Today we’d like to introduce you to Anita Valentine.
Hi Anita, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I came to the US with the goal of getting my education and returning back home, Equatoria Guinea. I wanted to attend the University of Houston, but my family went through a series of financial difficulties and I ended up graduating from American Intercontinental University in Business Management. While i was going to school, i met my now husband and decided to stay. I’ve tried getting a job in numerous occasions,but as a foreigner sometimes is not easy; perhaps its due to my accent or some other reason. I started working as a floor associate at Goodwill later on got promoted as a cashier. Worked as a cashier at Houston Garden till i found a job at Target. I was at Target till I couldn’t no more because my work permit expired and needed to renew. Any immigrant knows how difficult it is to obtain your residency, that process is tedious and tiresome so I started working with my brother’s ex at home braiding, she would start and I will finish the braids. At that moment,she didn’t have a lot of clients,so she encouraged me to try a popular braiding shop, TimelessArtbyCoco, so I did. I worked there about 2 years and decided to part ways. This is how I started braiding at home, I would go to my brother’s ex place( she opened her brading shop, MiMidPlace)when I didn’t have any client, and other times I just work from home. Getting clients hasn’t really be easy, nevertheless im still putting in the work while being persistent and determined. A lot of people have this perspective that when someone doing hair at home, is not professional enough, I agree in away, but I also believe you can be professional anyway, it just depends on your ethics and values. My motto is to treat others as i would love to be treated. If I wouldn’t want to schedule an appointment with another braider and be canceled last minute, I try not to do that. If your appointment is at 9am, we start the service at 9am, if im running behind I would communicate ahead of time; most importantly, I try to deliver whatever my clients want in accordance to my policies, size and lenght chart. A lot of my people ask me why dont I look for a job now that I am able to work? Ive tried applying in administrative positions and havent gotten any luck and to be honest,something I feel like I want to be my own boss, I want to have my braidingshop,perhaps, a clothingstore or restaurant i enjoy cooking. I’ve build a set of loyal clients that keep me busy. My loyal clients love me because they know how serious I take my job, if I dont like something, I will take it down and redo it. Sometimes I dream on having my own, other sometimes I get discouraged and try looking for a job since braiding takes a lot of you. I dont know what the future holds, but im still here and will keep looking for ways of making it, i am in America, this is the land of opportunities, like i always say it, my promise land. When I think of my place, I envision a chill out place(not loud music playing, not people talking loud or fighting) slow jams, i love rnb, well I love music. I place where my clients can come and relax. I want a dedicated room for my day one clients where we can talk about our day, our ups and downs since a have a good relationship with most.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Doing hair isn’t easy, especially when you are doing it by yourself. The way i keep going is by reminding myself nothing is easy. The market is really competitive, we have scammers that are out here making our job more difficult. Some people have trust issues and due to scammers, they would get deposits from people and won’t service them.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have been doing hair since i was 12. Back then, box braids were popular. I dislike them back them and still do today. Do I know how to do them? Yes, do I offer them in my page? No. My focus is knotless braids, I love doing them since they are more natural looking and I feel like their healthier, it’s less tension to your hair.I remember one time I was working with my daughter and I saw something i didn’t like, we were almost done with the service, however, I took those braids down and redid them. Was I tired? Yes, Was i ready to be done? Yes, however, I love making sure what I do, look nice and neat. Im not perfect, but I aim for perfection. This is one thing that makes me proud and set me aside from the rest of braiders, I just dont want client’s money, I make sure they leave satisfy while making them feel love,beautiful and confident.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I have a lot of great memories, the one that gets me till today is me getting upset at my mother because se wanted me to help selling her merchandise and I didn’t want to do it, so she told me:” live is about helping each other, we are not rich, I provide food to you all and sometimes I need help from you.” My mother was very determined, she didn’t have all the resources, but somehow, she was able to achieve whatever goal she set. This is what keeps me going, I’ve seen a lot of immigrants make it, I too can do it. I want to be in a position to help others like my mother did. I’m coming from a big family, my family made it possible for me to come here, I want to have enough to give back, not only to the people I know,also to the ones that are helping me achieve my goals. Every now and then I would offer a free style to some of my clients as a way of giving back. Let me take this opportunity to express my gratitude for two of my clients, The Hines Twins, they have been keeping busy and I hope one day I will be able to give them a free extra small knotless braids for free or at least half of the price. Finally, thank you so much for this opportunity, I dont know how you found out about me, I just know im honor and grateful for this amazing opportunity, thank you.
Pricing:
- Small knotless waist went from being $315 to $285 if you want it longer an additional $20-$30 fee must be added nt it longer an additional $20-
- Smedium midback $245, waist $265…
- Medium midback $225, waist $245…
- Mlarge waist $180
- Large waist $150
Contact Info:
- Website: https://braidsbyanastasia.as.me/schedule/cbc846fb
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/braidsbyanastasia
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1JzBEkNj3r/
