We recently connected with MiMi Stylz and have shared our conversation below.

MiMi, appreciate you joining us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

In order to be successful you need a spirit of a hustler, ambition and knowledge/ experience of failure. With out these key ingredients your success will come slowly and with many battles. With the spirit of a hustler you can acquire anything because you KNOW that you can get it by any means (legally). Ambition will keep you going and working toward your goal you set out to reach. The goal isn’t to get there faster, it’s to enjoy the journey while you create your story. Failure is needed. Without failure you don’t learn the lessons it will take to gain the wisdom that comes with being successful. This is spoken from experience.

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

I am a Licensed Cosmetologist & Barber who has been in the industry for almost 30 years. I fell in love with doing hair as a little girl. I started with Barbies and my older sister. I only did my dolls’ hair and I didn’t care about how they looked otherwise. My mom left us to our own heads of hair when I was 10 and my sister was 12, so I had to figure out how to do something to out hair and I did! I went to a private high school on a campus, and I was the go-to girl to get the job done for the dances and other occasions. I love what I do and I am passionate about making my Clients feel and look good. I have cut, styled, and cared for all hair types. I currently specialize in Natural Hair Care and Loc Care/Maintenance, Loc Extension Installation, and Braids. I’ve worked in Private Owned Salons and Franchises and I would rather be where I am now as an Entrepreneur/ Suite Owner. I am currently living in Las Vegas. I moved from Milwaukee, WI, where I was raised, four years ago and I have found major success in Vegas.
I currently am the proud owner of a Salon Suite in Henderson, NV. I pride myself on having top tier integrity and work ethic, There are many things that set me apart from other stylists and the main one is that I don’t just DO hair, I TAKE CARE of hair. I really enjoy seeing the growth of hair that I have cared for. I love to see the reactions of clients when I have exceeded their expectations with my talents. I love to give my clients small incentives that they don’t always recognize but it keeps them coming back for more.
My brand is all about self love. I know it’s “Loc’d by MiMi STYLZ” but there’s so much peace and love that goes into every head of hair and style that my brand is based on it. I always have said that my work speaks for itself. I don’t divulge too much into what I offer from the gate because I would rather my clients get the experience then spread it amongst friends, family and strangers by word of mouth.
I created my own products. They are a Moisture Duo which I created with love in my kitchen. This Duo includes a Moisture Mist and Miracle Growth Oil. I have been doing hair so long that I have always been told that I should make products. I have specialized in Natural Hair Care for so long that I thought, “Why Not?” I finally took the chance earlier this year and it’s a hit among my clients.
I have so many ideas that I want to incorporate into this brand and I will execute the ones that are meant to come to life. I am excited for the future and I am patiently on the right time to share with the world.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I am a widow; my Husband died 8 years ago when I was the tender age of 29. I was married for 5 years and my Husband died in the height of our marriage, the height of my career, and while I was 8 months pregnant. I have had to heal while also trying to be a good mother to my son. I took 8 years to heal. My son is 8. “Hard” is an understatement for what I’ve had to endure within myself. There were days when I didn’t know what was going to come about in my future but I knew that I had to keep going forward for my son and in order to live the days that I am living now.
These days that I am living in as a Healed Mother and Business Owner are the days that I prayed for years ago.
I am so grateful for my growth internally it allows me to be completely genuine no matter the situation at hand. I now know that since I’ve made it through life this far, I will be able to make it through ANYTHING. Also, I’m able to give words of advice when needed to clients and people around me. I think that’s the most fulfilling part of all of this. My past hurt and pain has allowed me to be the voice of reason for some and a shoulder to cry on for others.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

My most effective strategy for growing clientele is that I never stopped accepting new clients. I have seen too many times that people make new clients pay a certain amount (besides the deposit) or the stylist completely closes off their books to new clients. I have learned, in all of these years, that closing off the books to new clients is limiting my growth. I have also learned that even though I “Specialize” in locs and Natural Hair Care, there is no need to completely cut off some of the services that I used to do. I don’t venture out too far that I’m back to where I was- doing everything in hair- but I do offer some services that have to do with Natural Hair Care. I try not to limit my Brand with limited talent. I focus more on catering to all hair types and being more exclusive so that I’m attracting a certain type of clientele.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.locdbymimistylz.glossgenius.com
• Instagram: Locd_by_mimistylz
• Facebook: Loc’d by MiMi STYLZ
• Linkedin: Shamika (MiMi STYLZ) Smith
• Twitter: MiMi STYLZ
• Yelp: Loc’d by MiMi STYLZ