Hair What I'm Saying
"Hair What I'm Saying" is created to share real life experiences with real people in the beauty industry to promote healthy relationships with consumers and Beautyprenuers. We will get into the nitty gritty of the backend of hair/salon business to help consumers understand why certain policies are implemented in order to sustain a healthy balanced salon environment for both parties, while consumers share their unprofessional and challenging experiences behind the chair. The goal is to bridge the gap to understand one another's perspective in hopes of clarity and unity.
Hair What I'm Saying
Essence Farmer; The Advocate, Educator, and Cultural Icon in Natural Hair"
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Essence Farmer, a pioneering force in the natural hair industry, shares her extraordinary journey from braiding hair in her parents' laundry room to becoming a prominent figure who reshaped industry regulations. At just 23, she bravely confronted the Arizona State Board of Cosmetology, winning a landmark legal battle that opened doors for countless natural hair stylists. Essence's story is a testament to youthful determination, fueled by family support and a relentless pursuit of her passion for natural hair care, even when it meant stepping away from a conventional career path in nursing.
Throughout our conversation, Essence takes us through her balancing act of pursuing nursing, managing a hair clientele, and eventually taking the bold step to follow her true calling in hairstyling. With unwavering encouragement from her father, she navigated the fear and challenges of entrepreneurship, leading to the opening of her own storefront. Her journey highlights the courage required to overcome self-doubt and embrace the uncertainty of following one's heart, ultimately finding recognition in esteemed platforms like Essence Magazine and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Essence's impact extends beyond styling; she has evolved into an educator, fostering a new generation of hairstylists through Rare Essence Academy. Her commitment to accessible education, alongside her reflections on cultural significance and personal growth, offers invaluable insights. She underscores the importance of affirming one's worth and the power of uniqueness, encouraging everyone to embrace their authentic selves while striving for excellence. This episode is a celebration of Essence's lasting legacy and her inspiring role in transforming the beauty industry.
To connect with Essence, follow the links below:
Website
Youtube
Podcast
@essencechina
@rareessenceacademy
Essence China TikTok
Rare Essence Academy TikTok
Read the article on Essence Farmer VS State Board of Cosmetology
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Today, we're sitting down with a true powerhouse in the natural hair industry Essence Farmer. At just 23 years old, essence took on the Arizona State Board of Cosmetology in a legal battle that changed the game for natural hair stylists. She fought against outdated regulations that excluded natural hair care from traditional cosmetology standards and won her victory, not only opened doors for her own business, rare essence studio, but set a precedent that empowered countless stylists to follow their dreams without unnecessary barriers. Essence didn't stop there. She's the founder of rare essence academy, where she's redefining education in natural hair care, teaching braiding, locking and twisting techniques and equipping stylists with the tools they need to thrive. Her work has been featured in Essence Magazine and even recognized by the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Essence Farmer is a visionary, a trailblazer and an advocate for empowerment, and her story is nothing short of extraordinary. Welcome to the Hair what I'm Saying podcast. I'm your host, kenetra Stewart, and today we're in Phoenix, arizona, with the amazing Essence Farmer. Welcome to the show. How are you? Thank you, I'm amazing, thank you.
Speaker 1:Yes you are amazing that you are this extensive background of you being this powerhouse and at such a young age Like I am honored to have you on the show. Wow, no, thank you, it's my pleasure. Thank you, can you share a bit?
Speaker 2:about your background and what first inspired your passion for natural hair care. I think what inspired me was just going to get our hair done, Me and my sister. We would go and get our hair done and that braider would be braiding forever and I guess I just was observant, I didn't realize, I was inspired at the moment, but I would go home and I would be braiding hair and just like feeling it. And over time my younger brother he grew his hair out because crisscross was the thing. Oh yeah.
Speaker 1:And he was like.
Speaker 2:I want my hair like that.
Speaker 1:And so I'm like okay, cool.
Speaker 2:So I just really started braiding and I just developed a love for it and it really just took off from there just playing with my brother's hair.
Speaker 1:How old were you? Oh my goodness, Twelve, twelve, yeah, twelve, thirteen, and in that moment did you feel like this is something I want to do, you know, as a career, or you just playing?
Speaker 2:around. I mean, I didn't. I never seen it as a career path because I don't think that it was really validated in society and culture. Even now, I think a lot of people feel like I need to go get a real job and realize that there is great opportunity in it, and so, no, it was always a hustle for me to be honest with you. It's just like oh this is something I can do with my hands until I get a real job.
Speaker 1:Did you have other dreams or aspirations outside of that, even though at the age of 12, that's pretty young? But did you say like, oh, I'm going to be a doctor, a lawyer? You know the typical stuff we learn in school.
Speaker 2:Yeah, for sure, Like in school. Yeah for sure. Like when I got further into high school, I thought I wanted to be a neonatologist.
Speaker 1:I wanted to go into medical field. Oh my gosh. Yes, that is a remarkable career, yeah, so what sparked that? I know that's off the topic, but I'm just curious. I just like to know if we started off with hair. I just want to dabble a little deeper, like beyond. You know what we thought we were going to be.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, I definitely thought I was going to be medical. My mother was an RN and so, seeing that influence in the house, I always was like interested in, like caring for people in a particular way. I love babies and so.
Speaker 1:I was like okay neonatologist sounds good yeah.
Speaker 1:I had a client who was one and I was. I just she never even told me either. Her mom told me I was. I just she never even told me either. Her mom told me I was like why you didn't tell me this? Like this is a huge career, you know a very critical career as well, like emotionally, all of that. I was like and you never told me that we don't talk about your job and you know how it is behind the chair with the clients. They tell us everything. Yeah, and she didn't tell me that at all. So I was just. I was like you are extremely humble, right, how did you get started in the hair industry and what led you to specialize in braiding and natural styles? Like once you know, at that time with your brother you mentioned I was just doing something. It was just a hustle.
Speaker 2:But at what point did you decide like this is what I'm going to do?
Speaker 2:Honestly, it was a journey, like everything kind of just unfolded in time, right. So I went from braiding my brother's hair to my mother's friend saying, hey, I seen that your daughter's braiding, you know, elliot's hair, so can she do my son's hair? And that was a challenge for me because he was biracial and so that texture is different to grip, and so it brought on a challenge to where I'm like, okay, I gotta get this. And so I got more determination over time and after that she paid me and I was like, okay, make the money, make that first dollar.
Speaker 1:You're like, oh, I can, I can make some money, right, yeah?
Speaker 2:that's when it really started to like click, but it still wasn't something I decided to do until much later. But I pretty much like started doing hair out of my parents' laundry room. And that became my salon and I had high school friends coming and getting their hair done, so you weren't high school during this time.
Speaker 1:Oh, this is all high school, yeah, okay.
Speaker 2:So I had a full-on clientele, like my laundry room was set up like a salon suite and we talking the 90s right. Oh my goodness, it was a real thing, like I literally have a YouTube video that really shows, because my brother was recording this and so I have like content.
Speaker 1:What your brother recorded this for you. Yes, that's so amazing so yeah, it took time.
Speaker 2:I ended up moving to Maryland, and when I moved to Maryland I left all of my clientele. I was 20 years old at the time.
Speaker 2:And I was like okay, cool, I'm about to go to school for real, for real, figure out what my career path is going to be. And when I moved to Maryland, I literally thought I wasn't going to touch hair anymore, until I'm like why am I not using this gift when I could be making some side money while I'm out here? Like, just because I upped and left my clientele doesn't mean that I need to stop.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:And so I was still just doing it on the side and I went to school. As I was telling you earlier, I went to Hampton University for a semester.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:And while I was down there, I just any, many, many mode a major Did you?
Speaker 1:Because I was just like I don't know why I'm here. Why am I here? I understand that I relate to that.
Speaker 2:No, why no purpose? And I had already went to community college for a few years and I had all these credits. And so I'm like, okay, where can all these credits go the soonest and quickest that I can graduate?
Speaker 1:And so I was like air traffic controller.
