Today we’d like to introduce you to Taahirah Abdullah.
Taahirah, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Where it started, I was a senior in high school, Morrow High to be exact, and I did my very first “real” client. You know, someone other than my sisters. It was one of my friends, and the pressure was on. She came back to school with these long small braids, and before you knew it, Ive done someone else hair at school. Then people from the public started to contact me. I did not even know how to price my work. I was shock I was picking up clientele. By the end of senior year, it was a wrap. Everybody was saying, “she braid like an African.” So yes, braiding came quit easy. I went from having a waiting room in my mother’s living room to a waiting room at a shop (The Braid Bar), and now my own suite at Braid Bar City.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Smooth road? lol life is not that easy. I can say juggling my braiding career and going through college was a struggle. I was a straight A student my freshman year, literally. I only braided on weekends, but the money was good, of course and I really started to put my braiding career at the top of my list. I picked up more hours at the shop, but school would come calling and I would drop everything not school-related (you know, clients and all) at a drop of a dime, so you know that was not good for business. In progression, I was able to balance the two better than before. That was my biggest struggle, but then I had a baby my senior year. Let’s just say, proper scheduling makes the ride smoother.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the AfricanHands story. Tell us more about the business.
African Hands is my braiding mastery business. Always African Hands, wearing braids for every occasion. I specialize in everything I do: knotless box braids, rope twists, feed-in cornrows, box braids/ individuals and more; and I am known for just that. Every style I do, I do it to my best ability and the people notice that. I am most proud of being consistent and making a brand that people recognize and speak highly about. People know my brand before they know me. My work set me apart from others like I mentioned before. I want it to look good and be done good. I care about hair health. I am not scared of different textures. I will try new and freestyles. I want what is best for hair!
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
As the saying goes… “I don’t believe in luck.” Inshallah!
Contact Info:
- Address: 1216 Columbia Drive, Decatur, GA, 30032
- Website: alwaysafricanhands.as.me/
- Phone: 678-308-5096
- Email: alwaysafricanhands@gmail.com
- Instagram: _africanhands
- Facebook: alwaysafricanhands
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