We recently connected with Norell Manns and have shared our conversation below.

Norell, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would be in the position I am in right now. I had the hardest time believing I could really become a full-time stylist let alone a business owner. I struggled for the longest to actually take the risk and give it my all. There was so much supportive and encouraging people in my corner it was almost unreal. Even with all the support it was still very hard. I couldn’t just let of go of a fulltime job with what I thought was good pay and benefits. I was so afraid to the point I was working like 3 jobs and doing hair in between. It made no sense at all I was over working myself so hard when the solution was so simple. The real plan for my life was right in my face and I was ignoring it because of fear. It was like I was like I didn’t believe I could be successful and if I quit working a real job, I wouldn’t have anything. After a while it became unbearable and uncomfortable, I couldn’t focus. When I say I was uncomfortable, I was stressed, upset and overwhelmed with trying to balance it all. Seemed like going to a real job started to become too much to deal with and were changing to frequently. However, the support from family, friends and clients was still very encouraging, they weren’t giving up. Literally they started taking action with helping me see this is exactly what I needed to be doing. They were telling people about how I good I am, even signed me up for school email notifications to become a licensed natural hair stylist. Finally, the risk became the greatest thing I could have ever done and wouldn’t change it for the world. I realized that without risk you will never know the great thing you have the ability to accomplish.

Norell, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

As a natural hair stylist, you can specialize in many services for hair. However, for me being a Loctician is the greatest choice I could have ever made. A loctician is someone who specializes in locs (dreads). As a loctician I take great pride in caring for such beautiful hair by keeping them neat and healthy. My obligation is to keep the locs for any damage such as thinning. breakage, and build up. I use a vary of different products and tools to prevent these things like shampoos, detoxing mixture, needles and techniques. Most of all patience’s, love and motivation for what I do and the customer satisfaction. Becoming a loctictian definitely wasn’t in my plan for my future, however doing hair was always a part of my life since about the age of 11. After doing many doing many different things involving hair throughout my life, I started to become unenthused with doing it. Until one day I became to start my own locs and grew fund of it and after some time went on, I began to get more use to doing. People then begin to ask for my services when seeing my hair so just like that I had found something about hair that I was excited about again. As time went on the more people started asking therefore, I worked on becoming really good at it and developing more skills to do locs. I am most proud of simply being a loctician, it has brought me much joy and happiness to able provide joy for people by doing their hair. I would for anyone reading this to know that I am willing to provide exceptional service to anyone who is looking to become a client as well as a loctician . We can most definitely begin a wonderful journey together.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

I believe the absolute strategy for growing clientele is customer service/satisfaction. The clientele will always talk about the experience they were given at the time of service. There is nothing like getting a new customer and they tell you that another customer referred then because of the great service they received. Customer satisfaction is key to growing any business. If you do that part right, then the clientele will grow on it’s own.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The biggest lesson I had to unlearn was leniency. In business you have set rules and boundaries to keep the business from falling apart. Standing firm on those rules and boundaries will keep your business at the level of structure it should always be at without misunderstanding. When I first started as fulltime stylist, I didn’t enforce rules and that would quickly show me that if you don’t gain control and understanding things will fall apart. I had to become firm on time management, payments, cancellations and no show polices. Once doing that it saved me from time being wasted, unhappy clients, and set aside anyone that did not have respect for my business or time.

Contact Info:

• Website: twystedrell.booksy.com
• Instagram: loveurlocswit_hellrell
• Facebook: Rell Dupree