We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Najia Wade-Blazer. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Najia below.

Najia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you tell us a bit about who your hero is and the influence they’ve had on you?

My Aunt Joanne Wade/ God Mother is my hero, because no matter what she was always there for me. I call her Momma Joanne, she taught me so much and she loved me so much to the point that as I write this I can feel her love. This is my father’s sister and I spent a lot of my time with her growing up she has a son Lester that is my A-one. We are the same age about 5 months apart. I learned how to do hair by being in my Momma Joanne’s presents every weekend I would go to the Salon we called it the shop the name of the Beauty shop was ( Joanne’s Professional Hair Clinic) she always kept her hair done, makeup beautiful and the shop was neat & clean. I was inspired to do hair because we spent so much time in that shop being around all the clients till I was like can I help ? So, she had me start taking out the clients rollers and everything thing else is history. Momma Joanne even taught me how to manage my money, how to pay bills and most importantly how to always care for other people no matter what I had going on. Momma Joanne loved me when I felt like nobody else cared. She always made sure I knew how care for others even when they do you wrong. The impact that she has had on my life if it weren’t for her i could not be who I am today the loving side of me that is and have the family or build a business of this magnitude with a clientele that loves me. Momma Joanne is passed now but always alive in my heart and I know she is proud of me.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Everyone knows me by Ms.Najia I’m the wife of Mr. Joe Blazer III, the mother of five beautiful daughters Caleena 25, Alanna 22, Jasmin 21, Danielle 17, Paige 14 and the grandmother of Sophie Refuge. I also own a handsome Rottie name Berserk Rott House Covic’ that I participate in dog shows with. Now, God has truly Blessed me with an awsome talent and family. The love and passion I have for what I do I contribute that to my Aunt/Momma Joanne her love for people and her creativity in the hair industry just amazed me, so I must say I took on those same traits. I have been in the beauty industry for almost 33 years now, both behind the chair and in management and supervision positions with Smart Style a division of Regis. Working with them really helped me build my business skills besides those that were given ti me naturally by my parents. My mother Catherine Bracey has always been a very strategic person when it comes to business an neat about everything, no short cuts. I get that from her in how I keep my Salon operating being where I say I’m going to be and timing, I don’t play about time it’s important in this business. However, my hustle mentality is get that from my father Cammie R. Wade he use to have a tow truck business that said 23 1/2 hr. service (he said the all he needed was 30 minutes to rest other than that it’s time to go get it.) So, I have over two thousand plus clients and I still accept new clients. I specialize in healthy hair for all types of people. I do everything from Hair Extensions to Color Correction. The products I utilize in the salon are Nouritress, Nairobi, Affirm, Design Essential and Matrix.
I often have clients call on wondering if I can help them with multicultural hair type, this is often a panic for the client but a cake walk for me I love to help them with these challenges.
What sets me apart from others I believe is the reason behind why I do what I do, it’s not about the money it’s about making people feel good about themselves putting a smile on someone’s face, being a listening ear a any give time if my client gets sick in the hospital I go visit them, if they need a ride to me or to an appointment or to vote I will bring them, if I need to pick there kid up because they are running late to get to them I will because at the end of the day it takes a village. I just want to pay it forward in way I possible.
My business and the clients that have come through it have been made family I have serviced some of these clients from little and have done there hair for proms, graduation and weddings. I just want to be know as the lady who cares and will give her honest perception of your hair and its state at all times.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Hurricane Katrina, all I knew was New Orleans at the time but God had different plans. That storm came through I evacuated to Florida at the time realizing that going back wasn’t an option for me next stop was Texas where now I have grown and experienced more than I think I would have ever had I went back to New Orleans. I still have family there but I only go to visit. I must say that Hurricane made me Woman up for real and know what it is to start from the bottom.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

When working for Regis back in 2008-09 right as the recession was happening they laid me off I had just had my baby girl Paige, so I transition back behind the chair but to build a client from zero again here I go I did what I had to do. The work I put out and learning how to navigate social media help put my business at the top.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.vagaro.com/studio504
• Facebook: Studio 504
• Yelp: https://m.yelp.com>biz>studio504
• Other: Google- Studio504

Image Credits
Koeisha Simmons Ladet