We recently connected with Meca Sica and have shared our conversation below.

Meca, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative path was in 2018. As a cosmetology student, my instructors would set up hair competitions and allow us students to play around with hair coloring or do our makeup on Fridays. From then on, I knew my purpose in the hair industry wasn’t going to be just doing hair as a service, but I’d be working on projects with other like-minded creatives. In December of 2021, I had the opportunity to collaborate with the talented ‘BEAUTEbyDom’ also known as “NYC Melanin Specialist.” Months before the shoot, we discussed wanting to present our crafts to the public, mainly because we understood each other’s vision, and the mood board we put together had to be showcased. The project that we worked on was euphoric. From the hair, vibrant makeup, wardrobe, and photos, it was literal perfection. I’d never expected to work with another creative, better yet, Dom. I’ve always admired her work ethic and creative taste, so collaborating on a project was a bonus! Our work was published earlier this year, confirming that I have an actual shot at being a creative hairstylist. It’s not as easy as it looks, but patience and consistency got me this far.

Meca, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Meca, or as my clients call me, ‘Mimi.’ I’m a 24-year-old Brooklyn-based braider. I got into the hair business in my early teens, but my career didn’t take off until the pandemic in 2020. I was a former braider at Magic Fingers Studios and was mentored by a well-known braider/creative, Stasha Harris. I had the opportunity of a lifetime to work next to someone who’s been in the hair game for quite some time. Mrs. Harris taught me patience when cleaning up my craft and how to give clients grace while also learning and understanding different hair textures. At the time, I did not know the business side of the hair industry and how to practice salon etiquette. It was an excellent opportunity for me because I lacked knowledge on how to manage a business and how to keep a consistent clientele. After working in different salons and having experienced ups and downs in my personal life, my clients taught me to give myself the same grace I have for them. I was rushing many things, not noticing how it affected my craft. So I used the pandemic to work on my weaknesses and travel to clients to service them. During that time, salons were closed, and some people were in dire need of getting their hair done. What sets me apart is that I’m always willing to give, even if I don’t receive anything in return. Just the acts of service and being able to make my clients feel like their authentic self is why I love my craft. I’m proud of my vulnerability and the reassurance my clients feel anytime they sit in my chair. I want people to feel at home and embrace their natural hair while also serving looks! My work speaks for itself, so to whoever’s reading this right now, I hope that this inspires you and that you see yourself booking/working with me in the future. Stitched N’ Slick is all about protecting your hair and also showing off your neat tresses. My work is about being bold and embracing your natural hair while maintaining its health and growth.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Honestly, posting content on a day to day helps with building an audience on social media. I learned that even when you get ten or a few likes, you have to keep pushing. Hashtags and using multiple outlets such as Facebook groups, Pinterest, and Tiktok aside from Instagram will boost your chance of gaining a following or helping build clientele.The clients I’ve gained now are because I used different hashtags and organized my profile’s aesthetic. I hope the tips I’ve mentioned work for those wanting to build their social media presence.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I feel like grant opportunities or programs that support creatives of all races/ethnic groups should be provided—especially those from middle or lower-class families. In today’s society, people don’t realize artists help shape the world and that the creative world needs the same attention given to schools, extracurricular programs, and other essential things we need. Without art, there is no fashion, music, trendy hairstyles, etc. We need better outlets to help us network and gain access to potential clients/consumers.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://stitchednslickbymimi.as.me/schedule.php
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/stitchednslick?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mimisinger.98
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCppsOX5ymhRX_o8cLCbAiaA
• Other: Tiktok: stitchednslick

Image Credits
Model: Nayhla Nazon Instagram: nayz.ona Photographer, Stylist, Mua: Domo Alisha Instagram: beautebydom Hairstylist: Meca Sica Instagram: stitchednslick