We recently connected with Teria Hernton and have shared our conversation below.
Teria, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I started my two daughters hair and coworkers as needed. Although, I really didn’t know how to. What started as one client turned into seven. I then became a full time, wife, mom, employee and entrepreneur all in one. My husband was my biggest cheerleader. As I would send photos of my work, he would push me to no end. He would tell me how great of a job that I was doing despite needing more practice. He was that motivator for me. I literally would get off work, pick up the kids, cook dinner and still manage to do hair. I grew to love it! In 2018 I went on Medical leave to determine if my family could live strictly off of my dream. In January of 2019 I was supposed to return to work however, my husband told me to do what I wanted to and he would handle the rest. Two months later, my husband passed away. Upon returning to work, my clientele doubled. I decided to relocate and my clientele tripled. I then became a traveling and celebrity stylist. I’ve recently came up with an invention based off a potential client from New York that reached out to me requesting a long ponytail for her brother’s wedding. She had short locs so I had to figure how to accomplish the vision. I declined the opportunity but truly no opportunity was missed. I continued to work on coming up with the YBOB loc track, which is an illusion for a longer style for those with locs. Also, YBOB presents Your Not Alone group grief social to honor my husband, David.
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
Who am I? Those who might know me would describe as selfless, ambitious, blunt, and takes pride in my craft. I decided to take a leap of faith by bettering my craft client by client. I’ am a loctcian but it doesn’t just stop there. I offer merch and a hydration mist and in January of 2023, I will be launching the YBOB loc track. With each appointment I become a therapist, a mother, a friend and a confident. I try to create a non-judgmental space for each and every client. What might set me apart from others is I get overly involved with my clients. I feel like I’m brought into each clients life for some reason. I’m proud of reaching new heights and but not stopping there. I have set goals for myself that I didn’t know how I would accomplish but still managed to reach them by taking a chance on me.
How did you build your audience on social media?
Facebook has been my biggest platform. I began to post my work not being concerned with likes and comments. I also started to research and get a better understanding of how social media worked. I post at times I know most people would be socially available and days that I know are high for work vs. family. Most importantly; I POST EVERYTHING! the good bad and ugly. I want to see what my errors are as well as allow others to provide positive criticism, along with giving my audience the opportunity to see see see. Some people see and don’t like, but they still see.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
After the passing of my husband; I relocated back to my hometown St Louis MO to cope with his death and have support for my children and I. I had to rebuild my clientele and create a name for myself in a city full of other talented locitians and successful business owners. Growing myself and business in a new state, within a few short years I’ve learned life lessons, gained relationships money can never buy, placed myself and allowed others to help me in situations that could “only go up from here”, and also developed two businesses from a dream. One of which I plan to be able to leave to my children for family legacy and financial freedom and the other in which I not only intend to help others grieving but help myself as well.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: yourbraid_ourbond
- Facebook: Teria Hernton and YourBraid OurBond
Image Credits
Michael Henderson