We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tasha Nicole a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tasha, appreciate you joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

Born and raised in New Orleans, my journey is one of resilience and determination. As the third of five children, I was born chronically ill, resuscitated at birth, and given little hope for survival by doctors. Despite these early hardships, I faced life head-on.

As a teen mom during my senior year of high school, I graduated with both full and partial scholarships. However, my lifelong dream had always been to become a hairstylist, a passion I pursued from the age of eight. By 27, I had survived a stroke. By 31, I was a published author. Before turning 35, I had endured three heart attacks. In 2014, I was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder and nearly lost my life when doctors discovered a blood clot the size of a lemon in my liver. Two years later, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and a rare brain disease, leaving me wheelchair-bound and told I wouldn’t live past 2021.

But I refused to accept that prognosis. I turned to prayer and sought a healthier lifestyle, examining the products I was using and realizing they contained harmful chemicals, and with this newfound blood disorder, realizing the skin is our biggest organ and everything we put on our skin, goes into our bloodstream. Drawing on my expertise as a hairstylist and conducting extensive research, I began crafting my own natural and clean hair and skincare products—products I credit with improving my health and saving my life.

No longer confined to a wheelchair, I continue to battle significant health challenges but has greatly reduced hospital visits. Being chronically ill is no excuse for me not to keep going. In 2018, my products gained national recognition, selling online through Walmart and other major retailers wanting my luxury, handcrafted products on their store shelves. One of my biggest supporters during that time was, actress Tabitha Brown, who publicly praised Silk Sations, calling the Creole Curl, Wave and Defining Cream her favorite hair care product and raving about how the Body Butta Cream made her skin smell amazing. That same year, I auditioned for Shark Tank in New Orleans.

My business has continued to flourish, with billboards featuring Silk Sations appearing across New Orleans, Slidell, La and even in Times Square. I also created a jingle and launched a TV commercial, bringing my brand into millions of homes. With “Silkies” across the globe who swear by my products. With many of my “Silkies” being chronically ill like I am, and who often thank me for creating products that actually does exactly what they are crafted to do.

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?

My mom was a “Kitchen Beautician” and I would watch her have a line of people waiting for her to do their hair. From Jerry Curls to Roller Sets, and French Braids. I was so in awe watching her work, and I knew then, at the age of eight, that’s what I wanted to do. Besides, I was very tender headed, and I got tired of being “clunked” in my head with the hairbrush. So, I figured I’d better watch her and learn, and I did just that.

In junior high school, just like my mom, I had a line of clients in and out. Working from the kitchen table. By the time I was in high school, I took cosmetology class and was doing not only hair, but acrylic nails as well. I was the “Go to girl’

But having Multiple Sclerosis, it took away my ability to be a full-time hairstylist. And when I had to use a wheelchair, I honestly felt worthless and fell into a deep depression, but that didn’t last long. I dried my tears, prayed, and pulled myself together. My children were depending on me, and I had never let them down and wasn’t about to start.

I started off just handcrafting conditioner, hair grease, and body butta for my daughter and myself. Once I realized how fast her hair was growing and her eczema had cleared up, I started sending it to family and friends to be sure it really was working like I wanted it to and thought it was, and yes, it was. Family and friends started talking about my products on social media and I started receiving orders in my inbox.

Honestly, I by no means intended for this to be another business. I already had a non-profit for chronically and terminally ill children and a t-shirt printing business, plush kids, another business I did not want or need. But I couldn’t deny how effective my products were, and how much my blood disorder was improving. I figured, if it was really helping me with my illness, how many more people it could help, so I decided to share my products with the world. I allowed my children to name my brand, and they came up with “Silk Sations’ because of the way your hair and skin feel after using them.

What sets Silk Sations apart from other brands is because I am truly a black owned business, handcrafting my own products. I have been offered a couple of million to sell my brand and was told I’d have to change my formulations, (to make it more cost effective for them) But Silk Sations helped save my life and no one gets to alter that for any dollar amount. I use top quality ingredients without the harmful chemicals. My Silkies get to experience the same luxury products I make for myself and my household. I refuse to be like the big brand companies whose products are making and keeping us sick.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think the fact that I was already known in my community and others as being a poet, spoken word artist, who started a non-profit (Poetry in Motion Kare Bears Inc) for terminally and chronically ill children, people already had trust in me. I am known as an honest, trustworthy person with a big heart, so when I put Silk Sations out there, it didn’t take long for it to become a big hit. And a lot of my followers and friends on social media all know me from my hairstylist days and knew about me being chronically ill but never allowed that to stop me from showing up.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

How I put together the capitol for my business is very simple. I used my income tax money. I did this with all of my businesses. instead of shopping, I invested in me. And it has paid off tenfold.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.silksations.net
• Instagram: silk_sations
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/silksationscreations/
• Other: Tik Tok: silk_sations