We recently connected with Queen Esther Spivey and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Queen Esther thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

What begun as a self love journey in 2014 to discovering who I was through documenting my own natural hair journey on my YouTube (QueenSheeMee) has grown to become so much more 10 years later.

“QueenSheeMee” means to discover your inner QUEEN, who is SHEE, within MEE.

For years I struggled with my depression and anxiety silently but as I was overcoming obstacles simultaneously this question began to resonate, “Who is Queen Esther”?

Through my natural hair I began to reconnect with my inner queen. Looking myself in the mirror was a struggle (lack of self esteem/ self confidence) but grew to be something I looked forward to due to falling in love with self and what was healthily reflecting back by making a conscious effort to make positive changes in my life such as therapy, journaling, mirror affirmations, literature, yoga, meditation, and other tools.

When starting in 2014 my natural hair journey opened the door to self care, discovery, and love through a healthy life style and wellness change. Thus teaching me natural and holistic alternatives to help with my stress, anxiety, and depression whom many men, women, and children experience within the African American Community.

2017 was a pivotal yet necessary year as the loss of loved ones, still healing and growing , and an unexpected layoff opened the door for what I’d been praying for… To help other black men, women, and children outside of the online community, who were struggling with loving their natural beauty while creating a healthy lifestyle simultaneously.

2018 birthed “QueenSheeMee Boutique” an all-natural lifestyle and wellness brand curated with melanin skin in mind.

I had been an entrepreneur all along but now I could do this FULL TIME and Receive great pleasure from helping my community locally and abroad.

Fall 2018 I decided to start Cosmetology School at Pensacola State College (I also have a AAS in Office Administration & Management) to begin my journey as a licensed natural hair stylist in under-served communities along Gulf Coast in addition to the education and lifestyle & wellness products I offer to assist in ones journey.

Cosmetology School QUICKLY affirmed my BIGGEST concern which was the lack of education, representation, and inclusiveness of loose African American natural hair or locs in the classroom and on the salon floor. This observation and realization propelled me even further into my mission of specialization of Afro Natural Hair education and servicing this specific community and niche which is a direct representation of who I am as well.

I’ve been a Licensed Hairstylist now since October 2019, Re-branded Immediately After Graduating The Program & Becoming Licensed, and opened “Touched By Queen Esther” my 1st natural hair salon located inside of “MySalon Suites” , in Spring of 2021.

“Touched By Queen Esther” is a sacred space curated with “Melanin Skin in Mind” where clients can come in for a clean, fun, and exciting experience to explore their natural black beauty without fear of their European peers judging their hair due to its uniqueness.

I specialize in Afro/Kinky/Coily/Wavy/Loc’d Natural Hair offering clients the leisure to wear their natural hair with confidence backed with education and individual curation of advice for having a healthy and successful hair journey, each person I’ve encountered has left the salon feeling empowered and excited!

In doing my work for the last 5 years I can say how I’ve witnessed the authentic transformation of a client coming in from barely being able to look at oneself in the mirror, negative self talk, tears of frustration to now they have truly fallen in love with their natural black, African American Beauty with pride & joy.

This is my mission that has been on my heart for some time now and I do not have any plans of stopping anytime soon in empowering the African American Community through embracing ones natural beauty, lifestyle, and wellness.

For 2025 I would love to be mobile (On-Wheels Salon) to travel further outside of the Gulf Coast to continue to spread the power of embracing ones authenticity and knowing that it is powerful and not a hindrance to the ascension of ones self love journey.

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?

I’m Queen Esther Spivey, 33 years old, and I’m an Entrepreneur and Salon Owner of “Touched By Queen Esther” located In The East Hill Neighborhood of Pensacola, Florida.

My background is in Office Administration and Management (Graduation May 2015) but I’ve ALWAYS had a love for beauty for as a young child I wanted to follow in the footsteps of both my Grandmother Dear and Grandfather Pop as a Cosmetologist & Business Owner as they’ve always gave back to the people of the community, served their country, and raised their children who eventually birthed me as a part of their legacy.

At my salon, not only do I offer a clean, armored building, bright, and thriving salon suite to educate and conduct salon services but we also discuss ones health and how it is linked to having healthy hair growth and length retention.

In noticing within my own journey that the LACK of African American Beauty In the Beauty Sector outside of braids with the use of extensions or wigs, or not getting proper rest, a balanced diet, and quality ingredients via food or products applied topically prevented a person from attaining the balance one desired.

Each client is asked these basic questions, Have you developed any new allergies? Any new medications or medical changes at your recent doctors visit? How much water have you been drinking as of lately?

It may not seem important but allergies can possibly cause negative side effects that affect healthy hair growth.

Certain medications can cause hair thinning in the crown area or scalp sensitivities which are important to know before starting any services.

And one, many regardless of race can be guilty of, is dehydration due to lack of drinking water DAILY which the human body needs in order to thrive as it’s almost 80% water!

In asking these simple questions it allows me to get a clear understanding as to what could possibly be an underlying issue in addition to how often one cleanses their hair, use of heat from blow drying or flat irons, etc.

Taking the time to get to know my clients lifestyle as some are more physically active than others allows me to understand what contributes to you maintaining and having long lasting healthy hair results.

If a client has Seborrhic Dermatitis or Dryness, then this means we avoid using products that will irritate this issue further and if prescribed by a Dermatologist, will use a medicated shampoo to treat the scalp EACH VISIT. Minimal breakouts allow the client ease of irritation and potential hair loss if managed properly.

