Meet Aaliyah David

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaliyah David.

Aaliyah, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started when I was 17 years old, the summer going into my senior year of high school, with exactly making my first U-part wig. I learned how to make wigs off of YouTube, and ever since then, I took the uttermost control of that skill. Prior to the school year, I signed for duel-enrollment to do Cosmetology over at West Georgia Technical College. So through-out my senior year, I experienced with myself and one of my closest friends. After I graduated high school, I took a year off and went back fall of 2019. During that break, I did hair periodically but I was trying to get my life together, like get a car, build up my savings, credit, etc. Around February 2019, that’s when I created my hair business named “Lace Samurai,” which was changed to Wigphenalia that following summer.

Summer of 2019 is when I first started taking clients. I was hustling foreal lol, I drove to all my client’s places, no matter the distance nor time, snuck clients in my house, took clients at my friend’s house (with permission of course), and I’m not even gonna lie, I did that for a good nine months until I got into the shop that I’m in now. But I’d honestly say the risk was definitely worth it. In between all this time, I always kept a job, so when I was working, I was working at UPS literally SLAVING from 10:30 PM-2 AM and going to the gym at 3 AM, getting home at 4 AM. Mind you, school was Mon-Thurs 4-10PM… SMH.

I finished cosmetology at the end of April 2020, taking seven classes my last semester, finishing with a 3.4 GPA. I started working over at the shop I currently am at, “Simmons Beauty & Barber,” at the end of February 2020, so yes “F” UPS, I quit them and hopped in the shop, and yes, I was very scared and nervous. But if it wasn’t for that jump, I wouldn’t have the clientele and probably the business going as well as it is today.

Great, 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?
Whew… not at all. It’s really hard being passionate about something that not all your loved ones agree with. It was only like that in the beginning, but I felt I had too many childhood hobbies that were town away, I just said nah I’m not hearing y’all this time, lol. It’s plenty more things I struggled with, like with crazy clients, slow days, and finding the right hair. I had to learn not to let people run over me cause sometimes I can be overly nice, but I’m very nurturing anyway so I always like to make sure people around me are happy. I just had to stand my ground of course and always remember I come first.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Wigphenalia is like my personal boutique of hair/wigs I personally love. I’m already a picky person so anything I love will definitely be loved by others. I am a professional hairstylist and melt lace-like n o o t h e r. I make wigs, color wigs, sell wigs, and install wigs. I am mostly proud of the time and detail I put into each and every one of my units and client’s head. One thing about me is I always keep it real with my clients, whether I just met you today or years back. I’m not letting nobody walk from my chair unsatisfied and not feeling how they should be feeling; literally fierce and unapologetic.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moment(s) would have to be receiving orders from across the United States and hearing people from different cities wanting me to come slay their hair. 🙂 It’s like wow, y’all really fwm!

Pricing:

• Wig installs start at $160 before a deposit!
• Raw Indian Wigs starting at $145+

Contact Info:

• Website: www.wigphenalia.com
• Phone: 4049071008
• Email: aaliyahtdavid@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamaaliyahdavid/?hl=en
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/wigphenalia/?hl=en

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