Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiger Toyin.
Hi Tiger, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
As far as I can remember, I recall spending a lot of time in my Grandmother’s salon in New Orleans.
My grandmother, Lynette Crawford, converted her garage into a full-service salon so it was easy for my cousin and me to watch her work when we wanted. Visiting, you would almost forget that the salon was attached to a home where her grandchildren were inside playing. Around the age of 5, I remember occasionally interacting with her clients by drawing pictures and selling them for 25 cents. My cousin and I would also sell them snacks like pickles, chips, and pig lips. As we got older, my grandmother would teach us how to roll, cut, and braid hair, skills that I never forgot. At the age of 8, I moved to Texas, away from my personal hairstylist and mentor. My mom would occasionally do my hair or send me to a braid shop. Most of the time, my hair was in an unflattering pineapple ponytail occasionally decorated with cute butterfly barrettes my mother got me. I recall several times enduring a braider’s unyielding hands and watching my hair lift up from the roots or braids fall out with my hair in it. I hated going to the braid shop but hey it was a style. In my 8th grade year, I had just taken out a set of braids and due to juggling 4 young kids, my mom was unavailable to help with my hair. It was dirty and a complete mess. She offered me one of her wigs for me to wear to school that morning. Mind you, this is the early 2000s, yesterdays wigs are not the same as today on top of my hair not even being shampooed and braided down.
It was a hot mess. So yeah. Middle school shows up with a wig on. Long story short, someone I called a friend was laughing at me uncontrollably during lunch and I didn’t know why. After lunch in the hallway everyone is laughing and someone tells me that there was a hot Cheeto and jalapeño pepper sitting on top of my head that I didn’t feel got placed there. Then during gym, someone comes up behind me and pulls the wig off. Even the coach was trying to hold back his laughter. Needless to say, my grandmother came into town during the week of 8th-grade graduation and did the most beautiful updo on my hair. That summer I practiced styling my own hair and mimicked the curls she put in my hair. During high school, I would literally have a different hairstyle every day and did all types of styles on myself from curly styles to updos to braids. People would begin to ask who did my hair and of course, I’d say myself. I booked my first paying client at the age of 13 and would braid hair at home. I was able to support myself all throughout High School. In 2013, I was offered the opportunity to braid hair at Samantha Kay’s Beauty Supply owned by Mr. Sam Kimbrough. This required a braider’s license which I did not have. I briefly attended Dallas Barber and Stylist College’s 1 week course at the cost of $500 to obtain the license. Funny enough, a few months later, braids were deregulated in the state of Texas through the efforts of activist Isis Brantley. Isis is the reason all braiders and braid salons in Texas can exist without a license and even now I can hire braiders with no license. Fast forward one year, with the encouragement of Mr. Sam and former barber Darrick Frohm (RIP) I was encouraged to go to cosmetology school to get my full license. I attended Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy, the best school in my eyes. The rest is history. I have taught my now 10-year-old son how to braid at age 8 and who knows maybe he will continue the cycle. He’s a young entrepreneur!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Over the years, I’ve built up my clientele, many are still here from Day 1. I would say my biggest challenge was losing my business partner in 2020 to gun violence.
We spent 3 years together planning to expand my former brand Foxxy Locs into what is now known as Tendrils and Twigs. His loss was unexpected and untimely and he played a huge role in planning and development. A role I had to take on, on top of my own while mourning his loss.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Tendrils and Twigs is an organic culture salon and spa that promotes empowering people via education and holistic approaches. We are proudly committed to offering a unique and pleasant experience with a wide array of salon and spa services. Our salon has diverse stylists, artists, and estheticians that provide a variety of services available to all, use only custom-formulated organic products and provide education. The salon is perfect for those that are seeking a new, exotic look that is customized just for them. We get to know you, take your lifestyle into consideration, and create your new look. We firmly believe there is a style for everyone
I specialize in Transformations when I take my clients on a journey from one look to the next. I do this in my special room called Tiger’s Topiary.
We are currently offering an Apprenticeship Program for those in the beauty industry who want to further develop their skills and grow their business. You can work side by side with our team to learn new skill sets and learn all about the salon business.
We also offer a youth program called Tendrils ‘n Training that teaches young students ages 8-17 how to braid and how to develop a braid business. I learned to braid at 7 and my son learned to braid in 1 hour at age 8. I’d love to help other children find their passion at a young age.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
FIRE Meetups. I am a confounder/Tendrils and Twigs is a sponsor of this organization that has an app and podcast (finance and Chill podcast) that focuses on living a WHealthy (wealthy+healthy) lifestyle.
This helps me do my best because it allows me to not only transform my client’s outward appearance, it helps me to able to help them or refer them to get help with all aspects of their life so they can truly be transformed!
Pricing:
- Salon Apprenticeship Program $4,999
- Tendrils ‘n Training Spring Break FREE (LIMITED SPECIAL OFFER $450 value)
- Tendrils ‘n Training Summer Program $999
- Locs 101 Training Course $650
- Advanced Loc Training Course $1950
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tendrilsandtwigs.com
- Instagram: Www.Instagram.com/tendrilsandtwigs
- Facebook: Www.Facebook.com/tntsalonspa
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/tiger-toyin
- Twitter: Www.twitter.com/tendrilsntwigs
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@tendrilsandtwigs6949
- Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/tendrils-and-twigs-north-richland-hills
- Other: https://pin.it/6ZTZIda
Image Credits:
Renell Bell and Vesha Royal
