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

Alright, TIffany thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

When I think about how I came up with the idea for my business as The Black Threadist, I have to go all the way back to being 13 years old.

I grew up watching my mother create beauty out of nothing. She could shape brows, apply makeup, and transform a woman’s entire confidence in one sitting. I was fascinated by the power of that. It wasn’t just about beauty — it was about identity, pride, and how a woman carried herself when she felt good.

Fast forward to my adult years in Minnesota. I noticed something very specific: eyebrow threading was almost exclusively performed within one cultural community. Most people — especially Black women — weren’t familiar with it, and when they were, they didn’t always feel comfortable walking into spaces where they didn’t see themselves represented. At the same time, many of us were still relying heavily on waxing, which can be harsh on melanin-rich, sensitive skin.

That’s when it clicked.

I realized there was a gap not just in service, but in representation.

Threading is precise. It’s clean. It doesn’t remove layers of skin the way waxing can. For women with hyperpigmentation concerns or sensitive skin, it’s a game-changer. But in Minnesota, you didn’t see African American women providing this service. And I knew culturally, if we don’t see it, we’re sometimes slower to trust it.

I wasn’t just learning a skill. I was breaking a norm.

Becoming recognized as the first African American threader in Minnesota wasn’t about ego — it was about expanding access and shifting perception. I knew it would work because I understood two things deeply: beauty and community. I had already built trust through my years of serving people — whether as a mentor, radio personality, chef, or community advocate. People knew my heart. They knew I believed in excellence.

Logic told me this made sense:

The service was in demand.

It was underrepresented in my community.

It solved a real problem for women with sensitive skin.

And I could teach it, duplicate it, and create economic opportunity from it.

But emotionally? It excited me because it was ownership. It was a cultural meeting skill. It was saying, “We belong in every lane, including this one.”

The most powerful part was watching Black women sit in my chair, sometimes skeptical at first, and then look in the mirror afterward with that smile. That quiet “Okayyyyy.” That confidence boost. That’s when I knew this wasn’t just a business — it was impact.

I even created a threading manual to increase knowledge and normalize the practice beyond one cultural lane. For me, this has always been bigger than eyebrows. It’s about education, empowerment, and economic freedom.

The Black Threadist wasn’t just a brand idea.
It was representation.
It was problem-solving.
It was legacy.

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?

For those who may not know me yet, my name is Tiffani Love, and many know me as The Black Threadist. I am an esthetician with over 20 years of experience, an on-air personality at 89.9 KMOJ in Minneapolis, a life recovery coach, mentor, and community advocate. But at my core, I am a creative and a culture shifter.

I got into the beauty industry at 13 years old, inspired by my mother. She had an eye for detail when it came to makeup and eyebrow arching, and I was fascinated by how shaping a brow could completely transform someone’s face and confidence. I didn’t just see beauty — I saw empowerment. That early exposure planted a seed in me that never left.

Years later, while living in Minnesota, I noticed something important: eyebrow threading was widely practiced, but almost exclusively within one cultural community. At the same time, many Black women were still relying on waxing, which can be harsh on melanin-rich, sensitive skin and contribute to hyperpigmentation. I recognized both a service gap and a representation gap.

That’s when I stepped fully into my lane.

I became recognized as the first African American threader in Minnesota, breaking a long-standing norm in the industry. But I didn’t just want to offer a service — I wanted to educate. I created a threading manual to increase knowledge and accessibility, helping normalize the technique in communities where it wasn’t widely understood. Threading is precise, sanitary, and gentle on the skin. It allows for clean definition without damaging layers of skin, and that’s especially important for clients concerned about dark marks or irritation.

The services I provide include professional eyebrow threading, brow shaping, and beauty consultations. But beyond the technical service, I provide confidence restoration. Many of my clients come to me after bad waxing experiences, over-tweezing, thinning brows, or skin sensitivity issues. I help them rebuild their brow shape safely and strategically.

What sets me apart is not just skill — it’s trust and intention.

