Exploring Life & Business with Damir Nickens of TopTier by Mir

Today we’d like to introduce you to Damir Nickens.

Hi Damir, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started out as a 14-year-old girl in the heart of North Minneapolis, Minnesota, coming from a marginalized community with only so much around me to draw inspiration from and wanting so much for myself. I’ve always appreciated beauty, whether I was helping a classmate fix their look or perfecting my own. So it wasn’t surprising that I found a passion for braiding, especially watching my older sister braid. Seeing her work up close was really my first real inspiration.

Being the youngest in my family also shaped me more than I realized at the time. There was a quiet pressure to succeed, to prove myself, and to become more than a product of my environment. That pressure pushed me rather than held me back.

Becoming an entrepreneur was never something I dreamed about as a child. But I always knew, even young, that working under someone else wasn’t for me. I just didn’t have anyone showing me that success could come from independence. I was too young to realize God had already written my
story.

Word got around, and I became one of the go-to hairstylists in my community. That’s when I started to understand what my talent could actually become. I truly appreciate that people trust me with their crown, there’s something sacred about that. My passion has always been about more than the technique; it’s about making people feel beautiful. My family and friends was a huge part of building that confidence in me as well, their support gave me the belief to want more for myself and to never give up on my dreams. They instilled in me the mindset that nothing is impossible and nothing is out of reach if I’m willing to work for it. Balancing life as a self-sufficient entrepreneur while still being fully present for my close-knit family wasn’t easy, it took real hard work and dedication. But I kept mastering my craft and running my business, and after graduating high school, I felt a pull to take things to the next level.
That’s when I realized my story in Minnesota was coming to an end. I had outgrown my hometown, and I knew this wasn’t where my journey would finish. Growth meant getting uncomfortable, so I moved to Atlanta, Georgia. That move was just the beginning.

Being surrounded by endless opportunity and a thriving mindset here is genuinely motivating. That energy fed my ambition and helped turn “becoming my own boss” from a hope into a reality. And that’s what led me to where I am now, living in answered prayers.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Honestly, my process as a business owner leaving a “stable” path to completely start over has been more of a slow burn than smooth sailing. I’m someone who likes things done right, and done now. But this business showed me quickly that patience is truly a virtue. There’ve been so many learning curves along the way.
Moving from Minnesota to Atlanta really taught me that you have to crawl before you can walk. Nothing comes exactly when you want or planned. In the beginning of the move, building my clientele back up was one of the most uncomfortable stretches of my business. I was putting in the work, but I wasn’t always booked, and I was disappointed I wasn’t seeing the outcome I expected. I almost turned away from my dreams and started doubting the process. What I didn’t realize yet was that I needed to embrace this new chapter I was in. Even when I wasn’t “fully booked,” I was still blessed to be exactly where I was. I had to appreciate the journey and trust the process.
My mindset wasn’t always the strongest, either. I used to worry so much about timing I thought I needed everything to be perfect and to happen on a certain schedule. It took me a while to understand that building a business takes time, and that greatness doesn’t happen overnight. It happens in the waiting.
Around that same time, I was also attending Albany State University. I truly appreciate the time I spent there and the incredible people I met along the way that’s a chapter of my life I’ll never forget. But once my business finally picked up, balancing the two became nearly impossible, and eventually school wasn’t something I chose to prioritize anymore. There was sadness and regret behind that decision, because I knew it was something my family wanted for me. But it was eating at me I didn’t dream about it anymore, and I didn’t feel the passion behind it. So I had to remind myself that this is my story, at the end of the day, and whoever wasn’t in my corner, I had to be okay with that. I believed the risk I was taking would pay off in the long run, and I had faith that God would lay out the path and He did.
Not having my family physically around during that time was another struggle. I was never truly alone, but I missed them deeply. My mother is genuinely my favorite person, and we lean on each other so much. With losing my dad almost two years ago, it’s been hard on our whole family, and I worry about her constantly from a distance. But my dad spoke life into me every single day, and because of that, giving up was never an option for me. That’s part of why I named my business Mecca’s Temple, so that everything I build carries a piece of him with it.
Looking back, I wouldn’t trade the slow burn for anything. Every uncomfortable season taught me something the easy road never could’ve. I’m still building, still learning, but I’m understanding now that greatness takes time, and I’m doing it on my own terms. That’s everything.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Top Tier by Mir is my first and current business. I actually created the name at 16, after two years of just being known as “a hairstylist” with no real platform behind me. I knew I wanted to take things to the next level. I wanted to be taken seriously, and I wanted a new image for myself. Someone who runs a business, and means it.
I’m a diverse stylist who works across all hairstyles, but braids are my specialty. I take real pride in the art I create; you can see the perfection in every style. What sets me apart from other stylists isn’t just skill; it’s the passion behind it. My business isn’t a side hustle or just a way to make money for me; I genuinely love doing hair. People are often surprised, given how long I’ve been doing this, that I’m not burned out on it. But the truth is, I’ve been doing it so long it’s become a part of me.
After doubling down on my passion, I realized entrepreneurship requires patience and true dedication. To me, beauty isn’t just appearance; it’s about empowerment and self-expression. Mecca’s Temple is the result of years of growth, learning, and having a real purpose behind the work.
Mecca’s Temple is my newest venture, a beauty salon, and honestly, it came from me finding myself again. There was a point last year where I noticed I was getting too comfortable, losing focus on the goal, and my routine had become repetitive. I felt a push telling me it was time to try something new, so I took a leap of faith. It’s actively coming together and coming soon.
Mecca’s Temple will be a creative space that empowers entrepreneurs to thrive independently and a home for clients seeking premium beauty experiences. It’ll offer a variety of services from professionals who specialize in hair styling, barbering, nail care, makeup artistry, and other non-medical esthetics. I’m committed to making others feel confident and beautiful, while also teaching, mentoring, and building a platform for others to do the same.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Honestly, my biggest advice is to stay true to yourself and trust the process. I know that sounds simple, but it’s harder to actually live by than people think. Everything works itself out if you let it; you have to give it room. There’s no such thing as perfect timing, and building something great is never going to happen overnight. I think a lot of people give up right when things get hard, and that’s usually the moment right before something shifts.
So don’t give up on the first thing that fails. Instead, ask yourself what you can actually take from it. Some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in this business came from my biggest setbacks, not my wins. I look back now and realize those hard moments taught me more about myself and my business than anything that went smoothly ever could.
One thing I’ve really noticed, especially now with social media in everyone’s hands, is how easy it’s become to compare yourself to someone else. You scroll and see someone else doing great, and suddenly you start questioning your own path, even your own worth. But I’ve had to remind myself over and over that their journey isn’t mine. No one’s story unfolds the same way, on the same timeline, for the same reasons, so comparing never really made sense once I sat and thought about it. Remember to give yourself grace.
If I could go back and tell myself one thing before I even started, it would be that patience is everything. I didn’t understand that back then. Not having patience can really make or break you; you end up making decisions out of impulse instead of clarity, just because you couldn’t sit still and wait. But good things really do come when you wait for them. And honestly, I’m grateful I got the chance to mess up along the way, because those mistakes are exactly what shaped me into the woman I am today.

Pricing:

• Medium Stitch Braids starting at $220
• Small Stitch Braids starting at $250
• Medium Boho Knotless starting at $300
• Small Boho Knotless starting at $340
• Ponytails starting at $100

Contact Info:

• Website: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=18405867
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toptier_bymir
• Other: https://bio.site/DamirJunay