Today we’d like to introduce you to Tarana Hayes.
Tarana, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Well, first and foremost, my parents set an amazing foundation for me and my siblings. They always let it be known that we could do whatever we set our minds too, and to never chase the money but chase the happiness and fulfillment you get from whatever it is you’re doing. Both my parents worked in corporate America, and while I always wanted to wear those cute pants suits my mom would wear to work, it never made sense to me why you had to be on someone else’s schedule.
So boom, I’m working these jobs, and I mean I’m working all kinds of jobs, and with every job around month 3 I’m already thinking like “I’m over it, why am I even here”. So I figured there had to be something deeper than going to work every day feeling unfulfilled! I was living in Douglasville, Georgia, pregnant with my oldest daughter and this braid shop opens down the street. Braiding has always been a skill since I was eight and my Auntie would let me braid her hair and practice. In college I did it as an extra way to make some extra money. Hence, I figured why not apply! I only had class twice a week and my now husband had this crazy schedule at the time so I applied and was hired on the spot, and everything just kind of fell in place. I always laugh because doing hair was never the plan.
After the braid shop closed, I just started adding gas to my prices and would travel to my clients in metro Atlanta. My family and I moved back home to Detroit in 2017 and word of mouth literally set Braids by Tarana off. One of my church mamas and dear client said “girl you need to make you an Instagram” so I did and bookings started coming in. I started doing lash extensions in 2018 and my sister Tiera and owner of T-styles Graphics (who does all my branding) said to me you can’t just be Braids by Tarana anymore. I thought about a new name for a week prayed about it, dreamt the name, and Beau-T-Zone was born.
Mommies Melodies also was birthed from my time in Atlanta. I joined a moms group on Facebook called Moms of Atlanta to help me keep my sanity while pregnant with my son and being a stay at home mom with only a two year old to communicate with 8 hours a day while my husband worked. The group was an intricate part of my life, and I figured that Detroit needed something like that. I couldn’t be the only mama in my area needing that type of interaction. So here we are.
But deeper than that, when I became pregnant with my first, I became obsessed with the beauty that women encompass, and I’ve shaped both my businesses around just that—the beauty, the essence, the magic that is a woman.
As of today, I’ve been “job free” for an entire year, and I haven’t felt better. This freedom is like no other and provides me the space to live my life on my own schedule and never have to ask for PTO when my husband and I want to take a family trip on a Monday!
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?
Ha! A smooth road not even, but it’s honestly been the most rewarding! My biggest struggle with Beau-T-Zone was figuring out my pricing and the right balance with my personal and business life. I wanted to remain affordable but still get paid my worth! And then, being a wife, mom of 3 and a human being, I had to figure my schedule! It was a point where I was doing hair untill 4am and turning around to make lunches and do school drop-off’s while still having a social life. My husband would look at me crazy because I would complain about how tired I was, but I was literally doing it to myself! I didn’t even have to, but I just didn’t want to turn away clients. Learning to say no is something I’m still learning personally and professionally and I’m still perfecting my schedule but I no longer take Sunday or Monday appointments which makes me huge difference in my life.
With Mommies Melodies, I’ve struggled with literally just wanting to throw in the towel and say forget it due to participation going up and down. But then I get a text or email about how something I posted impacted one of my mommies, or I calmed the fears of a mother struggling with something, and I’m like “girl, chill out you’re doing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing”.
We’d love to hear more about Mommies Melodies and Beau-T-Zone.
So let me formally introduce you to my businesses. Beau-T-Zone is a mobile hair braiding and eyelashes extensions service. I’m known for providing the salon experience in the comfort of your home. I specialize in all things braids! My most proud moment as a company would be a television opportunity I was scouted out for and even though I didn’t make it all the way it felt great to be recognized in that light. What sets me apart is definitely my affordability and that luxury clients receive being serviced at home.
Mommies Melodies is a non-profit moms organization, providing a safe space for mamas to be more than just mommies. All mommies are welcome: expecting mamas, first time mamas, seasoned mamas, single mamas, married mamas, it’s complicated mamas, working mamas, stay at home mamas, etc. You name it, you’re welcome here. Like music, motherhood is a universal language no matter your background, ethnicity, financial status, etc. we can all relate to the fact that we are mamas and we’re all just trying to figure things out! My most proud moment as a company is recurring – every text I get from a mama who’s taken my advice, or been impacted by something I’ve posted, or expressed how they just really needed one of our outings, it warms my heart. What sets me apart from other moms groups is my woman-focused approach. So yes, we talk about mom stuff, and yes, we do things with the kids, but I like to go to the core and let our hair down and just be without being a mama. Too often, we’re giving to our family from an empty cup because we haven’t paid any attention to ourselves, which is the most important. You can’t give 100% to your family if you’re only operating at 25%. So with Mommies Melodies, I specialize in Women! Doula services will also be added very soon!
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment in my braiding career would be booking like 15 people in an hour off one tweet! One of my client’s, comedian and Boss Lady Delo Brown, tweeted a picture of her hair in summer 2018, and I thought my phone was going to explode from all the notifications. Many of the clients I booked that day are still my clients today! With Mommies Melodies, my proudest moment so far would be becoming a non-profit. It has opened up so many opportunities that align with my ultimate vision for this organization, and I’m excited for what’s next.
Pricing:
- $150 for 3 styles
- $200 for 6 styles
- $400 for 12 styles
- $600 for unlimited (used within 6 months )
Contact Info:
- Website: Mommiesmelodies.org
- Phone: 3134012799
- Email: thayes@mommiesmelodies.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beau_t_zone/, https://www.instagram.com/mommiesmelodies/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/654114398269006/?ref=share
Image Credit:
Q11 Studios
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