I’ve built my life around serving people. Whether through radio, mentoring youth, coaching women through life recovery, or sitting someone in my beauty chair, I lead with heart. My clients know I care about the health of their skin, not just the final look. I educate while I work. I explain the process. I empower them with knowledge about their own beauty.

I am most proud of breaking barriers without compromising who I am. I’m proud that I didn’t wait for permission to enter a space where I didn’t see myself represented. I’m proud that young Black estheticians can now see threading as an option because I stepped into it publicly and professionally. And I’m proud that my brand stands for excellence, cultural confidence, and ownership.

What I want potential clients, followers, and supporters to know is this:
My work is intentional.
My brand is rooted in empowerment.
And my goal is always impact over income.

When you sit in my chair, you’re not just getting your eyebrows done — you’re experiencing skill, representation, and someone who believes that beauty is connected to confidence, and confidence changes lives.

That’s who I am. That’s The Black Threadist.

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

Resilience has been a consistent theme in my journey, not just in business, but in life.

When I stepped into the beauty industry as The Black Threadist, I wasn’t just learning a technique, I was stepping into a space where I didn’t see anyone who looked like me doing what I was doing. In Minnesota, threading was culturally associated with one community. As a Black woman entering that lane, I felt the weight of both curiosity and skepticism.

I remember early on, people would question me — sometimes subtly, sometimes directly.
“Who taught you?”
“Is this really threading?”
“Do you know what you’re doing?”

It wasn’t always said disrespectfully, but it was clear: I had to prove myself in ways others didn’t.

At the same time, building any business takes consistency, and there were moments when the clientele wasn’t flowing the way I hoped. There were days I wondered if I should just stay in more “familiar” spaces where I already had recognition — radio, community work, mentoring. It would have been easier.

But resilience kicked in.

I reminded myself why I started. I had identified a real issue — many women with melanin-rich, sensitive skin were experiencing damage from waxing. I knew threading was a healthier alternative. I also knew representation matters. If I walked away, the gap would still exist.

So instead of quitting, I leaned in. I sharpened my skill. I educated my clients while I worked. I created a threading manual so knowledge wouldn’t be gatekept. I showed up consistently — even when it felt quiet.

And then something powerful happened.

Word-of-mouth grew. Women who were hesitant became loyal. Clients who once questioned became advocates. I wasn’t just “a threader” anymore — I became trusted.

But resilience for me isn’t just about business challenges. I am a three-time divorcee, a domestic violence survivor, a former gang member — and yet I stand as a businesswoman, radio personality, mentor, grandmother, and homeowner. Every chapter of my life required me to choose growth over defeat.

There were seasons where giving up would have been understandable. But I’ve learned that resilience isn’t loud. It’s not dramatic. It’s a quiet decision you make over and over again: I’m not done.

What I’m most proud of is that I didn’t allow statistics, setbacks, or stereotypes to define my ceiling. I allowed purpose to define my direction.

My journey has taught me that resilience isn’t about never falling — it’s about refusing to stay down. And every time I sit a woman in my chair and help her feel confident, I’m reminded that pushing through was worth it.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I started by slowly saving and investing my own money, purchasing the things I needed, working extra jobs, and building my business from scratch. I didn’t have outside investors or a big budget, so every dollar mattered. I reinvested early earnings back into the business — buying quality threading tools, training materials, and setting up a professional space that reflected the level of service I wanted to provide.

It wasn’t always easy. Balancing multiple jobs while investing in my dream required discipline, patience, and a lot of late nights. But I knew that if I wanted to create something lasting — not just a service, but a brand that represented excellence, representation, and empowerment — I had to start small and grow strategically.

Building this business from the ground up taught me more than just the technical side of threading. It taught me resourcefulness, accountability, and the importance of believing in my vision enough to fund it myself. Every step, every investment, and every hour I put in reinforced my commitment to The Black Threadist, and ultimately, it allowed me to create a business that I’m proud of — one that serves my community, uplifts women, and provides a service that wasn’t widely available before.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: theblackthreadist
• Facebook: theblackthreadist