Speaker 2:They make $90,000 a year. So that make $90,000 a year.
Speaker 1:So you that's what you decided to do.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So I'm down at Hampton university. I'm like, okay, I'm gonna make all my credits go to this path, so I'm going to, um, get these classes that go towards this. At the end of the semester I was like, okay, I done got a loan and this is my first loan I've ever gotten in my life. And my father programmed in our mind like if we can't pay cash for it, we can't afford it.
Speaker 2:Therefore, any type of credit is not good right and so because of that, I'm like I know this is for my education, but I don't feel right getting a loan. And then, probably because I knew I wasn't aligned right okay, that makes sense. And so after that semester I just was like this, ain't it like I gotta figure out what I want to do and put my energy and effort into that? And so then I fell back to doing hair.
Speaker 2:So I moved back to Maryland and I'm doing hair full time and I still didn't know if this was what I was going to do for forever. I have an encounter. With God Literally shifted my whole life, told me to go back to Arizona. I moved back out here after three years of being away.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And this is where it really got serious. What ended up happening was I'm in the house with my mother now.
Speaker 1:And she's like what are you?
Speaker 2:going to do with your life Absolutely, and I'm like I don't know, like I'm literally following instructions right now.
Speaker 1:That's a good answer.
Speaker 2:But she's really just trying to make sure that I get my footing. Like you're back in my house, you know, I know you left the house one time, but when you leave again you better have yourself together, right. And so she's a nurse and so that was kind of where I'm like okay, well, I'll continue going down this path. So she was like RN, something to get you started. In the meantime, I'm hearing instructions, divinely, yes. And I'm hearing call the state board. So I called the state board of cosmetology. Okay, and when I called them, I'm pretty much telling them my history, like I've been doing natural hair for X amount of years. Like what 10 at this time?
Speaker 2:Yeah, it was a good amount of time and I was like what do I need to do in order to be legal in the state of Arizona to do hair? Because at this time now I'm like I know I want to rebuild my clientele and I don't want to be relegated to braiding hair out of my parents home or in my apartment, like I want to be official and they essentially told you have to have a license in order to do any type of hair.
Speaker 2:And I found an issue with it because I felt like you guys are not teaching nor enhancing what I already know.
Speaker 1:That's right.
Speaker 2:Nowhere, especially at this time. Nowhere. You're teaching me everything that I'm not going to do Now. I know that there's a big riff in the industry with this conversation, because it's just like if you're going to be doing hair, you need to know how to do it proper. There's sanitation, there's all of these things, and I'm all for that.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Right, but I was not for me going to school for a year and a half, paying $10,000-plus to go through all of this training, when that sanitation part. If they would have had a limit to licensing for me, I would have been all for it it wasn't going to take you a week for sanitation. Like get out of here.
Speaker 1:It's there you can get that done in one day.
Speaker 2:So all of that was just like going against all of the core of who I am. So I got off the phone. I'm like they said I got to school, you know, in order for this to happen. So I'm, I'm calculating in my mind how, how long this is gonna take me and going through this whole process so I end up saying, all right, god, now what? Right he was like look for a law firm oh my gosh, at the age of 23 that's 23 and I'm hearing these divine instructions.
Speaker 2:Listen, I'm trying to tell people like this was not of my idea. Okay, gotcha now being in Maryland you didn't have to have a license out there. So the seed was planted that if it's different in Maryland, it can be different in Arizona. I don't know how, but being there showed me the difference, and so, looking for a law firm, I'm like, all right, well, at least I can do is try, right, right. So I'm AOLing because you know this dial-up speed.
Speaker 1:Oh, my girls.
Speaker 2:This is my high speed.
Speaker 1:The patience you had. Oh, my gosh Girl, I forgot all about AOL Dialing up. Listening to the little tone in the background, oh, dear God, Making sure nobody's on the phone, Because you know you couldn't be on the phone too. You know you've been dialing up. Yeah, Okay, Come on girl, Keep on going.
Speaker 2:So I find a few law firms, I call them and by like the third law firm that I came across, they were like we'll meet with you and I'm like, really, because I pretty much told him like this is what I'm doing, this is what I think is unfair, is there? And this guy came to my house and sat with me and listened to my story and something in that moment, let me know, there's something there yeah, right, because he wouldn't waste his time come to find out. This is the institute for justice right.
Speaker 1:This is the, the organization that you didn't know at that time, I didn't you just calling law firms.
Speaker 2:Eeny meeny miny moe-ing Yo eeny meeny miny moe works Literally yeah.
Speaker 2:So come to find out they had just opened an office here in Phoenix Within months of me contacting them. Secondly, they had set the precedence in another state. They had already fought and won oh my goodness, this type of case. So they were ready, ready. So that's why he was like come to your house, like let's go. Yeah, so we meet. And by December 8th I had moved back in August, by December 8th we I had moved back in August. By December 8th we had filed Essence Farmer versus the State Board of Cosmetology.
Speaker 1:Oh, my gosh. Like even hearing that I'm like gosh that sounds. So it's just such a power move of like all the good rebellion you know, and just paving the way for all the future women that want to be like you. Were you thinking about that at that time? Like I'm about to like create history? Were you thinking? Not in the least?
Speaker 2:yeah no, I literally was thinking I just want to do hair and I don't know why this law is such, but I don't think it's fair.
Speaker 2:And if something can be done, cool. But I'm following instructions. I'm not seeing all of the things that can come after that. I'm just in the moment and not only am I just in the moment, it be, it is like a firestorm of. I'm on the cover of the Arizona Republic business section. I'm on the cover of the Glendale section. A news team from DC comes like a nationwide you know what I mean channel, comes to interview me in my apartment.
Speaker 1:Were you ready.
Speaker 2:No, because I didn't even. I'm like, I'm just trying to, I'm literally just trying to braid hair. Yeah, I don't even understand how big this is. I'm just like so it was crazy.
Speaker 1:Oh my goodness. So whenever these news reporters start reaching out to you and come to you to talk to you about your story, could you just easily tell it? You know, or you was just like mom I don't know what I got myself into like. I know it's a good thing, but I can't handle the overwhelming, like these kids. You.
Speaker 2:I'm a real calm person, okay, when it comes to stuff like that. So I'm just like I'm just gonna answer your questions because I think it's ridiculous, you know, um, and so, yeah, they would ask me questions, and that was that was what happened. So what happened was Janet Napolitano, who was the governor at the time, because it was so much publicity, she heard about it and thought it was crazy and was just like, okay, I'm gonna sign off and I'm gonna amend, amend the law. We never went to court, oh, my goodness. So we're talking about from December to about April-ish is when this you know, it was multiple news interviews that I had and articles that I had, and so it was big yes, and she essentially signed off that this exempted all braiders, locticians, natural hairstylists in the state of Arizona from having to obtain, like, a cosmetology license in order to service clients. That's right. And so it was crazy, because at that moment, that's when I realized like, okay, I keep trying to like run away from here, but clearly, it changed a lot.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's for you. Chose me, it did, it did yeah because, when I think about me as a kid, I always wanted to do hair. It didn't choose me, I chose it. So it's like everything was just reeling you back in, like get over here, over here. Like we need you to make this change, like we need to see you do this for us. And maybe God just knew you were the person that was just going to stick with it, be disciplined, stay focused and make sure it get done. Yeah, you know, girl.
Speaker 2:Such a great story and all this time I went to nursing school, so I got. I didn't.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh. So you were in nursing school while you were fighting while all this is going on.
Speaker 2:I'm still in my mom's house and she still. She sees it, but she don't see it, if that makes sense right.
Speaker 1:So what you mean?
Speaker 2:she see what you're doing, but she is not actively like she doesn't see the vision or the future of it. She's just like, OK, my daughter's fighting this law Like it's all like crazy to her.
Speaker 1:Oh my God, so in what way Crazy. Like explain what you mean, like what did she feel, like you?
