Today we’d like to introduce you to Tatiana Smith.
Tatiana, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
After I graduated high school back in 2008, I started working at a childcare center as a lead teacher. I started my passion with hair at the age of 16 years old. I would always get in the mirror and plait my own hair. When I would go to work the next day, I would show all the parents’ different styles of braids, twists, and plaits that I could do. I gain a lot of clients from just word of mouth by the parents at the school. In 2009, I was undecided if I wanted to go to school to be a teacher or a hairstylist, so I enrolled in college at Southern Regional Technical College, where I took up two dual major which was Early Childhood Education & Cosmetology. I then started finding myself falling more in love with doing hair than wanting to be a teacher right then. I started doing friends, family members and out of town client’s hair. I graduated in 2012 and got a degree in Early Childhood Education and then soon after in that same year, I went and took my state board test to become a licensed Cosmetologist. After passing my state board test and getting my licenses, I still didn’t take it that serious. So, I went back and forth a couple of times from being a teacher and doing hair. In 2015, I went back to college and got my bachelor’s degree in Math to become a math teacher. In 2016, I got to the point where I wanted to start learning new things and techniques in the hair industry. I started going out buying hair color and hair extensions to test them out. I made so many mistakes, but those mistakes taught me so much. I got so comfortable with doing my own hair to the point everybody around me was wearing hair extensions so that’s when I brainstormed one night about having my very own hair business.
In 2018, I looked back at my cosmetology license and started to take them very seriously. I didn’t have no time to waste, and I was tired of having so many ideas in my head and then backing out on them. I didn’t have a business plan at all. All I knew was that I wanted to start a business and I wanted it to be very successful. I began researching a lot about different types of hair extensions and vendors. In November 2018, I began selling virgin hair extensions and lashes. My audience got bigger and bigger as the weeks went by. In February 2019, I added premade units to my hair collection. By me adding those units to my collection, I started getting the exposure I needed from a bigger audience. I started promoting my business every day. In January 2020, I moved to Atlanta, and that’s when I decided that I wanted an online hair store. I got a website designed and advertised all my hair on the site. Being that I was in a new city, I was scared but very determined. I launched my online hair store and new customers started shopping out of nowhere. The exposure that my business was getting was amazing. My brand was getting well known worldwide. Being in a new city also gave me a better opportunity to do things that I wanted to do when I was back home which was in Moultrie, GA. I changed my mind setting, met up with business professional people, and started motivating myself more. I tried to always stay positive through this whole new journey. I started networking and going to different pop-up shop events to get my brand out there. I gave out business cards day in and day out. Then boom, I started seeing people offering classes to make your very own custom unit. I wanted to learn it so bad, but I kept putting it off.
Finally in July 2021, I walked out on faith and bought me a sewing machine. I didn’t know where to start because I didn’t have any experience at all with a sewing machine. I was nervous and scared because this was a new chapter for me, and it was also something different. I wanted to learn it so bad that I spent hours and hours breaking the machine down and trying to learn how it works. After dealing with the machine for hours, I gave up. A month went by, and I prayed to God about helping me remain focus so I can learn this machine. God then placed a very special friend that was in the same industry as me in my life. I reached out to that friend and asked her a couple of minor ins and odds questions about machine itself, she also gave me a couple of tips as well. Finally, October 2021, I got on the sewing machine and made my very first custom unit, but I made a couple of mistakes. From those mistakes, I learned what to do and what not to do on the sewing machine. I began to get very comfortable with the machine by the time I made my third custom unit. When I started seeing how good my work was progressing, I just knew from that very moment that I wanted to be a successful wig maker. With this being such a new chapter in my life and my business, I was still quite lost on how to target my audience and get my work out to the world. I knew God was by my side, so I prayed to remain focus, stay humble, stay very faithful and patient with my business. I began posting my work on Snapchat, Facebook and in a lot of groups on Facebook. I also started sharing my work to my Facebook business page. I went live on Facebook to show my work etc. I started making wigs every day to get more and more comfortable as time went by. No matter how many obstacles or distractions came my way, I looked pass them and kept pushing. Every wig that I made, I kept getting better and better. This motivated me so much to the point that I was thinking that I can do anything that I put my mind to. I was so excited that I was mastering this new journey being that I was self-taught.
In November, I started to do a lot of research with color techniques, different styles, and more marketing skills. I would find myself staying up all night making wigs and doing more and more research. I also started creating more content that would draw my audience attention in many ways. I knew I wanted my business to be different and unique in its own ways. I started taking so many pictures to my phone went die on me. Content=Pictures and Pictures=Marketing. I started creating ads on Facebook and I also got more and more familiar with Instagram and would run ads on there as well. I was thinking way outside the box. As days went by, people started congratulating me on my new chapter. People also started sharing my work and telling me that I inspire them in so many ways. December 2021 was a great month for me, I hit six figures as a business owner and made over $100,000. I also started getting customers from Bahamas & Jamaica. I was super excited about that. By that time, the year was beginning to end, and I started preparing myself for 2022 and the new things that II wanted to bring to my business. Overall, the years, I accomplished so many goals and I was so excited with tears of joy about everything. With God being by my side, I knew I wouldn’t fail at all. God build so many walls during this whole journey so I could be able to block anything was stopping me from accomplishing any goals as becoming a successful business owner.
