Meet Trailblazer Cassaundra Collins

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cassaundra Collins.

Cassaundra, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Mystiqe Hair Co. was created because of my love for all things beauty. Since I was little, my mom has instilled in
four my siblings and me that you should always show up as your best self and be respectful. She also told us that the way that you carry yourself would always be remembered. It was not until 2018 that I realized that I should stop doubting myself and take my leap of faith. I researched hair textures, top competitors in my area, and so much more before I decided to share with my family that I was starting a hair company. Everyone was surprised and asked if I was serious. I have never been the person to be very outspoken compared to my siblings so saying that I am starting a company in the Beauty Industry was a total 360 for me. Because my mom was a single parent until I was about 15 years old and raising five girls, we did not have the luxury of buying high-end makeup, going to the beauty shop or going to the nail shop like some of our friends. The lack of these options being present growing up built character and also had an impact on my decision to make Mystiqe Hair Co. stand out from other companies. My mission was and always will be to make Mystiqe Hair Co.’s pricing affordable for both the consumers and us without diminishing the quality of the products we offer.

Has it been a smooth road?
Starting this company has honestly been the most humbling experience in life other than giving birth to my daughter. There have been many days full of tears both happy and sad, feelings of being overwhelmed, and days when I just wanted to throw in the towel. I started my company during my Senior Year at Texas Southern University, working a full-time job with Fort Bend ISD and raising a school-age child. I had to realize that I was blessed with this intense amount of ambition and drive for a reason. If the outcome at the end of this journey were not for me to be successful then nothing would have manifested from the idea I had in 2018. Some of the advice that I would have for women particularly young women is that if you have a dream go for it. It does not matter if you do not have a support system backing you, the attempts you made previously failed, or you are scared of letting your loved ones down you still should go for what your heart desires.  At the end of the day, you are the gatekeeper of your future. Hype yourself up daily, step out of your comfort zone, dare to be different and show people another side of you they didn’t know existed because if you don’t you’ll never know your real potential. It is okay to not succeed immediately it is a part of life, just make sure you take it as a lesson learned and make your next move your best move.

We’d love to hear more about Mystiqe Hair Co.
Mystiqe Hair Co. started solely as an Online Company specializing in hair extensions. I initially did not want to sell anything additional due to the over-saturation in the market. Once I got over the self-doubt, I inflicted on myself, I decided to expand the company. Our newest additions to the Mystiqe Brand is our cosmetic line called “Mystiqe Cosmetics” and our Beauty/Empowerment T-shirt boutique called “Mystiqe Boutique”. This year we are also adding a mobile delivery service for customers who live in the 10-mile radius of our Home Office located in the Houston/Missouri City area. One of the things that make me so proud to represent our brand is the amount of culture and communication we have. Mystiqe Hair Co. has begun shifting into a family run business. My mom, siblings and three of my former students give me honest feedback on what they like and do not like when it comes to social media posts, packaging, and even photos. I like that we have a safe zone and no one is worried about stepping on each other’s toes or outshining one another. Even though I am the founder of the company, everyone’s opinion is taken into consideration. The fact that these women speak so freely with me honestly means the world to me. We are different from other companies because we show reality. We do not try to show everything Glamorous because that is not a reality for everyone. There are days where I will leave out the house in sweats, a baseball cap, gloss and I am ready to take over the world. I also love that fact that we price our products at a price median that is affordable for both the consumer and us without breaking the bank or diminishing product quality. I know how it feels not be able to afford high-end things due to limited funds so our pricing was an extremely important factor. I previously said that I started my company while working a full-time job with Fort Bend ISD at Willowridge High School. Since I have such a connection to this school as well as my family, we plan to create a scholarship fund to give back to the community as well.

Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
When it comes to networking, do not be afraid to speak up. I have always been an introvert and speaking to strangers was by far the hardest thing for me to do when I started my business. The advice that I have for everyone that is currently starting a business or revamping an old one is do not be scared to talk to people in stores or slide in DM’s online. The worst thing that someone can honestly do to you is choose not to respond or tell you to get out of his or her inbox. I don’t have a direct mentor but I have utilized Facebook Groups that are in the same niche as me as well as sent a million texts to my close friends bouncing ideas off of them at all times of the night.

Pricing:

• Our cosmetic related products start as low as $1
• Our hair extensions start off at $50

Contact Info:

• Address: 3030 W.Fuqua St #450672 Houston, Tx 77245
• Website: www.mystiqehairco.com
• Phone: 8329874477
• Email: info@mystiqehairco.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/mystiqehairco
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/mystiqehairco
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/mystiqehairco
• Other: www.twitter.com/mystiqec

Image Credit:
Created Chemistry

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