Speaker 2:doing a lot. I think she still was like OK, I see that you're doing this, but I don't see the end of this thing. But I know that nursing is secure. I know that nursing is secure. I know that this is a job that you can have for the rest of your life, because it was secure for her right. And so while I'm fighting this law, she still didn't see what could happen after that. Nor did I, if I'm honest yeah, right because it kept coming back.
Speaker 2:I know that's what I was supposed to do, but I didn't know how to do it yeah, for sure and so my lawyer during the course of this time was like well, what's your salon going to be named? And I'm like bruh.
Speaker 1:I ain't thought about nothing, I'm just trying to get this one little thing.
Speaker 2:Seriously, oh my gosh. So I finally come up with the name for the salon and he now wants to get me incorporated. I'm like so it was like God was using him to usher this along. Oh my God. So he brings me the paperwork, I go ahead and incorporate the name during this whole time, still in nursing school, are you thinking?
Speaker 1:in that moment. Am I about to let this go, or am I just going to coast this through and just see how far we go with it, but still keep this nursing for the stability and the security?
Speaker 2:I think it was multiple things.
Speaker 2:I think that I was happy that I almost could hide behind the barrier of this law not being passed, because then it was going to require me to step out on faith. And so there was a lot of fear with opening a business and really just like having freedom to do what I truly wanted to do, because there was still a lot of mental blocks of I'm too young, I've never been in business before, and so there was a part of me that wanted to hold on to some of that stability of I can do this. But what ended up happening was I finished nursing school, but while I'm in nursing school school, I'm rebuilding my clientele because I have my apartment now because when I got back home, my mother was like not only did she not see it, she told me that I couldn't do hair out of the house anymore.
Speaker 2:Oh okay. So she was like, listen you gotta figure that out.
Speaker 2:You was a teenager, yeah so I get my apartment, I'm going to school from eight to two nursing school come home. And I would braid in my apartment because I'm going to school from 8 to 2, nursing school Come home. And I would braid in my apartment because I got a one-bedroom with a den and I set it up like a salon, yeah, and I would braid from like 3 to about 9, 10 o'clock and then I would go to my night job. I worked at a group home but I was sleeping.
Speaker 1:I'm going to be honest, oh my gosh. Thank God you had the graveyard shift.
Speaker 2:Okay, and I would do. I would work there, I would wake up at 6 am, clock out and then I would go do it all over again. So I did that for a year.
Speaker 1:So what about nursing? At this time? You just kind of let it go. There was no nursing.
Speaker 2:This was nursing school that I was in.
Speaker 1:So that group home, the group home that, that a group home that was like that was a school.
Speaker 2:No, no, no. So I went to school from 8 to 2 in the morning.
Speaker 1:And then break from 3 to 9 to 10. And then go to your graveyard shift yes, and then, as soon as I got off, go home shower, get ready go to school.
Speaker 2:I did that for a year, so by the time I graduate nursing school. So you graduated.
Speaker 1:I graduated nursing school Girl. I was not expecting that. I was not expecting that because I'm like you were doing so much. Yeah, you know, and I don't know how you like balance all that, even mentally you know, yeah, and nursing school is not easy, but I had to finish when.
Speaker 2:I started right.
Speaker 2:So this was an LPM program. Okay, so I finish, I get my license. My clientele is popping. At this point, I ended up quitting my night job and now I'm applying to be a nurse. Yes, so I started working as a nurse and I worked for four months. I was at a lockdown facility for youth and I'm passing meds and it's depressing and I don't feel aligned and I'm just like this is not it. I'm going home and I'm passing meds and it's depressing, I don't feel aligned and I'm just like this is not it. I'm going home and I'm braiding. My clients are like when you go open your salon, and I'm like what are you talking about? Like, get out of my business.
Speaker 1:Right, because you so set on, you know, the nursing program.
Speaker 2:I'm set on that, but I'm also. I don't know how to open a salon. Also, I don't know how to open a salon. You ask me about stuff. I don't even know how I'm going to do it Right. And so those things were happening, clients saying little things, and I'm just like, okay, this is continuing to tell me. So one day I just decided to quit my nursing job because I'm like, worst come to worst, I can always come back to this job you can, but I got all of my time.
Speaker 2:I don't have to go to nursing school, no more, yeah, and I can full-fledged build my clientele out, and then we can see. And so what ended up happening was my father. He was like my father was an entrepreneur.
Speaker 1:Oh, wow, so this was for him. Did he see the vision? Oh, did he see it? Oh that's such a blessing.
Speaker 2:Beyond. Like my father told me I would have a school before I had a salon, and my father was speaking life into me as a teenager when he seen I saved $6,000.
Speaker 1:Shout out to your father oh my. The support is so needed. Whenever you are taking like entrepreneurship back, then it's super risky.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Because there's not, especially with black people, it's just not a lot of generational entrepreneurs in our bloodline, yeah, and so I'm just glad you had that support, that motivation, you know, that kind of kept you on that path somewhere, you know, but also with your mom helping you get stability. So if this don't work out, I could just go back to nursing, it's okay. So I just love the planning of all of this, even though it was kind of like a little unorthodox, but it it had, you know, it worked out, you know, yeah. So tell me about your dad.
Speaker 2:Tell me about your dad oh, yeah, yeah, no, my father, when I saved six thousand dollars I might have been like 17. He's like where you get all this money from? I'm like, daddy, what are you talking about? You told me to go up on my prices, like when I was charging five and $10, he was just like no, I mean, it was the 90s and I was a teenager and I didn't know. I didn't know what I had Right. He was like you need to go up on your prices and I was so fearful at the time because I'm just like my clients can't afford this. I'm counting aid money Right. Counting aid money right, yeah. And so when I went up on my prices and I saved this money and my father seen it, he really started to see like you, you gotta do this this is it right here, it's in your hands.
Speaker 2:I love that. So he was always speaking life and bringing that balance in. Where I'm trying to run off and go do something else, he's just trying to help me see it, and so I quit my nursing job. What's your mom say? She ain. Say she didn't really say nothing. Okay, good, I think she seen that I was rebuilding my clientele, and so she just was like well, you out of my house. Now too. You know what I mean.
Speaker 1:Like we just got to get that main part out. Long as you out of here and you doing something, yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2:So she didn't really have much to say. But my father, I was frustrated one day because I was driving down the street and I see a braid salon open and it bothered me because people are moving out on the thing that I initiated, but I'm still braiding hair out of my apartment. Absolutely, that's valid, and so I'm not mad at them, but I'm just like what am I doing?
Speaker 1:Maybe mad at yourself a little. That's what. Yeah, that's what made it real.
Speaker 2:It was just like, girl, you changed the law. This is not for you to be breaking out of your apartment Like take the next step. So I told my father and he was like, well, just go, look for a building. Oh my God.
Speaker 1:He's just so supportive, you know, and he made it so simple.
Speaker 2:It's just like you're tripping about the next step. It's not that hard. Go look for a building. It don't cost no money.
Speaker 2:It just takes some time just to go look and call a number and ask some questions, because what happens is, I feel, that we talk ourselves out of things just because we don't have the intel, we don't have the information, you don't even know. Yeah, for sure. That's what really, when I realized, like oh, I've chosen, this was the law got passed, and then I knew I wasn't aligned with what I was doing and I just knew that I had to take these steps, but by this time I'm already incorporated yeah, because of that lawyer helping you out.
Speaker 1:Yeah, dang, it's just like the story. Like you think, people are planning all of this. You know, I didn't expect for your story to be like. No, my brother was the you know, my first client and I was just doing something. I was like this girl was born to do all of this and you were. But I'm just saying I was thinking like you knew that at that time.
Speaker 2:No, oh my gosh.
Speaker 1:Such a great story. Sorry if I threw you off on your question. No, this is good. I am enjoying this Like I am intrigued, I am interested. This is just man. It's just I don't know. I know I'm a little rebellious when it comes to things that I want that I think are fair, but I just don't know if I could have done it at 23.
