Life and Work with Ti’Lesha Washington

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ti’Lesha Washington.

Ti’Lesha, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Believe it or not I have been braiding hair most of my life. I started out on dolls and barbies and that lead to braiding my classmate’s hair. I was really good at it, but never imagined where it could lead me today. Last year I started working at a dead-end call center and I was miserable every single day. Every trip I had to make to that job and my desk became more and more dejecting. Braiding my friends and coworker’s hair on nights and weekends is what drew me out of the monotony of my job. One day a light switch came on in my head and I decided to take a huge leap of faith and braid hair full-time. I had no start-up funds or savings, all I had were my own two hands, a dream, and a vision. I started working out of my kitchen and I self-promoted on social media every single day. Business picked up so quickly that by June of 2018 I was able to rent my very own salon suite in the heart of downtown Tempe where I currently work. My business and my brand continued to grow and quite recently I became an offical brand ambassador for RastAFri! I have so many more goals to accomplish and even more doors to open. What I would say to anyone who is started a business or dreaming of starting one; “Don’t give up on yourself.” There have been times where I could barely rub two pennies together, but that phrase really kept me going and kept me motivated. The sky is not the limit for me, I’m going for the stars.

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?
Things have definitely not been easy. Sometimes perusing your aspiration can be like swimming against the tide. To say least, braiding hair is still a form of customer service. I have the best clients but sometimes the mark is missed. Sometimes the client does not like how a style looks on them or maybe it doesn’t look exactly as it did in a photo. In those situations, you have to keep a level head and rectify the situation as professionally as possible. It’s also very tough not having any benefactors and being my own investor. There have been times where I wanted or needed new clothes or shoes but I had to remind myself that I’m low on products and marketing materials… shoes and clothes will have to wait. The key to overcoming these obstacles was self-discipline. The best advice I can give to young women starting their journey would be to remain focused, but also celebrate every victory; no matter how small.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m primarily focusing on my bridging career and perfecting my craft. I specialize in box braids and I like to set myself apart from other stylists through my precision, technique, and individual style and overall passion. It shows in my work from the good consistency of the braids, to the defined parting. I’m always exploring new ideas, color combinations, styles and much more. My clients also enjoy the new concepts and ideas that I discover along the way. Another focus of mine is promoting with deals and discounts and finding new ways to help my clients save money. I’m really proud the good reactions I see in the reviews that they provide. Overall, I am my number one fan.

Who have you been inspired by?
I’m inspired by so many women, but the biggest stand out of all would be my mother. She is so many things that I aspire to be. She is a business woman, a hustler, and an overall amazing woman. My mother is kind but is never afraid to speak her mind and demand respect. In business, you have to be kind, but firm so people know your are serious and they will respond accordingly. How to be a business woman is one of the greatest life lessons she has taught me.

Contact Info:

• Address: 115 w 6th st Tempe, AZ 85282
• Website: Www.tileshadoesmyhair.com
• Phone: 4802734855
• Email: tdmhair@icloud.com
• Instagram: Tdmhair@icloud.com
• Facebook: TiLesha Does My Hair

Image Credit:
Dracy Harper @ Reunitng and building

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.