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

Hi Jalecca, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
In early childhood I was fascinated with barbies and doll heads and would comb their hair. That in result turned into me doing my friends and family hair throughout middle and high school in braids and different natural hair styles.

In 2009 my senior year in high school I attended Kansas City, Kansas Community College Technical School for Cosmetology. After graduation I went on to take the state board test to become a Licensed Cosmetologist. After doing so I worked at Great Clips and Super Cuts to expand my knowledge of hair and the different textures. At that time I was working in the banking industry full time but was making little money and constantly depressed because I didn’t like the work I was doing. One day I decided that I would rather spend my life pursing my passions and living life on my terms. I quit my job in 2017 and put everything I had into pursing my business.

I eventually went on to become a full time booth rental stylist at Royalty Room in Lee’s Summit, MO and honed in on my passion for natural hair while being able to maintain the health of my clients hair came my passion for braiding/ protective styling. It allowed me to provide my clients with stylish looks but without damaging their natural curl pattern.

In 2017 I established my brand BraidsbyLecca and primarily focused on various braiding techniques. In 2020 after gaining knowledge and perfecting my craft in stitch braids I choose to specialize in only stitch braids. In 2021 I moved from Kansas City to Atlanta. I now hold a cosmetology license in 3 states Kansas, Missouri, Georgia and operate out of a salon suite in Georgia.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business has stemmed from my desire to provide the very best quality of braids to my clients. I pride myself on providing my clients with an experience from seamless booking, to great customer service, prompt & timely with my services, to the health and integrity of their hair and product knowledge, and finishing with quality styles that last.

I am most proud of my resilience because at time it’s not easy to run my own business there are definitely peaks and valleys and I’m most grateful to God for my supportive family and friends. Many times I’ve wanted to give up but I owe it to my future self to see it through till the end and I haven’t even scratched the surface yet.

Through every challenge I’ve had and overcome it’s always continued to show me why I started this in the first place and that I am built for this regardless how hard it gets my passion continues to stay at the forefront and it is my main driving factor my desire to live a life I created, to be an inspiration to others braiders up and coming, and to provide my clients with the best of the best.

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 enjoy eating at Spice House they have the best jerk chicken eggs rolls, I like to go to Politan Row Colony Square, Copelands or Barcelona. For fun I like Puttshack, and attending events by Atlanta Wine Festivals, or going bowling and to the movies.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to Shoutout my grandmother because she believed in my passion an goals and in 2017 and she let me move into her home in order to start my business so that I could cut down on my living expenses. As well as my friends Sidneigh Kimble & Shannon McCool who booth have been with me from the start of my business and have always had a space for me in their salons when I needed. And lastly I want to thank my friend Perry Meeks he has played a huge role in me being in Atlanta his salon was the very first salon I came to when I came here and I’m grateful for his support throughout my transition here to Atlanta.

Website: https://braidsbylecca.glossgenius.com

Instagram: braidsbylecca

Facebook: braidsbylecca

Youtube: braidsbylecca

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