Speaker 1:Like maybe later in life, once I had the confidence and also the experience. You had the practical experience but not like the business management experience. Yeah, I don't even know if you knew anything about the law back then, you know. So I just wonder, wondered like, could I have done something like that at my little age of 23? Like, what was I doing at 23? I'm like I don't think I could have done it. So it's also the age and also the resilience and just not backing down like no matter who was just like yeah like what are you doing?
Speaker 1:you're doing too much. It's not even that deep. Just go to school and do the hours and move on. You know, because usually that's what most would do Like I just need to get this license.
Speaker 2:And you see it all the time.
Speaker 1:You know, I've interviewed a braider who did it and then, like a month later they got rid of the law and I was like sheesh. I was like did they offer your money back? She was like, no. She was like but they gave me my money back for state board, for going down there to take the state board test. I was like what $25?
Speaker 2:Yeah right, they can keep that Right. I just yeah.
Speaker 2:I mean, there was fearlessness, but there was also like youthful ignorance too if that makes sense it was like I'm a rebellious person, like I like to push, because I'm like this is not fair and I feel like there's something that can be done about it. I think that's just ingrained in me, but at the same time I didn't have necessarily the fullness of courage to step out and begin to do this, because when it came to me opening a storefront, I was very comfortable at home. I know how to pay my rent at home, you know I have clientele, but to at home, you know I have clientele, but to move from that step of my apartment to a storefront was a very major hurdle for me absolutely, and that took a great deal of courage, but also the support right my father and my mother absolutely for sure.
Speaker 1:Your photo went viral and became a defining moment in the braiding world. My clients asking me, way before I even knew you. They were asking me to create that inspiration. Walk us through the journey of that inspiration behind that photo. Was that a vision already created or you was just freestyling and did you even know the impact it would have later?
Speaker 2:Yeah Well, much like my story, it it was a freestyle. I'm a free person so the biggie smalls was just a concept or, uh, just a particular type of braiding technique that I like to do, and so that's pretty much what she had. Along the sides of her hair were the big and small, the contrast of the big and small braids, and, yes, it was just like okay, this is a cute style. This was my first photo shoot.
Speaker 2:I had never done like a professional photo shoot before I had worked with a photographer out of New York, and so when he came to Phoenix and we're doing this shoot, I originally had her hair styled differently. It was like more of a French roll type of look.
Speaker 1:Gotcha and a natural updo French roll type.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so it was all the same style, braided on the sides everything but the middle section was different. Okay, gotcha, and so he took the pictures and I'm thinking we're done. He was like, okay, switch it up. I'm like switch it up, there's nothing I can switch up, sir. Yes, there's nothing I can switch up, sir. Yes. I literally had to go in my mind to say, okay, how can I make this?
Speaker 1:different without taking more than 10 minutes, you know and so I took out less than 10 minutes that mohawk.
Speaker 2:I'm 15 minutes, just that, just that section. Yeah, so it was so neat.
Speaker 1:You know, it just looked like you took your time and you put effort into it.
Speaker 2:It was on the fly. Oh my goodness, no lie, it was literally on the fly, because I'm like I don't know when I'm paying him for his time, right he?
Speaker 1:ain't going to be here all day and he don't even live in Arizona. So we got to be on time.
Speaker 2:Yes. So when I took it out, I'm literally like, okay, it's hanging down in the middle, what am I going to do? There's nothing much. I felt like I could do other than do the roles. So I just did the roles. He took the pictures. Never in a million years that, I think, it would be what it became, because I wasn't even trying to photograph that.
Speaker 1:I didn't even know that that was going to be the it picture. Everything is happening for you. I'm just being me and doing me and for some reason it's working well. Oh my gosh, I can't believe that. I thought that was well planned out too. I was like this girl, like I need to get on my planning, like she made me feel like I am like not doing it right and I'm learning your story and I'm like this is great, like I'm glad to hear it flowing in this way, because I feel like a lot of us, as entrepreneurs, we are figuring it out as we go.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:The good thing is you did have your dad, you know, to kind of create the foundation for you, you know. But we are figuring a lot of things out as we go, like we're learning on the journey you know so that's why I was like this girl. She need to be teaching how to do it not just practically, but also in a mindset way too.
Speaker 2:Yeah, for sure. Yeah, I think the mindset is really just believing in yourself. Absolutely, you know and going that path of least resistance. Like I said, hair chose me, I'm just being drawn this way, so I'm like all right, cool, and every time I do something it's working out, so I just keep moving forward, gotcha, yeah okay, what was it like seeing your work inspire stylists and spark trends across the natural hair industry?
Speaker 2:uh, it was a mixed feeling initially. It was mixed because viral was not a thing for real. For real, were you thinking like instagram had just started?
Speaker 1:yeah, you went viral before we knew. Viral was viral exactly so there's mixed feelings.
Speaker 2:It's like, oh okay, this hairstyle is clearly dope, other people like it, um, but now it's proliferating without my signature and or the acknowledgement of who did it.
Speaker 1:That's why I couldn't ever like I couldn't place it nowhere. It was just like bam and it was like who in the world done this?
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:It was like no credentials, Like it was hard to find it Exactly.
Speaker 2:So now, when it was published in Essence, I did get the. You know what do you call it.
Speaker 1:Like the credits, the recognition. Yeah, thank you. Yeah, like the credits and all that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, thank you. Yeah, so I did get the recognition there, but that was the only place. But when it hit the internet, there's no watermark, there's no logo.
Speaker 1:There's not me smiling next to her, or anything like that. Even a photographer too. Yeah, right, yeah.
Speaker 2:So I'm tight if I'm honest.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely, I'm just like dang.
Speaker 2:Not only because it was on flyers, it's on business cards it's on billboards. It's in other countries it was literally everywhere.
Speaker 1:I mean you couldn't go, especially if you are a black natural hairstylist. You couldn't go nowhere without seeing that photo and people were marketing that style like it was their work, as if it was theirs. They were yeah To the point where the model herself was in paris seeing it on a book on in the front of a salon. This girl went global. Wait a minute, you went global.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh she goes into the salon and they telling her that they did it and she's like I'm the model. Oh my goodness.
Speaker 1:Yes, it was crazy. People were really taking credit if they could get away with it. And she's like I'm the model.
Speaker 2:Oh my goodness, it was crazy. People were really taking credit if they could get away.
Speaker 1:So when she told them she was a model, what did they say?
Speaker 2:they probably just looked at her like oh okay, I mean I don't remember the whole reaction, but yeah y'all have been like look at my side, look at all of this.
Speaker 1:That's me up there. Yeah, for real. Yep Girl, I'm just learning so much about you. I'm like, golly, it's like sitting in front of Michelle Obama, a black natural hairstylist, and for you I bet you don't even feel that way, absolutely not. But everyone on the outside looking in, as a black natural hairstylist, I'm telling you that's what you are for real.
Speaker 1:When Tyler told me about you, I was like, oh, I hope to God this girl is available. I want people to know her on my platform too. So being featured in Essence Magazine is such a huge accomplishment. Can you tell us how that opportunity came about?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so when I initially did the photo shoot it was to get published. But it was to get published in like black hair sophisticates oh, I remember that. Yeah, because you it's a hair magazine, you submit your photos to get published, whereas essence you don't just submit your photos to get published.
Speaker 1:It don't happen like that it's not even a hair magazine exactly so.
Speaker 2:The photographer is in New York and this is what he does. He, you know, he shops his images. I don't know exactly what happened. All I know is that months later, um, he hits me up. He was like, hey, essence picture work up. And I'm like, okay, he said it so casually.
Speaker 2:I'm just like I don't even know what that means but okay, oh my gosh yeah and then I had a friend hit me up and they're like girl, did you see this essence uh issue? And I'm like no, she was like you are all in that magazine. I'm like what, not only was, uh, my hairstyle in there, because it was a whole column, but I was actually because I was one of the models, just because you know, we had a whole lot of pictures. You were in there.
Speaker 2:I was in there the salon was mentioned. All of that you right above it, and it was next to one of my mentor salons. I'm not sure if you know who Anu Prestoni is of Kammett Kinks in New York.
