my original profession, barbering, to focus on it until I could open my own shop. And now what was once a goal and a few ideas are now growing into three operations: I own and operate Loveland B&B Spa- dual barber and beauty salon suites, Little Lady’s Lawn Service- a lawn and home care service, and Sticky & Sweet- a food service, catering, and meal prep operation that focuses on Soul Food and Americana. All fall under the JJ Wes, LLC umbrella of operations.
Loveland is a one-stop shop for beauty and grooming needs all done by appointment. Three private rooms one waiting room with an at-home feel. We offer nail, minor skin, and a variety of hair services. Everyone is welcome, men, women, children, non-binary. Handicap-accessible elevators and parking are available. I take my barbering service all over out of state (weddings, parties, photo shoots, movie sets, etc.) as well as to group homes ( foster and halfway houses) as well as to private care facilities (in-home care, nursing homes, etc.) We have a natural hair care specialist on-site, in her own private suite and refreshments are included for free with your service.
Little Lady’s Lawn Service is currently my lawn and home care venture. I do minor lawn care- edging, raking, cutting, tree, and shrub maintenance for residential and commercial properties. Some other services are offered: commercial properties- office cleaning and barber/ beauty shop cleaning, homes- home & pet sitting, and pet walking services. I offer monthly rates for services.
Sticky & Sweet- from smoked beef to brown bag specials, I prepare party platters (i.e. buffalo wings, fruit platters, snacks, etc.) meal prep dishes (home-cooked meals such as spaghetti, burgers, fajitas, etc), and some desserts (yellow cake, cookies, etc.) as well as smoked beef brisket, pork ribs and other items and sides upon request. Everything is made to order and can be delivered or picked up.
All of these are minority/women/veterans owned and operated. All can be found on Instagram or Facebook.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Everyone may not truly be rooting for you as you are for them. In my original interview, I gave someone credit for “helping” me when in reality, they were using me as a gimmick. Apparently nice looking female barbers are a marking tool… the guy on many occasions seemed to be helping me- giving me tips, advice… an appearance of mentorship. But at the end of the day was basically using me as a ploy to drum up his own credibility and business. Once I confronted him about my discoveries and started to distance myself because he had and still has created a rather toxic environment for all his patrons, it all came to light. I left his suites and opened my own smaller, legitimate establishment. Built from the ground up -new flooring, drywall, paint, electrical, furnishings… a 3 suite, 800 square feet space of relaxation and beautification. In between that I graduated from college with my bachelor’s degree, started on my master’s, and opened up two other businesses. I was trying to do those things while in that individual’s suites and “guidance”, and he would always downplay those actions, ” You should just focus on barbering”, he would say. My response to this very day- I can’t help you can’t cut it. From that, I learned what not to do as a suite/ salon operator as well as a mentor, and gained a whole new sense of mentorship as well as a new mentor that luckily for me supports not just our shared profession of barbering, but my other ventures as well.

Any advice for managing a team?

Something I’m learning currently with now being an owner and not just an operator, team building, and teamwork. It’s actually ok to collaborate with others. From time to time I will work with Hair Masters of the Houston Area’s owner/ operator, Mr. Cedric J. Moore, be it a dying project or a cut I’m unfamiliar with or a class he may conduct- or even in my lawn service, Little Lady’s Lawn Service and with my food service Sticky & Sweet. I work with and have classes with my other technician in the other suite area of my shop- Ms. Felicia “Ms. FeFe” Purnell, our natural stylist.
I’ve found being open, keeping communication, doing little things like luncheons and potlucks as a team, and even working with or referring other salons and people within the industry that I work in builds a good standing. It’s an ongoing process.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @jj_wes_the_barber
• Facebook: @JJWes
• Other: IG: @littleladyslawnservice FB:@ JJWesLLC IG: @LovelandBNBSpa FB@ lovelandbnbspa FB: @LittleLadysLawn Service IG: StickyNSweet FB: StickyN Sweet808