Growing up, I was always told to straighten my hair. “Tame it,” they said. “It’ll look better.” I actually didn’t care what others thought, I was such a tomboy. They called my hair the “beast.”

When I was 6 years old, I’ll never forget my brother saying guys can’t wear makeup, and that stayed with me forever. Even when they called my hair the beast I didn’t care and still wore my curls proudly. Despite people trying to make me believe that my natural curls weren’t good enough, professional enough, or even beautiful enough, I am so thankful that I never resorted to self-hate. Something about those comments never sat right with me, and despite the pressure, I wore my curls anyway.

Fast forward to today, and I’m the proud owner of Curl Cave, Charlotte’s first Black-owned salon dedicated to natural curls, coils, and waves. It’s been a journey, one of self-love, resilience, and empowerment but creating this space has been one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done.

I’ve been doing hair since I was 16 years old, but my love for natural hair really began with my own journey. For so long, people tried to make me fit into beauty standards that weren’t made for me. I’d look in the mirror and wonder why I had to work so hard to be considered “acceptable.” 

I fully embraced my natural curls and truly loved myself but I noticed a lot of curly girls, including myself at the time, didn’t know how to manage the curls. My hair wasn’t something to fix or hide, it was a part of who I am, and it deserved to be celebrated. I tested various techniques to bring my curls to live and everyone started telling me my “curls were poppin.” I noticed other women with curly hair were struggling to get their curls to thrive as well and wanted to help. 

When I decided to open Curl Cave in 2021, my vision was simple: create a space where others could feel the love and acceptance I had found for myself. I wanted women to walk in and feel seen, heard, and understood which is something that’s far too rare in the beauty industry for Black women with natural hair.

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But let me tell you, building this space wasn’t easy. I started my business without a support system, no family or close friends to lean on. It was just me, my vision, and a determination to make it work. I even took a break from doing hair back in 2017 and worked the front desk at a salon, learning the ins and outs of running a business. That experience became the foundation for Curl Cave.

What I didn’t expect was that my clients and employees would become my biggest supporters. They became my community, my family. Over the years, I’ve trained my team from the ground up because finding curl specialists is no easy task, we’re rare! But I love teaching, and watching my team grow has been one of my proudest accomplishments.

Curl Cave is more than a salon; it’s a movement. It’s a place where we celebrate natural beauty, empower one another, and break down the harmful stereotypes that have plagued Black hair for far too long. I’ve seen women come in feeling defeated and leave with their heads held high, ready to embrace their authentic selves. That’s what this is all about.

When I hit my first six figures in 2021, I cried, not because of the money, but because it was proof that what I was doing mattered. Every curl I’ve styled, every client I’ve taught to love their hair, and every stylist I’ve mentored has been a part of something bigger than me.

My hope is that Curl Cave continues to inspire others to love themselves unapologetically. Because when you learn to love yourself, your real, authentic self and there’s nothing you can’t do. I’m living proof of that, and so are the women who walk through our doors every day.