Today we’d like to introduce you to Iyani Dodd.
Iyani, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started off doing my friends’ hair just for fun. I never thought about taking it seriously until random people would ask me to do theirs after seeing my work. Near the end of 2019, so many girls started to contact me about getting their hair done, so I decided to make it official. I thought, “I’m good at what I do so. Why not take it further?” I started off at $50 for a full head of box braids and kept increasing my prices as I got better and my clientele grew. About five months after realizing what I was capable of, I quit my 9-5 job. I went from only having one client per week to being booked six days a week. It hasn’t even been a full year since I’ve been taking hair seriously. When I realized I wanted to eventually grow my business into all things beauty and more than just hair, I came up with the name “Deon’s Dollhouse.” “Deon” comes from my middle name and “Dollhouse” is where a girl can be most creative from hair, to makeup, to clothes.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I can honestly say that my journey so far has been smooth because it happened so fast! I never had to struggle with my business because clients naturally came at a pace that was perfect for ME. However, being that I’m a perfectionist, I’ve always struggled with timing and learning how not to spend too much time on one single detail. To upcoming entrepreneurs who may face a number of challenges: Stay consistent, don’t give up, and trust God!
We’d love to hear more about Deon’s Dollhouse.
As of now, Deon’s Dollhouse is known for braids, especially knotless braids. I am most proud of the neatness and precision of my work. People always point that out about myself and my business. What sets my brand and me apart from others is my consistency and work ethic. Any time a client sits in my chair, it’ll look just as neat or even better than the previous client’s hair. There will never be and has never been a time where I’ve rushed or didn’t put all of my efforts into enhancing someone’s beauty. Over the next couple of months, my brand will eventually incorporate all things a Dollhouse should include, like clothes, accessories, makeup, etc.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
The person who deserves the most credit in helping my business grow is my assistant/little sister, Niyah. I was booked back-to-back one day and she offered to help me braid. When she showed me what she could do, I was surprised because it looked as if it was my work! Ever since then, she has been helping me braid and has gotten better just as I have. With an extra set of hands, I can book more clients a day in less time.
Contact Info:
- Phone: Booking Number: 6785625943
- Email: deonsdollhouse@gmail.com
- Instagram: deonsdollhouse.hair
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