Today we’d like to introduce you to Laquanza Lancaster.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Laquanza. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Originally, I had grown a deep passion to become a hairstylist in my middle school years. This is when my journey in the hair industry began. I had grown up going to one charter school my entire life, so I never knew what it was like to be in a public school environment until my sophomore year. My sophomore year of high school, I transferred to Lancaster Highschool to pursue (what I thought was my dream) my career in cosmetology. During that time up until the time it was time for me to graduate, I continued to seek clients and build my career. During my senior year of high school (2016), I was inspired to start my own hair business called “LalaDiorBundles” selling hair extensions alongside actually doing hair. I never thought that I would be drawn more to my hair business than actually wanting to become a hairstylist. I loved how creative I could be with having my own business, as creativity was one of my biggest weaknesses when I was in school to become a cosmetologist. So, I had many times where I was discouraged or didn’t believe in myself enough. I continued forming and growing my hair business up until I graduated from my high school cosmetology program.
By the time I graduated, I was noticing I started to gravitate more to the hair extensions business because it brought something out of me that I felt was my biggest weakness which was creativity. But, after high school, I graduated with my cosmetology license & went on to Navarro College where I studied Business Management. I’ve always had the desire to own my own business from a hair salon to other hair businesses, I had always known that was something I wanted to do as far as owning a business, but I never thought it would be a hair extension business honestly. After high school upon going to college, that’s where I began to go through a life change or what I call a “growth season.” I faced many obstacles after high school trying to go to school, run a business, work, and still accept clients. My first semester of college I was very depressed because I was battling wanting to put my all into my business and grow it, but indeed while I was away in school that it took away time from me allowing me to be able to financially support my business, try to grow my business and etc.
I had just started my hair extensions business before I graduated in 2016, so I had become very discouraged as to what I should do. School or step out on faith and put my all into my business. I had to realize that success comes with many paths, and it isn’t just one path to reach success, meaning that college was not my path, but I attempted to include it in my path… which I found out very quickly that’s not what was ordained for me. So, I ended up doing home to attend Cedar Valley for the 2nd semester where I felt a bit better with being back at home making it easier for me to continue to manage my business and grow it. It ended up still not being the path I felt desired, so I stopped doing to school after the 2nd semester. I was going through many changes of shedding odd my old self and growing into my new self not realizing it at the time and it caused me to go through several phases of life. I felt affected my business in major ways due to being discouraged.
From 2016-2017, I continued to work a night job, work in a salon, and run my business. Up until December of 2017, I had a complete heart change of my career path, I realized that my hair business is really what I felt I was called and pushed to do physically. So, I started to put more of my time and energy into my hair business. I made my hair business an online store but carried some inventory on hand for immediate sale. Which I’m still currently doing. It was hard for me to completely let go of my old reputation because that’s all I contributed most of my time to (doing hair), so I was afraid to let that go during the beginning of 2018. During February of 2018, I had ordered a bulk of hair in hand that sold out within three days, which at that point was a sign to me that I was headed in the right direction and not to be weary, and just trust the process. I had lost many friends and things I never thought I’d lose through this process which all grew me stronger. I have seen a growth in my business during 2018 and was encouraged to go all the way through with it. So, November of 2018, I decided to rebrand myself now that I know this is it… I put my all into it.
From making my own website to researching marketing videos, creating flyers, creating business pages, business emails, registering my business and etc. I didn’t have all of these things in the beginning because I was new, still learning, didn’t have much help, and didn’t think I would go all out on this business AT FIRST. So, I relaunched and rebranded my business along with selling a better quality of hair extensions. So, here I am now in 2019 fully committed to my business, still growing, and still prospering, & sewing success right around the corner!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road hasn’t always been smooth, it’s really been challenging and a learning experience all at the same time. Due to me coming from a rough childhood, I grew up with a family that struggled with drugs… including my mom, which affected her ability to care for me and my older brother properly. I grew up not knowing my father and still do not until this day, which affected me in many ways whether I knew at the time or not. I moved with my grandmother at a very young age and she put me and my brother through school where I had to deal with other kids always questioning me about where my parents are… which really affected me mentally because I didn’t know at such a young age what to tell these kids… I just felt at the time, it was embarrassing and I was ashamed to speak on my situation, so many times, I came home depressed or cried a lot because I never knew what to tell kids… I just avoided speaking on my situation. Also, my mother missed many of my school moments, it felt as if growing up I had no parent support besides my grandmother… who wasn’t always able to make it or do everything. She raised me, my brother, and older cousin… due to our parent’s drug use. So, I would say at one point I lacked guidance, suffered feeling abandoned, neglection, & emotional abuse which grew with me as I grew older (not knowing) which affected me in certain areas of my life.
Please tell us about LalaDiorBundles.
LalaDiorBundles is an online store selling Mink Hair Extensions. I provide hair high demand hair on hand & offer drip shipping on my website. I’m known for doing hair and owning an online hair business… I’m still shedding off my old reputation as a hairstylist though. I’m still licensed and plan on keeping my license up to date because I can always do it when I have free time. I’m proud of my businesses growth in marketing, creativity. Sales and image. What I feel that sets me apart from others is my attitude, passion, me being authentic, my creativity, and my ambition.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Finding out who I am. And exploring myself.
Pricing:
- Mink hair extensions starting at $75/bundles
- Bundle deals starting at just $200
- $10 off all online orders (code:LDB19)
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.LalaDiorBundles.com
- Phone: 2145862180
- Email: laladiorbundles@yahoo.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/LalaDiorBundles
- Facebook: Facebook.com/LalaDiorBundles
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