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

Montoya, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you have any thoughts about how to create a more inclusive workplace?

It is extremely important for me to create an inclusive workplace! I have worked in multiple salons where textured hair was overlooked and not appreciated. I felt as though it was important for me to create a place where everyone, no matter their hair texture, would feel welcomed. My advice would be to stay true to what you believe and if you desire a more inclusive workplace and can’t find that place, create it!

Montoya, 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?

I fell in love with hair at the age of 13. I use to do family and friends hair. When it was time for me to go to high school I wanted to do the cosmetology program at my school but my father didn’t believe that hair was a real career. I decided to put my dreams of being a stylist on the back burner and once I finished school I decided to go to college. In my senior year of college I decided to go to cosmetology school and in 2010 I finished my degree in marketing and obtained my cosmetology license.

Once I obtained my license, I worked for multiple salons and in 2015 I decided to open a salon suite and start the journey to opening up my own salon. I found that the salon I worked for were not fulfilling. Although I learn a lot, it was time for me to create a space where all would feel welcome.

In 2017, I was presented with an opportunity to open my salon in Odenton, MD and it was my time. We opened in April 2018 and have been serving the textured hair community since. We offer an array of styles from color, cutting, extensions, natural style and so much more.

I am most proud of my salons growth. Being able to supply a need that I seen was not being met in the hair community brings me joy. The response from the community has been amazing which makes it all worth it!

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

When I was presented with the opportunity to purchase a salon I did not know where the money would come from.

I immediately reached out to the small business development center in Anne Arundel County for a mentor. My mentor was amazing and still helps me till this day!

She connected me with different banks, small organizations that help small businesses with funding and help me write my business plan that would appeal to lenders.

From there I was able to obtain funding to open my business and help me sustain until I was able to produce revenue from the business.

Have you ever had to pivot?

When Covid hit in 2020, this caused for an extreme pivot to occur in my business. I had to learn how to ask for help and not let my pride get in the way. We were going into our 2 year of business and doing quite well and I thought I was fine doing things on my own. But this was a time that I was being held accountable for not only myself but also for other. So I started to reach out for help, listen to the opinions of those who worked for me and realized it was bigger then me. This pivot positioned for me to implement health care stipends, PTO and short term disability to make sure my team would always be taken care of.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.texturesbeauty.com
• Instagram: Textures_llc
• Facebook: Facebook..com/Texturesllc
• Other: Tictok textures_llc

Image Credits
Photographer Heather of Averiesun Photography