Meet Alichia Anderson | Hair braider (Hairstylist)

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alichia Anderson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alichia, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Since starting my business in the past year , I have had to learn the importance of taking risks. I have learned that you have to be able to take constructive criticism at any moment. I have also learned that you have to come out your comfort zone to learn new things. I started my braiding business about a year ago scared and nervous of what people would say. Launching my business in the midst of all the other professionals was very motivating to me , because I knew one day that could be me. Instead of backing down , being scared of what others would think and comparing myself to Hairstylist with years of experience, I changed my attitude into a willingness to learn from those that were better than me. We all have to start from somewhere and be willing to grow. There is always a chance of failure, but these fails can help you become better at what you wanna do with your life. When I first started braiding hair I realize certain things did not work and I pushed myself to do better and to learn new things to better my craft. As the great Maya Angelou once said “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” How will you know what is your best if you give up in the beginning? Taking risks can be very scary, but they can lead to amazing things. This past year I have dropped out of college to pursue my dreams of being a professional hair braider. Although I was scared that I would not succeed, I knew that this was a journey I was ready to embark on. This was my career that I wanted out of my life. I took braiding classes and tried new methods to help me become better. I took risks and stopped being comfortable with life so that I could pursue my career. In life you have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Leaving school was a giant step of faith for me but I knew this was a risk that I was willing to take to be able to pursue my career.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a hairstylist/Braider located in Riverdale, Ga and I specialize in all different sizes and lengths of box braids. My goal is to make my clients feel more beautiful than they did when they first walked in. I want to connect with my clients on different levels and make sure their beauty radiates through them on a different level. I think it is important to not only be professional with my clients, but also be a friend to them. Being in Georgia , many females are used to wearing wigs so when they hear about braids they are not so easy to get on board. I try to sway them with telling them how much better of a protective style it is and how much long it can last than any other hairstyle. Recently, I have been trying different designs on their hair to give it more beauty and more creative styles.I want to venture out and try new things so I can expand my knowledge on braids even more. I love to try new things and these kinds of styles allow my creative side to really come out. It has been about a year since starting my business, and it has had its up’s and downs. I compare myself to others which made the road challenging, however I have been able to develop my own style and voice through my work by learning to not compare myself. I think this is especially important in the hair industry as you must find ways to make yourself unique and different from everyone else. I have established my voice and my own personal style through my work, which I am very proud of. One of my biggest passions in life is making others feel happy and special, and I am so blessed that I am able to do that through my craft. Take risks and follow your heart, because at the end of the day you will always sway in the direction of your passions.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take my best friend first to Topgolf, probably more than once, and we would go eat at Olive Garden and La Parilla. For a night out on the town I would take her out to Downtown Atlanta.The vibe of DownTown at night is great and is such a fun place to visit if you are out of town. If it is not too hot out, then going to Six Flags would be something fun to do during the day. This amusement park is such a thrilling and exciting experience for anybody that’s from out of town. The Georgia Aquarium is also great to do during the day. There are so many different exhibits that show the wonderful ocean world in so many different ways and a perfect spot to take pictures. Lastly,we would have to go to Tinseltown.This movie theater has reclining chairs and amazing surround sound. The surrounding neighborhood is filled with cute little shops and amazing restaurants surrounding.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would not be where I am without my mom, Sandra Reid, who is the owner of Sandy’s Styles N Smiles. She is the person that pushed me to start my braiding business because she believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. She supports me in all aspects of life, even outside of business. Not only is she a talented hairstylist and great businesswoman, but she is also a strong, supportive, and caring mom who I look up to very much. Without her I would not be where I am at today. With that being said, I would like to thank her for everything she has done for me and I love her with all my heart.

Website: styleseat.com/braidandbeauty/

Instagram: braidandbeautyy

Facebook: Alichia Anderson