Big Plans for 2022:
Beauty In Paradise Mynx is planning to launch a hair care line offering shampoo, conditioner and etc. We also plan to teach as many entrepreneurs as possible how to become more successful in their business.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, this whole journey hasn’t been very smooth for me. Every business has had hard times, hiccups, and differences along the way. When I first started my business, I remember trying to make a profit out of no profit because my prices were dirt cheaper. I had to find a way to maintain my business and keep money in my pocket to invest back into my business at the same time. As time went by, my clientele got bigger. I begin to invest more and more into my business. I really started investing into my business back in 2018. I literally had $500 in my saving account, and I put every dollar into my business. I walked out on faith and didn’t know where it would take me. I just knew I wanted something that I could call my own and for it become successful. After I invested into my business, I knew I had to increase my prices to where I would see something in return, but to me it wasn’t all about the money because I loved what I did in the industry to make other people happy. Along the way, I lost customers, close friends, and family members. It made me so upset to the point that I got very frustrated and wanted to give up. I started to think about how I am going to run a new business with a slow flow of money and little to no customers. Some days I got sales and some days I didn’t. The days that I didn’t get any sales, I started to think of ways to make my next day better. I also made a lot of mistakes along the way with different vendors. I lost a lot of money on buying bad batching of hair. When it came to me coloring hair, I messed up big time. I spent so much money on hair color and was just in a rush to the point I wanted to quit.
In 2020, that whole year was great. I took my coloring service more serious and my business starting growing. In October 2021, I had a major setback when my dad Kenny passed. I wanted to give up on my whole business, but I also knew that I had customers that was depending on me. I started praying to God and asking him for strength through the whole process. The more I wanted to give up, the more God was giving me all kinds of signs that this was my dream and passion. I grieved everyday about my dad but as I grieved, I got more and more into my business. Things started to get a little better as the months went by and the year ended. 2022 started out great, until the end of March where there was a tragic accident happened and my stepdad James passed. Being that I was still grieving from losing my dad, this just bring me to the point where I started to take life more seriously and make better decisions business & personal-wise. I think every business have ups and downs, but you just must ask God for strength and remain focused on your journey. He is the most powerful man that will help you when no one else can. God helped me turn those same $500 into over $100,000. Anybody can do anything they put their mind too. Don’t ever let nobody talk you out of making your dreams come true. You only have one life to live so live it to the fullest and make the best of it. If I could do it, anybody can. I build my brand from the ground up with no help at all.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Beauty In Paradise Mynx?
Beauty In Paradise Mynx offers a variety of different selections in human hair extensions, premade units, custom units and accessories. We specialize in making sure that each customer gets a premade or custom unit to fit their desired needs. Each of our units are unique and will not look exactly the same. We do have a lot of similar ones though. What sets us apart from other businesses is our great customer service, fast shipping, 24 hour tech support and our top-tier hair quality. We believe in treating each and every one of our customers equally and with respect. We have an open door policy so that the customers can communicate with us better. We love to answer all questions and concerns that any customers has. We love to bring out the best customer service ever to let our customers know that each order is packaged and made with love. Beauty In Paradise Mynx always go over and beyond for the customers. When creating the custom units, we make sure that we put our best effort in every stitch as to styling the unit. Our slogan is “Every Girl Deserves A Style”. We as a team try to stand on that because no matter where your from every girl will come with their own style. We make sure that we are creating great content to drive in a bigger audience. We make sure that our customers are comfortable with what we are offering. We show our customers that we are professional, honesty and loyal to their needs. No customer is left behind or treated differently.
Beauty In Paradise Mynx has just started offering one on one wig construction courses. We take pride in our work and aim to make sure that our customers are satisfied. We also make sure that each customer know that a wig is an investment. Investing in a unit requires maintenance and we make sure our customers know how to fully take care of their unit so it can last longer. We do offer wig maintenance services such as shampooing, deep conditioning and etc.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Finding a mentor can be quite hard at first but I think it would be great at the end. Make sure you do a lot of research on different mentors before you just choose one because that person might not be the best fit for you and your business. If you don’t see them posting a lot of content and getting a lot of exposure themselves move on to the next one. Do not waste a lot of money on finding a mentor. Some things you can research and learn things on your own. I found out that by me going out and networking, it helped my business a lot. I started out just going to the mall and other random places passing out business cards. I also started networking with different business owners at pop up shops and they put the word out about my business. Networking is one of the best things to get your business to a bigger exposure than it is. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO MEET NEW PEOPLE. I always looked at it as Strangers are the ones that will put the word out for your business to grow bigger and better. Try to always stand out different from any other business.
Pricing:
- Basic in person wig course $750
- Deluxe in person wig course $1000
- 30 minute Consultation $40
- Paradise Sleek Comb $80
- Paradise Crimp Iron $75
Contact Info:
- Email: beautyinparadisemynx@yahoo.com
- Website: www.beautyinparadisemynx.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beautyinparadisemynx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beautyinparadisemynx/
- Other: https://vm.tiktok.com/TTPdCoQryu/