Speaker 1:And.
Speaker 2:I'm just like. The honor to be next to that legacy was just mind-blowing to me, so I was just like okay, did you start?
Speaker 1:feeling like this is a big deal. Definitely yeah, for sure I was going to say when did that start resonating with you? Like you are making extreme movements, yeah, you know, at that time I'm like, did it finally sit in Like dang, like I'm doing a lot and I'm doing some great things here?
Speaker 2:Yeah, it definitely hit, but it still was just like when you're you, it's hard to really see it as other people see it too, because it's like you're you, you know. But when it hit, not only did it hit that July issue that year, then they did a hot hair issue in October of that year and my hairstyle was on the cover of that Essence magazine as well, as there were more features in there and I'm like I don't even know what is going on, but I'm grateful.
Speaker 1:Oh, at this time, how was your mom feeling? I know your dad was proud because he's an entrepreneur, yeah, and you can relate to him here with that.
Speaker 2:But what about your mom? She's the proudest in the world. Yeah, right, Because that's how you should be right the?
Speaker 1:ones that's all resistant about it at first, they end up being the most happiest in the end, right, yeah, absolutely, because your dad could see the vision you know. But for her it's like it took some seeing to like really believe, like no, this is a big thing, this is a big deal you know, yeah, this is like five or six years into me owning the law.
Speaker 2:She didn't open a salon. She's successful Now. She in Essence Magazine. You can't deny, you can't not see that you know what about your brother? My brother was in Korea. Like he was like there, but he just like he's so far away. Yeah, he was proud.
Speaker 1:He was proud, yeah, especially you being his first client. So I'm like, how does your brother feel about it?
Speaker 2:Yeah, he's like just make sure you tell my part of the story, because if it wasn't, for me being a guinea pig, wait a minute, don't you forget about the little people.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, I love that. So did you have a message that you wanted to convey to Essence Magazine, or you was just like I want to get published, you know? Or was there like a message that you wanted to send out there to people who would be inspired by?
Speaker 2:your work. Ask me that one more time. I want to make sure I understand it.
Speaker 1:So I guess you know, like, whenever you, I know, like the photo shoot and everything that happened, it was like spontaneous, everything was spontaneous. So sometimes some people will create these intricate hairstyles to like, I guess, transcribe like what they're feeling, like some emotion that was attached to it, like were you trying to create a message out there for you know, women like us that are in the natural hair, black natural hair community as hairstylists and professionals, that particular hairstyle, yeah, Itself.
Speaker 2:I just honestly thought it was elegant, I thought it was royal.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know, when I think of Rare Essence or the name of my company, like it literally has to do with the word essence speaks to the core, the intrinsic nature of something that if it didn't have that thing it would not be what it is right, absolutely yes, and so when I think about natural hair, and I think about us wearing it authentically and naturally as it is, and then also with the intentionality of these hairstyles.
Speaker 2:It's art, it's self-appreciation, it's all of those things, acceptance. And so, for me, anything that I do, I'm going to put my all into it, because I see it as a canvas right, absolutely. And so just to be able to express yourself in the fullness yeah yeah, you did that.
Speaker 1:So we we covered about the Arizona State Board of Cosmetology. But one question I do want to ask you is had the verdict taken a different turn? Were you prepared to continue educating? I mean advocating for what was necessary for your claim to be heard.
Speaker 2:I think I would have continued to follow my instructions, because I was only moving based off the instructions if that makes sense, and yeah, I don't know where I would be, but I know I would have continued to move forward in whatever I needed to do.
Speaker 1:Yeah, ten toes down on they neck because it didn't make sense. You know you go through that entire program. That's a lot of time, a lot of energy, a lot of money and you weren't going to learn anything, yeah.
Speaker 2:Now, if you were to ask me, would I have went to school?
Speaker 1:no, no, I don't think. Oh, I didn't need to ask you that. I know you like just learning you. I didn't even need to ask you that question. I know you wouldn't have went to school because, it's a very logical reason to not go Right.
Speaker 1:You know so. I didn't need to ask you that Just learning who you are, I could tell like that personality would have been like I ain't doing that, I'm not doing that. I ain't doing that. You know so. I didn't need to ask you that your iconic braids photo was featured in the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Such an incredible honor. What did that moment mean to you? And how does it feel to know your work is all these different? You know people in and out of that museum every day, like they get a piece of you Like girl. Come on, tell me. How does that feel?
Speaker 2:Well, I had to see it to really feel it um you know, okay, I've seen it. You know, I knew about it, I was aware of it, but it took for me to go to DC and actually see it and see my hairstyle and all that. I just was blown away. It's the cover of the essence, the hot hair issue where my hairstyle on the cover and to know that it's in a museum.
Speaker 1:The African American Museum too. It's newly built.
Speaker 2:It's not even old, the museum of all museums for black people and my hairstyle is like cemented.
Speaker 1:They built that museum when I was living over there. Are you serious, they did yeah. So, that's why I'm like mind blown. I'm like what in the world this girl is like okay. Yeah, grateful, yeah, yes, like how do you feel Like, how did that even happen? I don't know, it's just, girl, wait a minute. I'm saying this. You need to know something. You didn't even so how did you find out? How did you find out? How did?
Speaker 2:you find out Whether some people in the industry that either had seen it like it wasn't like, they reached out or anything like that. Because it's Essence Magazine, that's right. I just so happened to have my hair style on the cover, you know. And so through the grapevine, I guess I would say I can't even remember how I knew. I just was like you gotta be kidding me, I see. And then somebody actually went, took a picture of it and I was like I gotta go, I'm just lost.
Speaker 1:For words I'm like I know, you probably like.
Speaker 2:You are so like today's going.
Speaker 1:You're just like it is girl you're so natural you are so like today's girl, You're just like oh yeah, and then that I just I'm like all of this was intentional and I can't get over that because I'm like dang hair wanted you. Like it was like it grabbed you and it had you in a headlock. Yeah, you ain't going nowhere and I want you to stay on this journey.
Speaker 1:I just love that and I don't know how I would feel like somebody tell me you know your work is in an African-American and I didn't know. I'm thinking like somebody reached out and was like you have to know about this young lady and she is making these great moves and she deserves to have her work featured in the museum. And and you, like no people, just told me, like your work. I don't know, I don't even know what to say. I'm like you know how many important people have walked in that museum and you are a piece of that history. Yeah, like that, I don't even know. Like girl, I just, I just, I don't even I don't have the words. So being included in a museum solidified your influence, not just in the beauty industry but as part of the cultural legacy of african-american hair artistry. How did that recognition impact your journey and how you?
Speaker 1:I'm getting emotional because I am oh my goodness, girl, you doing a lot. It's like I. Just you need to see this, like what you're doing for us I can't even get myself under control. We might have to cut some of this, but I just you need to see this, like what you're doing for us. I can't even get myself under control.
Speaker 1:We might have to cut some of this, but you need to see like what you're doing for us internally you know, and it's a lot you know, because you don't know individual story, what they go through in order to do what they're doing, and so, like, you're paving the way for a lot of us, and you need to know what they're doing, and so, like, you're paving the way for a lot of us.
Speaker 2:Wow.
Speaker 1:And you need to know that.
Speaker 2:Thank you.
Speaker 1:And I know my question got all thrown out because I'm getting all emotional- and stuff.
Speaker 2:You're good.
Speaker 1:You're good. But yeah, you just need to know that. You know, like, for the ones who like really believe in this, who really love it, the people that don't take it serious, you know they look at us like, oh, we're just having fun. They don't know what we go through in order to you know, they just see the practical side yeah you know, so, um for you to just do what you're doing, like it's just a great movement, you know, so yeah.
Speaker 1:I just gotta let you know that. But I was just saying, like how did that recognition impact your journey and how you see your work today? You know, like seeing it then and then today, you know how did it impact your journey along the way after that.
