We were lucky to catch up with Tesia Solo recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Tesia, thanks for joining us today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.
This is such an interesting question because I feel as though the beauty industry thrives on authenticity. I will say though, that it feels like social media has taken over the industry and if you aren’t striving to become an influencer, it’s like success (or what some might define as success) is impossible. I love the benefits of social media but that’s not my main focus. I thrive on sitting face to face with my clients and not only talking about their lives but truly discussing their goals for their hair and any concerns they might have. I find it really important to create a truly genuine relationship with my clients rather than trying to fit in as many people as I possibly can in a day. I value my relationships with my clients.
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 Tesia (pronounced Tesh-ah) and I’m a California girl who has lived in Texas for the last 8 years. I have been doing hair for 10 years now and I’m still just as obsessed with my career now as I was when I first started; honestly I think I’m even more obsessed now than I used to be. Doing hair was not my original plan. I had planned on going into the fashion industry and work towards becoming a stylist and buyer but life happened and I had to find an alternative. I always loved doing hair and makeup and helping my friends with theirs. I was the only person in my family who really gravitated towards those things and I was completely self taught so it seemed like an obvious choice to make a career out of it. I originally thought I was going to become a haircutting specialist but once I truly understood the ins and outs of haircolor and the sciences that went into it, I knew being a color specialist was my true calling. The biology and chemistry sucked me right in and I was hooked. I threw myself into gaining as much education as I could to provide a truly wonderful experience for my clients. It became my goal to prioritize the health of my clients hair while also getting them to their goals. Shortly after moving to Texas, my clients started referring to me as a “hair witch” for this reason and for making their ultimate goals a reality. I expanded my repertoire by becoming certified in extensions about 9 year ago and I first I didn’t know if extensions were for me. However, once I continued my education and gained more confidence in providing that service, I fell in love for a second time. I love what extensions can do for my clients and I made it my goal to make sure I was certified in more than one kind that way I could truly provide the best options for my clients and their needs. I not only do my best to get my clients to their goals but I educate them along the way to make sure they can do their part while out of the salon. It’s a team effort and it’s my job to provide the education and proper tools for my clients. I really enjoy spending the time teaching them the dos and don’ts as well as recommending the products that would work best for their hair. No head is the same so it’s important to know what is going to work for each individual client. I truly thrive on building connections with my clients, getting to know them, their hair, their goals and truly maximizing their experience while they sit in my chair. I genuinely believe everyone deserves a chance to feel beautiful and I want to do my absolute best to make that happen.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I have been through quite a lot in my life but one thing about me is I never give up. I’ve run my own business since the very beginning but I’ve worked in a few salons that tried to bring me down in more ways than one. One thing I always did though was stay true to myself and stick to my morals. I definitely had days where I questioned if I needed to switch careers but even through Covid and the lockdown, I made sure I was going to get through it. I took a pretty big hit when Covid happened and if I’m being honest, I feel like I’m only just now recovering. It was really hard bouncing back and maintaining my business but I kept pushing forward and promoted myself like crazy. I stepped out of my comfort zone and worked as hard as I could to make it work. I can honestly say that my tenacity is my strongest attribute.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I think being my genuine self is what truly helped me build my reputation. I’m an extremely honest person and I don’t hide who I am. I grew up as the black sheep of my family and I think that sort of turned into my super power. By not hiding who I am, people know what they’re going to get from me. I’m not here to make as much money as I can; I’m here to build connections and make people feel beautiful.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inkedfollicle?igsh=MXUxeGZxZXFibXYzcw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@tesialikekesha?_t=8omf6Cyz3BH&_r=1
Image Credits
Anagallegosphoto