Inspiring Conversations with Maria Okpeh of Nia Soule Salon & Spa

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Okpeh.

Hi Maria, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m a Nigerian-born, Atlanta-based braider and the founder of Nia Soule Salon & Spa. I started the way a lot of immigrant women do – in a basement, with my hands, my faith, and one client at a time. I built a reputation for Ouchless Hair Braiding® because I believed Black women deserved beauty experiences that honored our hair, our scalps, and our stories, not just fast braids and sore edges.

From that basement I grew into a small suite, then into full salons, eventually operating multiple locations in Georgia and Texas, plus a beauty supply store. Over the years my work has taken me from everyday moms and students to film sets, sports teams, and print features – but the heart of it has always stayed the same: creating a peaceful, luxurious, culturally rooted space where Black women can breathe, heal, and feel seen.

The journey hasn’t been glamorous behind the scenes. I’ve navigated the realities of small business ownership through a recession, COVID, an economic downturn, and my own health challenges, including multiple fibroid surgeries within a year. I’ve made big expansion decisions that didn’t always go as planned and have had to make painful choices to close some locations and restructure so I could protect my health, my son, and the core of the brand.

Today I’m rebuilding with more wisdom and a simpler, stronger foundation. Nia Soule now operates from our Norcross and Fayetteville locations, with Fayetteville as my home base. I’m focused on high-quality, wellness-centered services, mentoring the next generation of braiders, and building a business that is sustainable – financially, physically, and emotionally. My story is still “beauty in the basement,” but now it’s about showing women that you can rise, fall, rebuild, and still create something beautiful without losing yourself in the process.

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?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road.

I came to the U.S. as an immigrant single mom, building a business in a new culture with no safety net. In the early years I was learning everything at once – how to braid, lead, market, manage staff, deal with landlords and banks – often by trial and error and with my son beside me in the salon.

As we grew, the challenges just changed shape. I expanded into multiple locations and a beauty supply store right as the economy shifted and client spending softened. On paper it looked like success, but behind the scenes I was juggling high payroll, heavy overhead, and business debt while trying to keep doors open, pay my team, and still be present as a mother.

The last few years have been especially rough. I went through three fibroid surgeries in one year, blood transfusions, iron infusions and ongoing breast-cancer monitoring. There were days my body was exhausted but the salon still needed me, and that took a toll. I’ve also had to make painful decisions to close locations in Snellville, Texas and the beauty supply store in order to protect my health, my son’s stability, and the core of the brand.

Staff turnover, the realities of running a Black-owned brick-and-mortar business, navigating COVID and an economic downturn – none of that has been easy. But each obstacle has forced me to get clearer, humbler, and wiser about money, boundaries, and sustainability. I’m still here, still rebuilding, and more committed than ever to doing this work in a way that doesn’t cost me my life or my joy.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Nia Soule Salon & Spa?
Nia Soule Salon & Spa is a luxury braiding and wellness salon with locations in Norcross and Fayetteville, GA. We specialize in Ouchless Hair Braiding® and protective styles that honor the scalp, edges, and overall hair health of Black women and families. Clients know us for our knotless braids, precise cornrows, boho styles, and our growing head-spa and scalp-care services that focus on relaxation, restoration, and healthy hair growth.

What sets us apart is our commitment to Improved Excellence—not just cute hair, but a peaceful, professional, and culturally safe experience from the moment you walk in. We’re intentional about being kid-friendly, mom-friendly, and faith-grounded, and many guests describe the salon as “quiet, restful, and home.” I’m proud that we’ve created a space where Black women can exhale, bring their daughters, and feel cared for without pain, rushing, or disrespect.

Our brand is about more than styles; it’s about community, wellness, and legacy. At Nia Soule, you’ll find premium braiding, scalp and head-spa treatments, threading, and beauty services delivered with gentleness, excellence, and integrity—and a heart to serve the Black experience with dignity and beauty.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something surprising is that even though I’m known for “Ouchless Hair Braiding®,” I actually used to be the tender-headed kid who hated getting her hair done. I built the salon I wish little-me had—no yelling, no yanking, no torture combs.

People are also surprised that the same hands that braid everyday moms and daughters have also braided for film projects like Black Panther , The Hate U Give and big shoots—but I still get just as excited when a regular client looks in the mirror and says, “Oh wow, that’s ME?” That reaction never gets old.

Pricing:

• Ouchless Knotless Braids™ (medium, 18”) – starting at $300 (hair included)
• Boho Luxe Knotless (with human hair) – starting at $425+
• Classic Feed-In / Straight-Back Cornrows – starting at $180+ • Kids’ Braids with extensions (ages 6–12) – starting at $175
• Head Spa & Scalp Detox Treatments – starting at $135+
• Traditional Loc Starter Sets – starting at $220+ • Microlocs / Sisterloc-inspired Starter Sets – starting at $550+

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.niasoulesalon.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/niasoulesalonandspa?igsh=MWcwMjB2cWo5eWplYQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BgBi2abTV/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Twitter: https://x.com/niasoulesalon
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@niasoulesalonandspa?si=CO_tFCeAEshLAWx0
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/nia-soule-salon-and-spa-fayetteville
• Other: https://www.TikTok.com/niasoulesalonspa