Speaker 2:If I'm honest, I think that you know I look at you, know what I've been able to accomplish and I'm beyond super grateful, I think, because of who not who I am but even just the things that I've had to walk through in terms of like healing, and those things I've had to learn how to be present and to actually see it and to actually celebrate it Right, as opposed to just zooming through it or just like on to the next, because I have very much been that person. It's like, okay, on to the next, on to the next.
Speaker 1:I have very much been that person it's like okay, on to the next, on to the next.
Speaker 2:And so it took for me to get further on in my journey, to sit with the things that I have walked through you know the ups and the downs, the good and the bad and I'm grateful because, honestly, I just see myself as a vessel. I'm just being used.
Speaker 1:Yes, you know what I mean For sure.
Speaker 2:It's like a surrogate You're carrying something that you have to deliver. Yeah, I didn't choose it, it chose. You know what I? Mean yeah, like it literally chose me and so honestly, I just give all honor to God because, like, I didn't write this story. Yeah for sure. I'm just acting. You know what I'm saying? Cut.
Speaker 1:Action, and that's what make it even more unique, you know because and I think that's why I am so moved because you didn't intentionally do anything. It was literally God's work, and that's what's making me so emotional like to be witnessing and talking to somebody that God did use as a vessel in order to pave the way for black natural hairstylists. Yeah, and that's why I am so emotional, because I'm not thinking any of this is done in that way. Yeah, I was like she is practical and logical, as you know, the complete opposite.
Speaker 1:Yeah, my business partner.
Speaker 2:She's that person. She knows my schedule, she's organized. I'm like girl, I don't, I don't, I don't know how to be that person. Yeah, me, yeah.
Speaker 1:And I feel like a lot of us are like that. The more entrepreneurs I interview, I'm learning like, oh dang, that's what we all have in common and we have to have that person, you know, that can step in and help us with those things, to keep us on track and being more logical, analytical and all those things. Yes, all righty. So your all righty. So you're uh, no, that's. That's not the question I want to ask you. I'm sorry. You, good um you. We want to talk about your academy. You founded Rare Essence Academy in 2013. What inspired you to transition into education?
Speaker 2:again. It's one of those stories. Really, I did not want to teach. I did not want to teach not because I didn't want to share my secrets. I didn't think I had it in me, because that's a skill set yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yes, just because you do hair well does not mean that you can convey and translate how you think to get somebody else's hands to do it, how you think to get somebody else's hands to do it. And so my hair blow, my hairstyle blowing up brought a lot of recognition for the people who knew who did it, whether they got the essence magazine. So my salon is blowing up. People are calling from all over the nation because everybody's requesting this hairstyle and they want to know how do you, how do I recreate this? Yes, and so I'm starting to recognize there's this demand for people to learn, because I'm a type of hairstylist. I can see a hairstyle and I can deconstruct it just by looking at it.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Whereas other people may not have that skill set Right Yep, and so I'm just like in my mind it's easy, like if you're a hairstylist, you should know how to deconstruct it. If you're a hairstylist, you should know how to deconstruct it, right, I'm not realizing that's just a certain skill set. So, as I'm getting these calls now, I already told you. My father told me I was going to have a school before I ever had a salon.
Speaker 2:He did, yeah, so I thought he was crazy, if I'm honest. But now that this is like it's pulling me and I'm fighting it with all I have, because I'm afraid that if people come and they spend their money to take this class, more than likely they done flew out here. They got a hotel, they got to get a car and all this level of investment. What if they don't get it? Oh, what if I can't give it or they can't receive it? Right, I was so fearful and so, um, all all of this really is again, it's it's it's vessel work, it's what you were called to do.
Speaker 2:And so one morning I woke up and I literally was having this conversation with God and I literally had to say yes.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And so, with me saying yes, that same day I go to the salon and there's a lady getting her hair done by another stylist in the salon and she was like God kept me up all night about you and she's literally. She was like she wrote all this, all this stuff down. She was like you're going to be traveling, you're going to be teaching, you're going to be in. I'm like, girl, if you were you at my house this morning, because literally she's confirming what I've just said, yes to wow. And so from that point, I knew like okay, I have to take these steps. And so I just started promoting, I teach classes, and at the time, I had two locations and I was going to turn one of the locations into a school. Yes, but I end up not going that route because I started to promote it on Instagram. This is 2013, 2014. Now people are asking from all over how can I learn? And that's when I end up going online.
Speaker 1:Oh, doing the virtual learning, so you did that back then in 2013,. Virtual online classes.
Speaker 2:Not at that point. We didn't do virtual until 15. Okay, got you.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah, because that makes it a lot more convenient for the people who can't even afford the travel. You know, yeah, and virtual learning it has helped me a lot too in my skill set. You know, because it was hard trying to, you know, continue your education when these people who are doing these amazing you know styles or whatever they are educating on it's really hard to get to these people.
Speaker 1:you know styles or whatever they are educating on, it's really hard to get to these people you know, so I really appreciate the virtual online aspect and you know people like you who are educators in the industry that are giving back to like share this, a way where it can be convenient for people who just cannot, you know, travel, afford to travel but, still be committed and dedicated to learning that skill set you know, so I'm so happy this virtual thing is becoming a thing yeah, agreed, and I think the other part of that other than me being called to do it my personal.
Speaker 2:why is that? We don't have like a nationwide standard for natural hair stylings and skills and techniques and all that, and what I mean by that is like we don't have schools in every city, every state.
Speaker 2:So where there's this standard that people can go and learn this stuff, and there's sometimes like this idea like oh OK, you black, you know how to do hair. And it's like not everybody do and everybody that has a passion doesn't necessarily know how to do it, but they want to learn a passion doesn't necessarily know how to do it, but they want to learn and so the way that I've been designed like I just know how to help people their mind to get it. So it translates from their mind to their fingers.
Speaker 2:Because a lot of times when it comes to teaching somebody how to braid or how to twist or how to be creative within their skillset. Yeah, it's a lot of mental blocks. Yes, it's more mental than it is mechanical. That's right, and so what we find is that we got to speak to their heart and their mind before we can get it into their hands and so that's, that's it's. It's a lot of negative self-talk.
Speaker 1:I can't do it, or you know these excuses, my fingers are too fat or just crazy things that we can allow to be in our mind that stop us from really achieving or having those results that we want yeah, did you think that you were gonna have to go deep within the mind when you first started? You thought this was just gonna be all practical. Not at all.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I definitely thought it was gonna be all practical until we started traveling and because we only had two days to get it right we're going and we're only with these people for two days and they paid their money. They have to get it and as we're in it. We're like, oh, this is so much deeper this is deeper than that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, this is so much deeper than hair, and we wish we had more time with them, but more so on the personal development side of things, because there's a statement that I use, um, and I've coined your business can only grow to the extent that you do as a person. That's right, and so if we work on what we're doing in our mind and in our heart, it's going to naturally translate into what we do in our businesses.
Speaker 1:That's right, absolutely For sure. Are there any upcoming projects or initiatives you're excited about that you'd like to share?
Speaker 2:Yeah Well, I mean, I'm transitioning in my career and just my own personal, like desires and things I want to do, and my greatest thing is to help people with their mindset and believing in themselves, like God has just given me this gift, to see people and to see what they carry and to help them develop that and so that's what I'm doing, more on the personal side coaching and speaking, oh yeah. And then also we're looking to officially open the school. We just graduated a class last night.
Speaker 1:Congratulations.
Speaker 2:Thank you, that's amazing. Thank you, I love that, yeah, so we officially did our 12-week program where we go over braiding, locking, twisting, hair care, hair science, the whole game, hair science, all of it, all of it. Textbooks, workbooks, practical work, touching heads, and so that was just a great program and we had people come from different cities literally pause their life to come and learn, and so we're going to continue for 12 weeks.
Speaker 1:They are so committed. I, oh yeah, that that's because I'm sometimes I get a little worried about the future of the beauty industry, you know, because social media can like you know the things that are out there and some of the clients with their feedback and they're talking about the unprofessionalism that they're experiencing in the industry and I'm like I'm worried, worried what's going to happen to us. So, to know that some people are so committed to this art and they actually came here and stayed and took a lot of time out of their schedule in order to become graduates of your academy, that, let me know the future is going to be okay.
