Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tamara Teague. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Appreciate you for joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

I grew up in an era where tradition governed your life’s movement – go to college, get a good job, buy a house, raise a family, etc. So, taking risks was not something I’ve always subscribed to. Therefore, opening Mane Illusions SMP was a major risk for me. Each step of the way, whether it be paying for training, setting up a business entity, paying rent on a location, or paying for licensing, I had an emotional battle with myself because of the financial risk I was taking. I am so glad I took the risk to open my business and did not allow the risk-adverse/financially conservative side of me to “win”. Opening Mane Illusions SMP created a sense of personal accomplishment and it opened new financial opportunities for me that I would not have had if I had not taken any financial risks at all to become a business owner. Taking risks have increased my faith exponentially in myself and my higher power. Most importantly, I now am able to help people experiencing hair loss. I would not have been able to do so had I not taken a risk to open my business at all.

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.

My name is Tamara Teague, and I am the owner and the scalp micropigmentation (“SMP”) artist at Mane Illusions SMP located in Nolensville, TN, just approximately 20 miles south of Nashville near Brentwood. SMP is a form of cosmetic tattooing whereby I use a microneedle to tattoo hair follicles onto the scalp to give the appearance of hair growing from the scalp and it can add density to thinning hair. SMP is also a semi-permanent, non-surgical, and an affordable alternative to hair replacement, synthetic hair chemicals, and fibers.

I started providing SMP services after I personally experienced major hair loss in the crown area of my head and I could not find an SMP artist in Tennessee that specialized in scalp micropigmentation on melanated skin or one who was not affiliated with a chain provider. Therefore, in the year 2021, I extensively trained with some of the top SMP artists in the scalp micropigmentation industry and became a licensed tattoo artist in Tennessee so I could/can provide SMP services to those who are experiencing hair loss. I am also the first black woman in this state to open a scalp micropigmentation practice.

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

When I first became licensed in SMP in 2021, I was experiencing some health issues I was sure would prevent me from opening my business. However, self-care, psychological resilience through meditation, prayer, and encouragement from a few close friends and family, helped me bounce back from the self-doubt and fear I was experiencing. As it turns out, the health issues I was experiencing were all stress-related due to a fear of failure. I had to consistently remind myself of why I started Mane Illusions SMP in the first place – to help others experiencing hair loss – and that my business would grow if I continued to push forward. Mane Illusions SMP has certainly grown since pushing through my self-doubt and fear. I have now learned that helping my clients trumps any failures I’ve experienced along the way. Being able to help my clients improve their confidence after losing their hair also helps me to continue ahead, even when things get hard.

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

My advice for clientele growth is to market yourself and services; BE your brand. If a potential client does not know your business exists or know who you are, then they clearly can’t reach out to you for services. Posting to multiple social media platforms, and having a good website, has been effective for me. However, the most effective tactic has been doing good work. Potential clients need to see results in my existing clients who’ve had SMP so they can make an informed decision on whether they want to move forward with me as their SMP artist.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mane-illusions.com/contact
• Other: mane_illusions_smp
• Suggest a Story: CanvasRebel is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.