We recently connected with Lakesha Henry and have shared our conversation below.
Lakesha, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
One of the biggest risks I have ever taken happened when I was only 16 years old. At an age when most teenagers are worried about school, friends, and what comes next in life, I made the decision to share some of the most painful parts of my family’s story on national television.
I appeared on Iyanla: Fix My Life in the episodes Fix My Broken Family Part 1 and Part 2. What made the experience even more emotional was that the episodes aired on my birthday. While most people spend their birthday celebrating, I was watching one of the most vulnerable moments of my life unfold in front of millions of viewers.
At the time, my family was struggling with deep issues that had affected us for years. There was hurt, disappointment, broken trust, and emotional wounds that had never fully healed. As a teenager, I often found myself carrying emotions and responsibilities that felt much bigger than my age. Like many children in difficult family situations, I was trying to make sense of things that I didn’t fully understand.
Agreeing to participate in the show was a risk because I knew there would be no hiding. The cameras captured real emotions, real conversations, and real pain. I had no control over how viewers would judge me or my family. People would form opinions based on what they saw, and that was frightening for a 16-year-old girl.
What I didn’t realize then was how much courage it would take simply to tell the truth. Being on the show forced me to confront things I had spent years trying to ignore. It also showed me the power of healing, accountability, and honest conversations. While television can only capture a small piece of a family’s journey, the experience opened the door to growth and self-reflection that continued long after filming ended.
The impact followed me for years. People recognized me from the show. Some people understood the courage it took to share my story, while others made assumptions without knowing the full picture. Learning how to navigate that taught me resilience and helped me develop a stronger sense of self. I learned that I could not allow other people’s opinions to define who I was or what I was capable of becoming.
Today, I look back at that experience as a turning point in my life. It taught me that vulnerability is not weakness. It taught me that healing is a process, not a single moment. Most importantly, it taught me that our struggles do not have to become our identity.
As a beauty professional, entrepreneur, and woman continuing to grow, I carry those lessons with me every day. The risk of sharing my family’s story at 16 helped me find my voice. What felt like one of the scariest moments of my life ultimately became one of the experiences that shaped me the most.
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.
My journey into the beauty industry started when I was a kid. My parents always made sure our hair was done, and my grandmother was always taking us to the nail salon with her. I fell in love with watching women walk out of those salons smiling and carrying themselves with so much confidence. Even at a young age, I knew I wanted to be a part of creating that feeling for other people.
I became obsessed with learning everything I could about beauty. I spent hours watching YouTube videos, studying techniques, and practicing whenever I had the opportunity. It wasn’t always pretty, and I definitely had moments where I wasn’t the best, but I kept going. Every mistake became a lesson, and every lesson made me better.
I started as a salon assistant at 17 years old, and while I was still in beauty school, I was already behind the chair taking clients. I’ve now been in the beauty industry for nearly 10 years, and I still love it just as much as I did when I first started. Even when I make mistakes, the ability to reflect, grow, and become better is what motivates me to get up every day and keep going. That’s something I will always hold on to.
Throughout my career, I have worked in salons, beauty retail environments, and customer service roles where I developed strong skills in client care, consultations, styling, and relationship building. What I love most about the beauty industry is that it goes far beyond hair. When someone sits in your chair, you’re often helping them feel seen, heard, understood, and confident. A hairstyle can transform not only a person’s appearance but also the way they feel about themselves.
When anyone—whether male or female—sits in my chair, my goal is to impact every aspect of their experience. I’m more than a hairstylist, and I think that’s what truly sets me apart. I don’t just want people to look great when they leave my chair; I want them to feel better than they did when they arrived. I don’t do this for clout or recognition. I do it because I genuinely care about people. Sometimes people are carrying burdens that no one knows about, and a little extra kindness, encouragement, and love from your hairstylist can mean the world.
The services I provide include color services, healthy hair treatments, transformative hair care, precision cuts, extensions, and styling services. My goal is always to help my clients look and feel their absolute best while maintaining the health and integrity of their hair.
My long-term vision is to continue growing within the beauty industry while building my brand, The Flawless Butterfly Effect. The name represents transformation, growth, and becoming the best version of yourself. Much like a butterfly goes through a process before it can fly, I believe many of us experience challenges that ultimately shape us into who we are meant to become.
The accomplishment I am most proud of is my ability to remain resilient. Success is not always measured by titles, awards, or financial achievements. Sometimes success is choosing to keep going when life gives you every reason to quit. I am proud of the woman I have become and excited about the future I am creating.
The main thing I want people to know about me is that I am still building, still growing, and still evolving. My story is one of perseverance, transformation, faith, and purpose. Whether through beauty, entrepreneurship, or simply showing up for others, my goal is to help people see the beauty and potential within themselves.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Resilience has been one of the defining themes of my life. While I’ve faced challenges throughout my career, my understanding of resilience started long before I became a beauty professional. As a teenager, I experienced some very public family challenges that taught me difficult but valuable lessons about strength, healing, and perseverance.
Being on national television at such a young age taught me lessons that I still carry with me today. It taught me that life isn’t always fair, that healing takes time, and that you cannot allow your circumstances to determine your future. I learned how to keep moving forward even when things felt uncomfortable, uncertain, or painful.
Those lessons followed me into my career in the beauty industry. Like many professionals, I didn’t start at the top. I started as a salon assistant at 17 years old and worked my way up while attending beauty school. There were plenty of mistakes, setbacks, and moments where I questioned myself. I wasn’t always the most experienced person in the room, but I was always willing to learn.
Instead of allowing challenges to discourage me, I used them as opportunities to grow. I spent countless hours studying, practicing, improving my skills, and developing my craft. Every mistake became a lesson, and every lesson helped me become a better stylist and a better person.
Today, when clients sit in my chair, they often see the finished product, but what they don’t always see is the journey behind it. They don’t see the years of learning, the obstacles overcome, or the determination it took to keep going when things became difficult.
The reason I am able to connect with people so deeply is because I understand what it feels like to struggle, to rebuild, and to start over. My experiences have taught me empathy, patience, and perseverance. They have also taught me that success isn’t about never falling—it’s about getting back up every time you do.
Looking back, I’m most proud of my ability to keep going. No matter what life has placed in front of me, I’ve continued to move forward, grow, and become a stronger version of myself. That, to me, is what resilience truly means.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
One resource that has significantly impacted my thinking is The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. I connected with the book because it is a powerful story about resilience, overcoming adversity, and refusing to allow your circumstances to define your future.
What stood out to me most was the author’s ability to find strength and purpose despite facing challenges that were beyond her control. The book reinforced something I have learned throughout my own life: where you come from does not determine where you can go. We all face obstacles, setbacks, and difficult situations, but we have a choice in how we respond to them.
As both a beauty professional and aspiring entrepreneur, that lesson has stayed with me. Building a career requires persistence, adaptability, and the willingness to keep moving forward even when things don’t go as planned. The Glass Castle reminded me that resilience is often built during life’s most difficult moments and that growth comes from learning how to navigate challenges rather than avoiding them.
The book has influenced the way I approach both business and life. It has encouraged me to focus on growth, maintain perspective during difficult seasons, and continue investing in myself and my goals. Most importantly, it has reinforced my belief that our past may shape us, but it does not have to limit us.
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