We had the good fortune of connecting with Keishana Lee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Keishana, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Braids and Brides Studio was something that I dreamed up only after going through my very own wedding process. Being in the hairstyling industry for close to 7 years now I never realized the extreme lack of black wedding stylist, especially here on the west coast. I took my love for braiding and my new love for bridal hair design and combined the two to make Braids and Brides Studio. We offer luxury braid and bridal hair styling and makeup sevices as well as a variety of special occasion jewelry and accessories.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think that what sets me personally aside from others is my ability to take criticism. Ive recieved alot of critiques in these early years of my career. Whether it was a critique on my craft or a critique on the way I run my business or a critique of my personality. I try to use those moments as building blocks instead of internalize it. I am actually my biggest critic so I’ve become accustomed to the idea of “looking for better”. Growing up a little black girl in america you are always being critiqued. “Your voice is too loud”, “Your hair is too wild”, “Your skin is too dark”, “Your body is to shapely”. And when your a child of any race and you hear things of that nature you internalize it and then you begin to do things to make you more appealing or likable; such as reject your skin or body type, tame your hair, or even mute your voice. It wasn’t until after I had my daughter that i realized that I was doing myself a disservice all those years by trying to make myself more likeable. I want people to like me for me exactly as I am, I want to help other black women be able to love themselves just as they are and to know that being you just as you are is not enough but it is EVERYTHING. The biggest lesson I’ve learned along the way is that authenticity matters. Represent something that truly speaks to who you are and struggles you’ve had to face or accomplishments you’ve already achieved. I in my purest form am a lover, i am a helper, i am a giver, and I am an artist and Braids and Brides Studios allows me to share all of that with my community and with the world.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
God is my #1 provider and is the MOST vital part of my success, before I can make a decision about anything I always make sure to pray about it and ask God to let me know if that which I am trying to pursue is in his plan.

Also, If anyone deserved a special shoutout and extreme recognition for the vital help of my success it would be my husband, I may have never embarked on this journey had he not taken the step he did in asking me to be his wife. That one huge gesture has helped shape my new life in more ways than 1. My career, my work ethic and my passion are all still going strong thanks to the love and support I get from my family as a whole. I am beyond grateful to be surrounded by an immense amount of love and unconditional support.

Lastly everyone has that one book, or podcast, or seminar that changed the way they think and unlocks there mind to new levels of thinking and for me that book was “You Were Born For This” – Bruce Wilkinson. Amazing Author.

Website: www.thehairplugcompany.com

Instagram: @braidsandbrides_studio

Image Credits
MUA : Angelica Holt Phorographers : AmasiaMonet , Zoltan Photography

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