Speaker 2:We got a few, we got to clean up, but the future of the industry is in good.
Speaker 1:Okay, we got a little, got a few, we got to clean up, but the future of the industry is in good hands to be that committed you know, yeah, yeah, we gotta pour it out we sure do. What advice would you give to aspiring natural hairstylists who want to follow a similar path to yours?
Speaker 2:yeah, I believe one being patient with your process, because I think one of the greatest things that when they hear my story, they see the milestones but they don't see the space in between. Right?
Speaker 1:And so, while I, touched hair at 12,.
Speaker 2:I didn't open the salon till 25. And then I didn't get into a magazine until 31. And and so I, sometimes we want to be somewhere that we're not necessarily no, I'm not going to say qualified, but just prepared to be Right. And I think that with the advent of social media, it causes us to compare and to see all of these things that other people are doing. Oh, I should have a product line already, or I should have, and it's just like slow down, like literally almost. It's almost best to cut everything off and to literally find out what the pace is for your race and allow those things to happen. I think that if I would have had social media, I could have been tempted you know what I mean to go and do something else or to expedite a process that wasn't necessary. But when you're in your, your process, in terms of the rhythm of it, it will come when it needs to come and you'll be like I don't even know how this happened, it just happened.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely, and I'm glad you brought that up. We were actually talking about that last night, like the negative impacts that social media can put on us, because we're thinking, because, like you said, comparing, we are supposed to already be there too. And everyone's journey is so unique, everyone's situation is just so unique. But social media will have this unintentional, just influence on you to make you feel like I'm not doing enough, I'm not showing up enough.
Speaker 1:I'm not posting enough oh if I was posting enough then I would have that right now. So I'm glad you actually dropped that gem and that nugget in there, because it keeps coming up in the podcast for this season. When I'm interviewing entrepreneurs, they keep saying this and I want people to keep hearing this so they can know it's not you, it's just probably not your time. That's it. That's it. Yeah, that's it.
Speaker 2:Nothing happens overnight. I think the other thing, too, too, is that as stylists, we're natural creatives. Yeah, and with us being natural creatives, there can be so many things vying for our attention and and so it's hard to lock in.
Speaker 2:Yes, and one of the things that I feel like has been a blessing to me is that I stayed in the lane, I focused and I did not allow my attention to be diverted, because I would not have had the traction that I've had. It's pick it and write it right, um, and not just write it, but write it intentionally, like give it all that it that it requires, master this thing, yeah. And so, when it comes to us being creators and we have a lot of other things that we could do, like I like writing poetry, I like playing my bass, I like you know rapping You're an artist. Are those things paying me? You know what I mean? And if they can? But I have to pick one, and I chose hair and I believe that, as we're faithful over the first thing, there will be time and room for an expression of another thing as we move forward. So I was a hairstylist first, then I became a salon owner and then I became and the salon ownership is leadership so that's just what it is, yeah, so it's leader.
Speaker 2:And then, then I was able to to unlock the gift of teaching. I didn't know I could teach, yeah, but all of these things began to have an expression because I was faithful over the first thing.
Speaker 1:You did. What a lot of us have a hard time doing is staying focused One thing at a time, because I feel like a lot of artists, we have like a multitude of talents and we want to do them all, but it's really hard to focus on everything because it's not something, it's not going to grow at the rate that it could, it cannot elevate when your attention is just here and then here and then here, and you will experience burnout too, you know For sure. Then you mad at everything.
Speaker 2:You're like I don't want to do none of this, no more.
Speaker 1:I'm over it, I quit, you know, and even for myself I had to learn that later in life, like you, have to pick one thing.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:You know, nurture that, grow it, and if that one thing is still calling you, once you've mastered this, move on. But, you cannot elevate, you cannot grow and you can't even become the expert. Come on, until you focus on this one thing.
Speaker 2:That's it. Yeah, I think the problem is people hear multiple streams.
Speaker 1:Multiple streams of income. You need multiple streams of income. If you want to be rich, you need multiple streams of income. That is true. Why didn't I think of that? That's the problem.
Speaker 2:So we hear that. But then we hear master and focus and it's like, okay, how do I do both? Yeah, no, multiple streams, come as you. Master, that's right. Master the one thing, and then from that it's like, okay, now you can have a salon, now you can have products, now you can have. But you got to be first good at doing hair. If that's what you want to do, that's right. Or if you want to do a product line, do a product line, yeah but master that first, then you get that.
Speaker 1:you got the rhythm and the groove of how that flow and go. Now you tap into this other one and eventually you're going to have those multiple streams of income. But the way social media promote it's like you got to do it all at the same time.
Speaker 2:You ain't got it all at the same time. If you got 100%, what you going to do? 30, 30, 30?
Speaker 1:And you can't. Like you said, none of them are going to be able to advance.
Speaker 2:They're not going to grow, yeah, so.
Speaker 1:If you could tell your younger self one thing at the start of this journey what would it be your younger self back then, 12-year-old Essence, braiding her brother's hair and you see yourself today like what would it be.
Speaker 2:I'm proud of you. Yes, for sure, sure, I think I'm proud of you. Says you're enough.
Speaker 2:Yes, it says you don't have to look outside of yourself, so to speak yeah be with what somebody else wants you to be, or literally find out what feels like literally aligned with you, yeah, and ride that lane. And I think you know it's a potential that I could have done more or got somewhere faster if I wasn't like, oh, let me go and do this thing, or oh, let me do that thing, and so, um, you got this and you're enough. And literally knowing like what, what really aligns Absolutely.
Speaker 1:I love how you put those two together. Like I'm proud of you saying, I am enough. You know, I don't know if people look at I'm proud of you in that way. You know that those words, as limited, as small as they are, that's a lot, that's a it's a big force to like put those two and align them together, cause that's literally what it is, you know. So for you to get your mind is just.
Speaker 1:I love it like I love how you also have recognized that you have that gift as well and you are, you know, exchanging that with the women that you are meeting so that they can, you know, hear those things, so that they can be on their healing journey, like you mentioned yeah you know it's. You have to be healed, especially when you're working with hair. Yeah, you know it's. You have to be healed, especially when you're working with hair.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know, you're having conversations, translating, you know things back and forth. You know, depending on whatever they're going through, whatever you are experiencing, you know we do help in that way, even though we don't get paid to be, you know therapists, but we do help them out in so many ways outside of exterior, it's interior as well, absolutely. You know, and a lot of it comes from interior, because after a while these people start booking you. They're not even booking hair, no more.
Speaker 2:Oh for sure. Yeah, they're booking you, Without a doubt.
Speaker 1:Mm-hmm for sure. How can our listeners connect with you, learn more about your academy or book services?
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, we are Rare Essence Academy on every platform YouTube, Instagram, facebook and then my personal brand is Essence.
Speaker 1:China. Okay, mm-hmm.
Speaker 2:Alright, that's it.
Speaker 1:Well, this has been one of the most moving interviews I've ever done. I've never got emotion, If anything. We like laughing in those ways, so this is one of the most moving, one of the most powerful, even inspirational, interviews I've ever done. I'm extremely, again, honored to have you on the show and I thank you for carving some time out to share with us, because I know you're busy and this was not even really planned.
Speaker 2:Look, here we go again.
Speaker 1:This was not planned, but it worked out. It always works out. Yeah, so I just appreciate you know you blessing us with your presence on the show.
Speaker 2:Without a doubt Can I add one more thing?
Speaker 2:Girl, whatever you want to add, you don't even have to put this in the podcast, but I just want to share this. So, though, I named Rare Essence back when my lawyer asked me to incorporate 2020 years ago yes, um, I didn't get the acronym, I didn't know the understanding of rare until about six years ago, and I just wanted to share that. And so, please, the r stands for getting a revelation, and that revelation is who am I right? We have to know who we are to have an idea of how we're supposed to navigate this world. Right, right, the only way we get a revelation of who we are is to get a revelation of who God is, who sent us here, and so there has to be a seek in order to find out who you are. And then A stands for having an authentic assignment, when we understand that we're not just here by happenstance. We have an assignment, we have work to do. That's right.
