Today we’d like to introduce you to Tasha “TNT” Naquin.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Tasha “Naquin”. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started handcrafting Silk Sations natural and organic products out of a need to help save my life after being given five years to live in 2016 as a result of two rare blood disorders and a brain disease. I decided after a long cry and a longer conversation and prayer with JEHOVAH that I was not about to just sit around waiting on death, so I decided to be proactive.
After reading the labels on the products my family and I use daily, seeing that they are loaded down with harmful chemicals, it was a no brainier that I had to jump into action. I was a hairstylist for seventeen years before I was no longer able to stand to style hair, a career I have wanted since I was eight years old. I decided to put my cosmetology knowledge and a lot of research together and that is how I came up with my products. I honestly never intended to turn it into a business. I mean, I was already running my nonprofit that’s dedicated to chronically and terminally ill children along with my t-shirt printing business, so another business was not on my agenda. But after using my own products for a year and seeing results and the positive feedback from family and friends, I knew I had to market it. There is definitely a need for more healthier products on the market. I don’t think people realize just how many harmful chemicals are packed into the majority of the products we use on our hair and skin, and our skin absorbs everything we put on it.
For those of us who are chronically ill, those harmful chemicals contributes to making our health issues worse. Some of us may very well have health conditions due to the products we are using daily. I also suffer with Multiple Sclerosis which caused me to have to rely on a wheelchair more and more. I was told that I would permanently be in a wheelchair by 2018, but I am happy to say, that after using only Silk Sations products I am no longer dependent on my wheelchair, although I still have issues walking and standing. It’s amazing how simply not using harmful chemicals on our skin can make a drastic change. But I knew that just having a great product was not good enough if the world didn’t know about it. I gave away tons of products to family and friends and even social media influencers when I first started out, trying not only to get them to try the products but also share it on their social media platforms. So many told me how much they loved the products, but none of them would post about. Frustrated because I knew I had a good product, but it was very costly being on a tight budget while trying to get my brand out there, but I am a praying woman and was very determined not to become discouraged.
One night while laying in bed, after praying that GOD would send me the right person or people to help me get my brand out to the masses, one of my Facebook friends shared a post of vegan queen and wholefoods spokeswoman Tabitha Brown. I had no idea who she was at the time, but watching her live video, her personality pulled me in. I took a deep breath and decided to contact to see if I could send her some of my products. To my surprise, she responded and said she would love to try my products. Well not only did she try them, she used her platform to tell her followers and all of social media about Silk Sations during one of her live cooking sessions and sent my products viral. A lot of her followers are now some of my most loyal customers. I have also had the honor of getting my products in the hands of celebrities such as Teddy Riley, Angie Stone, and Ms. Deb (Love and Hip Hop) along with having countless loyal customers and supporters, that is how Silk Sations has and is building its brand.
Great, 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?
There definitely have been and still, are a lot of challenges. Along with a some of the chronic illnesses I deal with, I also battle chronic pain daily. Some days I am unable to get out of bed, which means in those moments I am unable to handcraft products. I do everything myself and by hand, so it gets very difficult. But I always tell myself “My mama didn’t raise no punk” so I will never allow myself to use my illnesses as a reason to give up. Also trying to find and build a strong team has been difficult, It’s hard entrusting others with the responsibilities when it comes to my brand, because it’s my baby, and none of us want to trust the care of their baby with just anyone. I have also been having difficulty with investors, securing a manufacturing company, and finding warehouse space.
I have outgrown my apartment and need the space to expand because Silk Sations is steady growing. The space and manufacturing company is high on my priority list because Walmart just picked up my products and realistically there is no way I can keep up with the supply and demand on my own. But I am not allowing any of that to stop me from pushing through and moving forward. My goal is to build an international brand to leave a legacy for my husband and children when I am no longer here… I have come a long way since putting my products on the market in 2017 but know that I have a long way to go to get to where I want to be, but I am up for the challenge.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Silk Sations – what should we know?
Silk Sations body and hair care products are handcrafted using only the best ingredients. Our body products helps reduce fine line, wrinkles, stretch marks, and hyperpigmentation, adding moisture and hydration to the skin for a more y. Our hair care products gives your hair the hydration and moisture needed to help reduce breakage and graying while helping to accelerate the growth process. Especially formulated for kinky, curly, wavy, natural hair care.
I guess I would have to say I am most proud of the fact that my products use no harmful chemicals and the majority of my customers see and feel results after just one use. I love when my customers send in reviews, before and after photos, and post about how much they love Silk Sations products on social media. One customer said her mother has suffered with migraines for years, but since using Silk Sations hair products, she has not had one headache. Another customer said her teenage son went from getting haircuts every three weeks to every week now because he uses Silk Sations products on a regular and his hair now grows at a rapid rate.
Most recently I had a customer contact me to say she has a brain tumor and her treatment pulled all her hair out in the middle of her head and that she had tried every product imaginable to get her hair to grow back but nothing worked, until she tried Silk Sations Growth Moisturizer and after using the product for two months all her hair has grown back. I was floored with her before and after photos. It’s testimonies like these that makes me happy that I decided to share my products with the world and not keep it to myself. I’ve received testimonies from customers about how my body and hair products have also helped improve or clear up their eczema, psoriasis, and other minor to mild skin and scalp conditions after trying other products or doctor prescribed medications with no results.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I believe the fact that I am so transparent with my customers and followers on and off social media about being chronically ill, allowing them to see my good and bad days. Allowing them to see mine and my daughters results, the before and after pictures and videos have helped to build their trust in me as well as my brand.
You have to be determined with anything you want in life. There are definitely going to be setbacks and challenges, but the key to success is to keep getting back up and not give up, but to keep moving forward. You have to believe in yourself even when no one else does, and trust the process. Success doesn’t look the same for everyone, go with your vision and your dream, don’t compare yourself to others. Do the work, plant your seeds and your harvest will come.
Contact Info:
- Website: Silksations.net
- Email: silksationscreationscreations@gmail.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/silk_sations
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/silksationscreations
Image Credit:
Monique King, Eddie Cross, Qiana Washington
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