Today we’d like to introduce you to Kellie Leday
Hi Kellie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In 2020 when the Covid pandemic hit, I became affected by it. I was working as a postal worker for USPS and one day on my route I began to feel drained, overheated and fatigue.
I went to the emergency room and found out that I tested positive for Covid. On top of already having to practice social distancing. Even after I fully recovered, I was not able to return to work due to covid. Unfortunately, around that same time close family members had done suffered from cancer and alopecia. As a woman your hair is sometimes the first thing someone sees or even what you see yourself when you look in the mirror. I could only imagine how I would view myself or feel looking in the mirror knowing I have lost something that was out of my control. Some women are not satisfied with their natural hair and some just want to enhance their looks. I tell my clients, “Your Hair Is Your Krown.”
One day during the pandemic I got on YouTube and to look up how to make wigs. In the beginning, I was making my wigs on hand, but I noticed that the longevity of the wigs was good but could be greater. So, I have began to do more research on YouTube and came across someone with a sewing machine. To see how the construction of the wigs were a game changer with great productivity, security, and guarantee longevity. I knew I had to upgrade what I was trying to do. The only time before this time I ever constructed anything with a sewing machine was in the sixth grade in my home economics class. So, creating wigs on the machine was very new to me, but at the same time extremely passionate for me. After doing research after research, I ended up finding a class that also had a mentorship and creating wigs on the sewing machine. The online Class I took was “Stylish by Tee.” once I took that class, I also begin to perfect my craft making wigs for myself to see exactly what worked and what did not work at this time. I was just using old hair that I had laying around. Once I perfected my craft of construction, I began to invest in finding high quality hair. For me to be providing a custom unit with my reasoning being due to medical conditions and enhancing for all type reasons, in my mind, if you’re going to be replacing something as important as your hair for a woman, I would want that hair to be hair that is a great investment that can last for years. Hair that you can treat just as if it was growing out of your scalp. When I was sampling out the type of hair I wanted to sell as a part of my brand I was looking for great texture, true to length, how it takes color, ways of the hair cuticles, the way it reacts to heat, the way it reveals itself in certain weather conditions etc. As a result, I now provide custom fit glue-less wigs. What make my wigs custom is that I take measurements of my client’s head, and I transfer those measurements to a cap and begin to create their unit’s custom for them. My units are also made glue-less due to a hair protective style. A lot of women create what is called traction alopecia from tension on their hairlines, which will have their hairlines being recede
at some point in time. Putting glue on your hairline or skin can also cause irritation and skin conditions.
Fast-forward to 2024 not only is my website and business still successful but I have also as of April 2024 received my certificate for a Cranial Prothesis Specialist. A cranial prothesis specialist works closely with dermatologist and physicians to provide medical grade wigs for clients who have lost their hair due to medical conditions. During those types of tragic times, the good thing is their insurance could possibly cover up to 100% for the cost of a medical grade wig. I will be graduating in May 2025 with my Cosmetology License from Lamar State College Port Arthur. By spring 2026 I will have my very own salon suite to provide all my services to my clients while providing them a luxury experience. This fall my hair and wigs were reviewed and rated a “10 out 10” by POUR MINDS Podcast host LEX P podcast. I look forward to all my endeavors. I also thank you for allowing me to tell my success story and all that to come.
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?
I don’t know if any businesses that has had a smooth ride. Being an entrepreneur is not always sunflowers and roses. Sometimes those thorns can poke, but the important thing is to know that the hurting does stop once you nourish the pain. I have definitely experienced some hard times. The economy is always changing and sometimes it can be a great selling season and sometimes things can get slow. When times like that happens, I readjust and see what is not currently working, what is currently working and what will be working. So, anyone reading this trying to get a business off the ground or is having a challenging time with their business, do not give up, just go back to the vision board and repaint your vision as needed to get the same results you were striving for.
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?
My organization as a whole is called The Queendom. Within the Queendom I have, Hairfiend Queenz LLC and I also have Cranial Crownz. I wanted to have both of my businesses under the same umbrella. The difference between those two is Hairfiend Queenz is more of a Cosmetic or Fashion wig line. With the cosmetic wig line, I create my wigs from scratch on my sewing machine. Not only do I make them from scratch, but I also customize a fit for each client so that their wigs fit like a glove. The benefit of having the custom fit wigs is that my clients’ units are glue-less. You may ask what is the benefit of a glueless wig, the benefit of a glue-less wig is it is a protective hairstyle. It is protective because when girls in the industries or on social media are getting their frontal wigs or their closure wigs installed, They are getting what they would call the ball cap method or a meltdown. Just to be brief this process of getting their wigs installed includes harsh products to their skin and directly to their hairline and also glue. This install process can eventually recede your hairline if not managed properly. After installing it will only look its best the first two days after that, if you’re not sure how to reapply that glue or clean up the residue from, the weather or from the sweat of the skin then the wig will begin to look as if it is peeling off. The cost to get a wig installed can go up to $1200. Where I come in is I am not only saving you the cost of an install that last no longer than a week, but a glue-less wig will also keep your skin in your hair line intact, you can also switch out your looks in the mater of seconds. I have many of my wigs with four or five different looks in one day or even at photo shoots, due to my wig being able to be securely removed.
As far as cranial crowns the process to receive a medical grade wig will be to make an appointment with a physician or dermatologist to have the scalp and hair follicles evaluated. And the dermatologist will give you a prescription to bring to a cranial prothesis specialist. You will have three appointments you will need to attend for the prothesis specialist to assure that this is the best choice for you. The follow up appointment is when the specialist will reach out to the clients’ insurance company to see exactly what is covered. From there, I will be able to decide which unit will be best fit depending on the scalp and hair condition. Then the billing process for the insurance reimbursement. My overall vision for cranial crown is to be able to pour back into those whether it’s a man, woman, or child. The joy, confidence, and love they had for life before experiencing these medical conditions.
I am extremely proud of my brand and it’s authenticity. I am very excited to see what the future has in store for the Queendom. Me interviewing for this article is proof to me that I am on the right track. And I want to thank all of those who support me and my brand. Thank you for seeing my vision and allowing me to do what is passionate and dear to me.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory is knowing that my family was big and very family oriented. We would have Family and friends over for very big outings from barbecues in the backyard to bounce houses for the kids to play on. Also, just remembering doing simple things like riding bikes with my siblings in the neighborhood and going to the parks. Moments like that at the time, I never knew I would cherish how I don’t now.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.TheQueendom.biz
- Instagram: Hairfiend_QueenzLLC
- Facebook: Hairfiend Queenz
- Twitter: HFQueenz
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCibKv6uQj-OO_qksY7dvgPg
