Today we’d like to introduce you to Adaeze Onyeama.
Hi Adaeze, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Hair has always been a part of my life. I began doing hair as early as 13 years old after spending many hours helping around a hair salon owned by a family friend. In 2007, I learned the art of braiding after traveling home to Nigeria. During this time, I was exposed to a variety of hair and braiding styles. Coming back to the United States, I would always get so many compliments and questions from friends, family, and strangers about my hair!
In 2016, I unintentionally began a small hair business right from my dorm room while obtaining my undergraduate degree and have been doing hair for clients ever since! As a mobile stylist, I work with all types of people. From mothers who need their hair styled while watching their kids at home, to those who hate long wait times in the salon, and also people who simply need a stylist last minute for an event they are attending. I work with women and men in all circumstances & I really am personal! This aspect of my business eliminates the hassle of getting your hair done and allows hairdressing to be both flexible and convenient for my clients. The name of my business is OmaBeauty&Styles. Oma meaning “Great” in Igbo language refers to great favor, purity, and quality of something beautiful. It is often the suffix of many words and names in Igbo culture such as Chioma or Nwanyioma meaning “Good God” & “Beautiful Woman”. I decided to name my business this because it represents the transformation of my client from beautiful to impeccable. Beauty is within and Oma targets that from the crown, our hair!
As a mobile stylist in the Atlanta area, my mission is to be both accessible & affordable! My culture values customer service and I have to deliver that within my business. Even through a pandemic, Oma prioritizes safety first! I require my clients to wear a mask as I will be wearing one too along with my PPE. Health is beauty and essentially our wealth.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
A personal struggle that I experienced before I professionalized my business, was not believing that I would be offering a need that is in demand. Over the years, I’ve watched many hair salons slow in business and people essentially do their own hair. This observation discouraged me from even looking into Cosmetology school while in undergrad. I instead focused on styling my own hair since I enjoyed to do it, not thinking much about beginning a business and doing it for others. But nonetheless, I would get stopped by women who would ask me many questions about who did my hair and if I do hair, can it be done on them. This made me take myself seriously and note that I won’t be the first stylist nor will I be the last. There will always be a demand for hair care and styling. Another obstacle I had to overcome was mind over matter. Many times I found myself wondering about what some friends, colleagues, and associates would think if I launched a business offering hair styling services. I went to school for Global Health Studies and minored in Chemistry & Biology. I also have a Master’s degree in Women’s Health. In the past, I took on many pre-medical leadership roles and demonstrated my potential to be in the healthcare field while living on campus. While launching, I worried if people will be receptive to me and my new direction. Now I look back and laugh, realizing it’s foolish to worry about what others think about me. I know what I’m doing and I have a plan. I can do multiple things in my lifetime and hair will always be one of them.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am most proud of my education. I attended Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, a private institution that has many robust programs of study. While there, I met so many classmates who helped shape the way I see the world today. I value my education because knowledge is power. This type of power teaches you to think quick on your feet and keep re-inventing the wheel; to take a difficult situation and find solutions by being flexible; to never box yourself in and do something one way. For instance, I don’t own a hair salon but I will one day. At the moment I am a mobile stylist because that works for me until I can open a shop.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
A favorite childhood memory was when I was 11 years old visiting Nigerian. I accompanied my aunt to go get her hair braided. We left very early in the morning around 7am and walked for what felt like two hours to a small shop on the side of a busy road. I watched my aunt sit and get her hair beaded for about six hours by two women. She was getting micro braids and boy were they tiny. As I was sitting there watching the two braiders, I was fascinated by the skillful hand motions of the women. The precision, the wrist motions, and the careful yet firm grip. One of the women saw me watching them closely and taught me right there how to braid. My hands picked up on the technique fast and I did my first set of cornrows on their daughter’s head. This is one of my favorite memories because I not only learned how to braid, but I also discovered a skill set within myself that I later developed.
Pricing:
- Sew-in (Closure) $55
- Sew-in (Frontal) $65
- Wig Construction $90
- Wig Super Deluxe Package starting at $225 (Construction+Install Hair Provided)
- Box Braids Starting at $135
Contact Info:
- Email: omabeautyandstyles@gmail.com
- Website: omabeautyandstyles.org
- Instagram: @omahairbeauty @blessedbrilliance
Image Credits
Sydney Baskett Verneicia Allen Kiana Beasley Nora Essien Kadishia Bridges Eunice Ricquell
