Today we’d like to introduce you to Deja Lee.
Hi Deja, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Well, my story began in a town called East Point, where I was born and raised. I got my start with the inspiration and help of my community, family and friends where I had common grounds with them at Parklane Elementary School. Since I was young I’ve always had a passion for being creative, I loved all aspects of art and making things. So I gravitated towards people and things that could feed those interests.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Ummm… It wasn’t the smoothest. I didn’t grow up with a strong support system. So I wasn’t consistently involving myself in my talents. My folks were there as much as they could be, but my parents worked a lot so they weren’t able to attend most of my school events, We also didn’t have a car so MARTA was our main transportation and you can imagine how it felt seeing your peers getting dropped/picked up from school and events, but since I did have friends who were involved in the arts that stayed in the same area, they’d give me rides. I come from a big blended family so of course, we made it work, we didn’t have money like that so I couldn’t afford certain things for trips or even pay dues for the programs. I wanted to stay involved in the arts and help out financially so I tried to do stuff around the neighborhood like walk dogs, and tried to work at chick fil as soon as I was old enough to obtain a work permit, but that didn’t happen. Having these things go on growing up I ended up having a bright idea as a teenager. I realized that I could do hair while braiding my baby sister’s hair, and after 2 failed attempts of getting my fro locked I decided to start them myself and realized I can twist locs! I practiced a lot so I could start making money off of the skill, allowing hairdressing to be my side hustle until I got a real job during my mid-late teen years. I didn’t have many supplies to work with starting off, I actually put all my personal hair products in a bag, took pics of whatever work I did, saved it to an album in my gallery and started telling random people that I twisted locs, showed them the pics, and if they wanted my number to make an appointment id give it to them.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Well, I’m still doing hair for a living through my business “The Gifted Loctician, LLC”, specializing in dreadloc maintenance and natural hair care. Now that it’s successfully running, I have also been able to resume my passion for the arts and make music under the stage name “SupaGifted”. To be honest, I’m currently known for being a dope loc technician, but growing up I was known for being a bookworm, my love for poetry and being involved in different things, especially chorus and art! Things could’ve gone a different way for me and I’m proud of myself for not giving up, choosing to adapt and rise above my circumstances. I make the best out of the worst no matter what! What sets me apart from others is my dedication and passion for what I love to do, always having naturally warm, welcoming energy! Being a kindred, loving spirit and my visionary capabilities, I’m able to see things in my head, touch something or someone, take a person’s words and turn them into a real thing. I often say to people ” I can’t explain it, but I see it in my head and it’ll be sooooo dope when I’m finished!” And I’m thankful to my clients who allow me to do my thing behind the chair based off of that!
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Yes, please don’t give up on yourself or the things you love when life starts to hit you. If you feel like whatever you’re doing is worth it then keep going. Speak life into yourself, don’t talk yourself outta who you’re supposed to be because you’re in a dark place. Please write your goals down. That’s weekly, monthly, and yearly. When you cross one off add a new one! And whether it’s a dollar, ten or one hundred, save a part of what you make when you get paid or every day. Oh, you’ll lose people you never expected to on your journey, sometimes they get in the way of your focus and purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.styleseat.com/gifted
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegiftedloctician/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz_3TANwvas8AMbMTrpXbxw
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/supa_gifted/
Image Credits
Photo credits: “The Gifted Loctician, LLC” and “GinoDesignKing”
