Meet Nakeema Squires | Cosmetologist & Entrepreneur

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

Hi Nakeema, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
If you want to Win Big you have to be willing to take risk/step out on faith. I always knew I would be a hairstylist, but that was not my mothers dream for me. With that being said upon graduating high school I was forced to go to college despite my wishes to go to cosmetology school. I did well, however I wasn’t happy so I got a job at target got my own place and enrolled in hair school.

I paid maid cash payments on top of financial aid and home bills while only working part time. Despite being at the top of my class I was suspended for attendance. I left an hour early every day to go to work. During that time I reached out to a friend to ask if she could speak with her stylist asking if I could shadow at her salon while I was suspended from school for the next two weeks while I was suspended from school. Not knowing that this would become my new full time job! I was offered an apprenticeship and it was up from there.

Unfortunately at the time my boss was much too busy to focus on my apprenticeship, but it was ok her heart was in the right place and I was able to learn a lot from her. I did become her assistant, eventually I was able to quit my Starbucks Job at target and solely live off my income from the salon. Because of her I was able to assist in stage work for hair shows like Bronner Brothers, teaching classes for Design essentials and model for hair tutorials.

Fast forward I started investing in stock because I heard that it was the thing to do to get ahead n save for the future, not knowing that in the near future I would be living off those investments for a year after being in a car accident. At the time I was investing despite the fact that there were a lot of things I wanted that I didn’t have, in fact I didn’t even have a car. What I did have though was two friends whose lives were drastically changed from investing in stock so that’s what I did.

I made small investments for a year in crypto with small return, but the money was still adding up. Once I was on bed rest from the accident I started taking bigger risk on investments because I needed to make money to pay bills while not being able to work. I took losses but I also was able to maintain despite the losses.

Then COVID-19 lock down happened the salon was closed and all schools were forced to go online. I used this as my opportunity to invest in myself and my future, finally finishing cosmetology school . I was able to do so due to my credits from attending school initially, spending most of the program online, and finishing on campus with some accommodations due to my injures and doctors orders. While my body was healing.

While in school I would often disappear to trade crypto bc once again the bills still had to be paid. I was never able to receive unemployment during the lock down so I used money from my savings to Invest more into crypto. Believe me there were days when I lost hundreds of dollars but I was always able to make it back.

I read and did researched wealthy people who inspire me, my favorite reads are by Rick Ross and Percy Miller. I love love P. Miller’s work book, he’s always been an idol of mine because I spent most of my life in Louisiana and he gave me hope for a better future.
During the lock down I also started a small catering and sweets business, _Cloud_9_sweets, because food has always been another one of my passions as well it was a way to make income during the lock down and while attending school. I also made a website, followmytrendz.com to sell my hair growth and eczema/ dry skin oil, Hair Crack a topical use oil that can be used on your scalp, beard, or on any areas that you have a a flare up, along with other trendy items. I’m working on a product line as well as another small business I won’t speak on yet.

What I have taken from my research is in order to obtain success and fulfillment you have to be willing to take chances chances. Also to never give up on yourself everyone’s process is different, if you don’t make it in your 20’s you can in your, 30’s, 40’s, or 50’s and don’t let background noise discourage you. Everyone is not going to understand your vision and that’s ok it’s not for them to understand. The process may be hard, you’ll work jobs u hate, focus on the end game. Accomplishments hit a lot different when u walk In your purpose.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Everything I do is done with an open heart and positive energy. Also I love to be challenged with out of the box ideas.my path was definitely not ideal or easy but I am blessed and the journey is not complete. I graduated from hair school six years after initial date of attendance.it was not my plan but life has its own plans. Dispute my set backs I’ve always been able to pull through telling myself there’s someone who wishes they were in your place I hope to return to school soon to obtain my educators license.

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.
If my best friend were to come to town the first place I would bring her is Breakfast Barney’s for brunch with red velvet cake made by the Velvet Bar. We would def hike up Stone Mountain at sunset one day. The view is amazing and it’s a perfect place to reflect or meditate. The botanical gardens and the aquarium are a must. I would take her to Cafe Bourbon for a taste of home, the line is long but the food is great and worth the wait. I would take her to Phipps Plaza so she can see what it’s like to shop with the wealthy. After a night at buckhead bars I would take her to R. Thomas for late night breakfast. We would go to JeJu to relax and to Luxe Nail bar to be glammed up by KiKi. The belt line is also a must visit as well as the water falls in Roswell mill. Iron Age Korean BBQ in Sandy Springs and Ruth Chris in Buckhead. I love Little Five Points for thrifting, Savage Pizza for shrimp pizza, and people watching. We would spend the weekend in Blue Ridge, visit the vineyards, do a wine tasting, go horse back riding, zip line through the mountains, do a marshmallow roast, visit the petting garden farm and do a horse and carriage ride though the mountains. The perfect end to the weekend would be Bonfire on Sunday.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I definitely have to thank P. Millers book guaranteed success when you never give up and Rick Ross’ book a perfect day to boss up. Three of my best friends La’Deisha Woods, Jonesse Love and Dalton Hilliard Jr (R.IP we didn’t deserve his pure heart) for always supporting and giving me a shoulder to cry on when I felt like my world was falling apart.

Website: FollowMyTrendz.com

Instagram: @_Hair_Crack

Other: TikTok _Hair_Crack