Life & Work with Lorenzjeana Brandon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lorenzjeana Brandon. 

Hi Lorenzjeana, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Starting from the beginning, I had achieved my first French braid in the 7th grade when I used to braid my bangs. As time went on, in my sophomore year of high school I started braiding my own hair with weave added. Then I went to doing my friends hair or people who saw my hair and wanted their done also. It wasn’t until I was about 20 years old when I was on a journey wanting to find my talent and use it. I remember praying and asking God what’s my talent I wanted to use a natural talent I had. I was still braiding hair here and there, then in 2019 I got into a car accident and totaled my car which made me sit at home unless I was at work. Then one day I did a friend of mine hair and I just started receiving clients from word of mouth and clientele started growing. It was like my prayers were answered, braiding is my talent. I ended up making this a side hustle while still working until I had my first-born daughter in 2020. The whole time I was pregnant I was still working my 9-5 and doing hair. I was exhausted but motivated to the point where I wanted to become an entrepreneur and do hair full time. A week after I had my daughter, I went back to doing hair, most of the time I didn’t have too much help (I’m also very prideful) so I’ll put her in a carrier on me and still braid 1-2 clients a day. ‘Til this day my 18-month-old is still with me and is like family to my clients. I love what I do as a businesswoman and a mother. I also have so much more planned for my future in the hair business. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Honestly, the road has not always been smooth. Some days I’ll overwork myself and not have a day off for like 2 weeks, which interferes with my mental health. I don’t like when my energy is off around clients so it was something I had to learn that it’s okay to take breaks. Being an entrepreneur overall is not smooth you’ll have your good weeks and slow weeks. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a self-taught hair braider. What’s truly sets me apart from others (which I heard a lot so I’m going to say it) is my vibe and how I can naturally make my clients feel comfortable whether it’s their first time or years coming to me. My chair turns into a therapy chair once you sit down. Some clients will like to sit in silence while on their phone or just watch tv and it’s not an awkward silence. I’m honestly proud to be where I’m at in this moment with my growing business and social media platform. It took a lot of self-understanding and work to get here. I want to not only have good reviews for my braiding styles but also my customer service skills cause its part of the business. 

How do you define success?
I define success as setting a goal and reaching it. Whatever goal you’ve set for yourself and accomplish that’s success. 

Pricing:

• My highest price for braids is $180, I did not want to charge an amount I wouldn’t want to pay myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://squareup.com/appointments/book/9632BV88P69GD
• Instagram: Braidsby_Naegoddess
• Facebook: Braids By Nae Goddess (coming soon)