The lifestyle component is moreso the following: Is Water intake low or high as this contributes to if a person’s hair is excessively shedding or minimal hair shed? Are they maintaining a healthy balanced diet of proteins, fruits, and vegetables to assist with nutrients necessary for hair growth? Excessive sweating due to working out and if so how often as this will allow the client to select a hairstyle that can be maintained without compromising their love to be physically fit, which is very important. And how to combat the sweat to minimize scalp irritation and itchiness.

Touched By Queen Esther not only offers natural hair salon services but I also teach a classes which is titled, “The Basics of Natural Hair” that is open to the public regardless if licensed or not. The class is for anyone who struggles or is wanting to learn more about natural hair, health, and versatility we have with our curls/locs. In addition, I also make whipped hair & body butter and infused oils (Royal Glow Butter & Royal Drip Elixir) that are safe for the entire family to use as they’re infused with essential oils and herbs for an elevated experience of self care/love. African Black Soap ( Foam Format) for a gentle exfoliation yet deep clean for all skin types that can be followed up with one of my whipped butters or oils to nourish the skin.

I am so proud that out of what was intially my own personal journey to discovering how to love the woman I was becoming and reflecting in the mirror as an Educated African American Woman in corporate america at the time, embracing my Natural Black Beauty that defied the European beauty standards, making conscious healthy life choices to seek therapy, granting myself permission to rest and not running the rat race constantly, and having the courage to turn on my web camera to document my journey in a video diary format at a pivotal time of my life graduating college and beginning my walk as Queen Esther Spivey, discovering her inner Queen, Who is Shee, Within Mee.

Thank you for choosing Touched By Queen Esther, A Sacred Space Curated With Melanin Skin In Mind, to share my unique journey and story.

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

I started my Cosmetology journey in Fall of 2018 unknowingly the Pandemic was around the corner which I was not expecting as I’d sacrificed a year of not working with the support of my spouse to return to school to complete Cosmetology in the August of 2019. Immediately After becoming licensed in October 2019 and having only been working in the salon at the time less than 90 days we were all forced to isolate due to Covid-19.

It was such an uncertain time as close friends and loved one became Ill or unfortunately transitioned while still trying to figure out if I would be able to build/maintain clientele due to the swift change that swept the world. Not to mention I had only been in the Beauty industry due to YouTube since 2014 but just begun my journey to offer licensed services in 2018 upon returning to college.

In spite of the Pandemic I still stuck it out, worked as much as possible and even worked Instacart/Postmates to maintain my business as I was and are still dedicated to having this sacred space for my fellow community to come relax, be pampered like King & Queens, and empowered to head out into the world rejuvenated to conquer anything that hits their doorstep with pride.

These were trying times for my clients as well financially as again many of us pivoted to what Is now the new normal we see currently in 2024. In knowing this I worked with my clientele and them with me especially when the booth I was renting had become “no longer available” and I had to find a new salon home which is where we are currently today inside of “MySalon Suites”.

They (clients) worked with me while transitioning over the following 2 to3 weeks. Forgetting I had sketched out what I would like my single chair salon to look like (Many of my goals have manifested through the drawings & journal entries I’ve written over the years) and be I stumbled upon the sacred space we’ve been blessed to call home since February 2021. Since then I’ve grown to love my clientele & work even deeper with a burning passion to continue serving my clients needs for natural hair, lifestyle and wellness because they believe and value the magic within me.

Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.

I began making products in 2018 after becoming exhausted and overwhelmed by the excessive amount of products I had in my collection at the time. I was a “Product Junkie” guilty as charged. Lol

Mind you I started on YouTube and Instagram in 2014 at the same time which lead to my gaining of exposure to brands whom I supported and would periodically receive PR Packages to use, review and demo on my Social Media Platforms from brands such as Creme of Nature, Luster’s Pink, Jamaican Mango & Lime, JessiCurls, Alikay Naturals, CurlKit, and Botanical Bliss just to name a few.

Once I began to learn more within my natural hair journey that Afro/natural hair truly thrives with minimal product application and low manipulation I decided to donate/gift unopened products I’d had in excess. Anything else I used up and decided to think back to what I used initially when I did my first big chop…. Shea and Mango Butter!!

This lead to me creating my whipped body butter, The Royal Glow Butter, after using it during Cosmetology School on a fellow classmate whom at the time had severe eczema. We didn’t like that hand lotion offered for use during the manicure practical and she allowed me to use it on her.

She returned the next day asking to buy some for her and her children not knowing I’d been slightly entertaining the idea to sell it but honestly was focused on helping my hair and skincare needs. The results were undeniable as her eczema was due to her dietary lifestyle (which improved significantly before graduating along with dietary changes) and nothing medicated had helped her nor her children until I gifted her my sample of the “Royal Glow Butter”. Her skin looked amazing and was not inflammed or dry.

Immediately after I began making more of the product and I began selling them at our local T & W Flea Market on the weekends at a $25 booth.

I hand make EVERY single product with all natural ingredients from a trusted Female, black owned Vendor here in the state of Florida who sources her products from the Motherland, Africa. Part of the proceeds from purchasing with them goes back into the communities who curate these beautiful ingredients for jobs, financial stability, clean water, schooling, and more.

Everything I offer is handmade with love from the whipped body butter, infused oils for body & hair, facial wash, herbal teas, and books. I Am grateful that I’m able to share my experience and knowledge to help those within my community to not only thrive on the outside but elevate their spirit on the inside as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.touchedbyqueenesther.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/touchedbyqueenesthersalon/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenaturalcrownstylist/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/queensheemee
• Other: https://linktr.ee/touchedbyqueenesther

Image Credits

Professional Headshot: RaePhotography: https://www.raewestphotography.com/

Client Photos: Taken By Self: Queen Esther Spivey