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

Hi Lakia, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
One of my favorite Quotes is by English actor, Tom Hardy. It reads, “I was raised to treat the janitor with the same respect as the CEO”. This resonates with me so much, at one point in my industry I was the Janitor. I started in both industries hair and music as an asset to other companies, I was treated like I didn’t know anything, and through the treatment I bypassed the footstools of these companies and became the CEO of my own businesses. You should never treat someone that’s in a lower position differently, everyone has the potential to become better with the right leadership. I also have a favorite Affirmation, “I am in control of my emotions”. As a business owner and performer I encounter many perspectives which are not always the same as mine. A leader creates solutions, and you can’t successfully l lead when operating in emotions. You must be in control yourself.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What sets me apart as a Stylist are my unique hair designs. I style my clients based on their personality, and I listen to their wants. I really love color! I create out of box styles with unique color blends. I specialize in growth and coverage designing styles that compliment my clients with alopecia. What sets me apart in music is that its relatable. I create music from a ” real life” perspective. The genre I sing the most is soul music. Soul music is softer and more heartfelt, it speaks about emotions like love, pain, hope, and everyday living. I also enjoy rapping. Out of all of my gifts, music is where I feel the most free. I am most excited about my Cornrows Twist And Locs hair care products and my nonprofit Cornrows Twist And Locs Academy. My hair care products use organic herbal ingredients that combat hair loss and thinning, all while maintaining strong healthy hair strands. More information is available at www.CornrowsTwistAndLocs.com . Cornrows Twist And Locs Academy is a mentorship program for youth ages 11 – 18 that teaches natural hair care and protective styles techniques like, braid extensions, cornrows, starter locs and loc maintenance, twist, and more. My entrepreneurial journey became easier when I applied the knowledge I have gained over the years through trial and error. I’ve learned you are as big as you want to be, meaning it’s up to you to do the work to be successful. If fear arises, you still must push through, find the necessary resources to help you! I want the world to know how important it is to surround yourself with supporters of your vision. Don’t let people deter you from your ideas. I am seeking life changing knowledge on how to remain successful in business and in my personal life. I am motivated now more than ever while looking forward to a bright future.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend came to visit, we would catch a flight to Atlanta. I would take her to the Bonfire ATL . That’s my favorite spot! I love the energy and all the great performances. I’ve been blessed to perform there many times. They have great vendors and comedy. It’s a beautiful networking experience. We would also visit Milk and Honey restaurant. I love their lobster and biscuit, and cocktail drinks. We would definitely go to a spot called Music Mondays where they have live music, with many phenomenal singers! Finally, we would come back to Detroit and vibe at my salon, and eat at my favorite restaurant called Harbor House in downtown Detroit.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to shoutout a poet from Gary, Indiana / Chicago named Kay Joe, He gave me my first out of town gig as a artist, every since that moment I have been able to perform in Chicago many times, I will also like to shoutout Kelly Jackson, CEO of Be Diff, she gave me an opportunity to work at her salon, which was the blueprint and inspiration of me creating my own business and hair products. My clients and fans who support me everyday, Thank you!

Website: WWW.CornrowsTwistAndLocs.com

Instagram: @LakiaNicole__Sexysoulfood @CornrowsTwistAndLocs

Twitter: @sexysoulfood

Image Credits
Bran85 Photography

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