Speaker 2:And not only. It's not just a frivolous work. It's a work that has authenticity connected to it. You have to do it in the way that he's called you to do it, that's why you can have Order knows footsteps right.
Speaker 2:You can have a hairstylist next door, or in the suite next door or in a salon up the street. What attracts them to you, it is your rareness, it is your unique uniqueness, it's your authenticity, right. And so sometimes we find ourselves trying to conform, or oh, it looked like it worked for them, so I'm gonna try to be that. No, find out what makes you quirky, that's what makes you you, that it factor, and that's the thing that, literally, is going to hyper attract. And a lot of times we find ourselves watering ourselves down and we're not concentrated enough, whether it's focused or full of the essence of who we've been created to be absolutely and so there has to be an authenticity that we deliver with.
Speaker 2:and the second and the second R is for readiness. Readiness speaks to preparation. Just because Michael Jordan could play ball did not get him to where he's at today. He had to practice, he had to equip himself, and so you can be naturally gifted as a hairstylist or whatever.
Speaker 1:the field that you're in.
Speaker 2:You can be naturally that, but don't be lazy with it. Prepare yourself, but preparation also speaks to what are you allowing to come into your heart, what are you allowing to come into your mind, because these things can be empowering or disempowering. Our readiness has to do with taking inventory of our environment. Who's speaking into our lives, right? And so there's an intentionality that we have to have if we're going to stand out as rare. The reality is that we're all rare. That's right, but not all of us are aware.
Speaker 1:Ooh, baby, we have a church. It's so true, though. So, oh my gosh, come on.
Speaker 2:I'm gonna come on. No, but no, it's, it's real. We are all rare, but we're not all aware, and the awareness is that you are enough. You just have to find out what that is, that makes you you, and that is literally your superpower yes, right, so get ready and the last letter, e, stands for serve with excellence. Our community deserves excellence but we can only give people that which we're willing to give ourselves. If your salon has a certain upkeep, more than likely your home has the same level of upkeep.
Speaker 1:It's the same mind. It's the same person.
Speaker 2:So if we can start analyzing who we are in our own personal lives and we work on being excellent there, we'll be able to serve with excellence effortlessly because it is who we are we deserve excellence and we can serve excellence that's right so just be being aware that we're rare that's girl.
Speaker 1:I love that. When did you did you learn that? Whenever you came up with your acronyms and the meaning behind your acronyms? You learned that then, or this is as your journey was just unfolding it was a divine download.
Speaker 2:I think that, um, oh my gosh, I didn't one. I feel like God chose all these things and then he gives me the knowledge of it after the fact. I didn't say, oh well, let me figure out what rare is gonna be it. Literally, I was driving one day and it came to me what it? Was, and then it was further developed as I started to understand it got you and so um so yeah, but this is not. This is not just for hair, this is just in life in life um, and when we get off, I'll do a poem for you.
Speaker 1:I'm a poet, so I'll do why you want to do it on the mic. Give us some poetry, okay, come on. Come on. No, no, not when we get off. I want my listeners need to hear this. Yeah, no, come on, yeah.
Speaker 2:Hopefully I know about heart. Let me just pull it up, just in case. I miss a line or two.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah, we want it all, so pull it up.
Speaker 2:This is my philosophy for life, so let me pull up my notes really quick, okay.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because this need to be recorded. She's like we need this girl?
Speaker 2:No, Let me see, I'm trying to pull it up by a keyword. Okay, why is this? See, this ain't nothing but the enemy.
Speaker 1:Yep, because you listen you done gave a key word. Okay, why is this? This ain't nothing but the enemy. Yep, Because you listen. You done gave a testimony here. You done moved somebody, he mad girl Like, how dare she come?
Speaker 2:in here and do that. We know your God told you different, that you were created for greatness. But we got plans for you too. So forget what you heard and follow this herd. Go to school, get in debt, get a job, pay us back with your life, your dignity and respect. Now sit down with the little life you have left, because we no longer have need of you. Oh, and them dreams you had? Yeah, you could forget them too, replacing with an addiction for material and digital things that bind you to our system. Because if we ever allow you to think for yourself, you'll no longer be blind agents producing our wealth while we rob you of health, disconnecting you from self. Further solidifying you will never awaken to the very purpose of your existence. Connecting you from self further solidifying you will never awaken to the very purpose of your existence.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we know your God told you different, that you were rare, powerful and created for greatness, but greatness don't sit well in our faces nor in our matrix. We're the only ones that can get the praises. So tone down your ingenuity, your spirituality and your creativity. Matter of fact, we demand that you cancel your God energy. We need you seeking validation to confirm your validity, bowed heads operating in comparison, competition, insecurity, false humility, capitalizing off your tendency to want to fit in, it's deception at its finest. You can't even win when we've tricked you to look outside the bag for the bag.
Speaker 2:When truth is Kenetra, you are the bag, exploiting human capital so easy. When there's no ID on the toe tag, who are you? Well, you are who we tell you to be. When you're ignorant of your identity. See, can you see? What they didn't tell us is we were created for greatness, and the moment we realize our purpose, we'll realize we don't need their permission to be great, just a submission to our source. A redirection of our course will bring about our metamorph. It is something that this generation desperately needs, because your transformation is not just about you. It's about all those who will succeed by following in your footsteps to finally get free. So reclaim your essence. Remember you are marked for greatness. Never let them finesse you into thinking anything different. Oh, it's about transformation.
Speaker 1:That was beautiful. Thank you, that was beautiful. Thank you, that was beautiful. Because that's how it is. You know, and until you tap into that, you're never. And I always say you know, like even to my kids, I always tell them like you are here for a reason and to not figure out what that reason is, I almost feel like it's a slap in God's face for you to just coast through life and not figure it out.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:For you to not really walk in your purpose. I feel it's almost kind of disrespectful, because we are rare, yeah, and like when you were saying that, I'm like, yes, yes, I could never formulate those words because I can't write poetry, but that's in my subconscious, you know. Just my thoughts, you know. And just having to learn my own journey, you know, growing up as a child, conforming, you know, or feeling silly for doing something that was not, quote-unquote, normal to them, you know and it was just a characteristic or whatever, but learning like god, that was that one thing that could have helped me do this and this and that and that, and I didn't feel comfortable in that moment.
Speaker 1:But now that I do, you know, I'm like I'm unlocking so much now and figuring so much out. This was such I'm so glad we didn't record twice in one day because I was trying to do you and omar no, I wouldn't have been ready for him because now I got to go sit and I gotta. You know, really I can't wait to watch this over again yeah this is like the best interview ever, thank you yeah I never thought I would get him. I was like, if anything, the guests will get emotional.
Speaker 2:I'm never getting emotional.
Speaker 1:Oh girl, I don't even know how to thank you for coming on the show. I don't, I don't even know what to do. I'm just filled with so much gratitude that you did this and I cannot wait to just share this with my people in my industry, my listeners, my family. Like I have a niece that's going to cosmetology school. I'm like I cannot wait for her to hear this, because it's going to be such a good foundation for her journey to like listen to this. Yeah, you know so I love it. Thank you.
Speaker 2:Thank you, I'm super grateful. Yeah, you know, so I love it, thank you. Thank you, I'm super grateful.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much for joining me today, Essence Farmer, I have to say I didn't mean to get emotional, but your story of being a vessel for God and allowing yourself to be used in such an extraordinary way truly moved me. Your journey is so inspiring and I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the beauty of your faith and purpose To everyone listening. I hope you found as much inspiration in this conversation as I did. If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, rate and leave a review it really helps and, of course, share this episode with someone who could use a little inspiration today. Thank you again, Essence, for your time and your wisdom and your light. Until next time, take care, be kind to yourself and y'all keep shining.