We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tammara Webster. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tammara below.

Tammara, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

I’m much happier as a business owner. Owning my own salon is something I looked forward to since deciding to pursue a career in cosmetology. Being in this position allows me to run my business how I see fit. I must admit there were times I thought about having a regular 9-5 job. A year into my business I lost three stylist within a couple weeks of each other. Although I was happy for them to move on to their own businesses, it set my business back. For a salon owner who operates a booth rental salon, that’s a major loss all at once. I was a little discouraged at first because I know how hard it is to find booth renters now. Most stylist are opting for personal salon suites. I had to really sit back for a moment and remember my “why”! Working a regular job isn’t really an option for me. Being a mom of 3 and a wife, it’s important for me to be in control of my time. Being able to set my own schedule and work as much or as little as I want is an amazing feeling.

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

I’m a hairstylist and salon owner. I’ve been behind the chair for ten years and a salon owner for two years. I primarily service African American women with natural hair. I’m most known for my “silk press” technique which temporarily straightens curly/textured hair without the use of chemicals. I’ve also developed my own products which are apart of my natural hair care line “Tammara Denise, Natural Collection”. I initially got into this industry because styling hair came easy to me. It’s something I’ve done since I was a kid. Being in the industry changed my perspective. It’s not about how “good” you can style hair. It’s about taking care of my clients hair and scalp. Making them feel at home in my space and trusting me with something so precious. Styling hair is just a plus.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source of new clients for me is word of mouth. It never fails. When you treat clients right they can’t wait to tell someone else about their experience and service. I get so many referrals from my loyal and new clientele. Another great source has been social media hashtags. Using the right hashtags help potential clients find me. Making sure that my pictures, videos and reels are up to par is what gets them to book once they find me.

Does your business have multiple or supplementary revenue streams (like a ATM machine at a barbershop, etc)?

Yes, my business has supplementary revenue streams. I offer products that I handcraft as well as manufactured products. In a salon, retail is a huge chunk of our revenue. It’s important to send clients out the door with things they can use to help maintain their hair at home on their own. I retail things such as satin head wraps, edge control, wax sticks, growth oil and etc.

Contact Info:

• Website: tammaradenise.com
• Instagram: @xtraordinarysalon
• Other: Email: [email protected]

Image Credits
Sedrick Askew