Conversations with Ty’Liah Edwards

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ty’Liah Edwards. 

Hi Ty’Liah, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Hey everyone My name is Ty’Liah and I am thankful and honored to tell my story! In 2018, I gave myself the name Leiani & Co meaning myself (Leiani) and company. I started out by selling lashes, clothing, purses, accessories, and making wigs. In 2020, I developed a love for hair. At the moment I was still in high school, and the pandemic had occurred. Jobs weren’t hiring as much, and we were quarantined the whole city was in a drought! Every resident in Texas were trying to find a source of income some way somehow. I wanted to have a source of income, but I desired to be my own boss. After having my son at 16 in 2018, I started to practice on myself by studying YouTube tutorials. After I was comfortable with the results on myself, I became sure that hairstyling would be the route that I want to take and succeed in. So, I started to promote the styles I learned on myself and taking clients for $25 to expand my portfolio. I thank God for putting me in the position I’m in today and giving me the wisdom to be able to be the entrepreneur I am. I’ve always had the entrepreneur bone in my body. Whether if it was selling nachos, candy, lashes, or clothes. I’ve learned so much in the hair industry and I am ready to keep expanding. I thank my clients constantly for sticking with me for years and trusting the process. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No business will ever be smooth! I’ve had so many obstacles, losses & challenges! The struggle sometimes with a business can be inconsistency. As a young mom it got stressful for me when things were dry in this industry because I live and breath for my kids… As a CEO, you must be consistent with your business no matter what in order to get a good steady outcome in what you do. I’ve had episodes where I felt like my business wasn’t doing well for me, where I was unmotivated to keep going but my clients and family close to me pushed me to still keep going! My kids motivated me to not give up. Social media plays a big part in my business, and I take as if I don’t post to gain an audience, I won’t make any money! As an entrepreneur, you will have your down months where you just have a few bookings which can be stressful vs a fully booked out month. Every chance I get I’m leaving a business card anywhere… on a car, airdropping a digital flyer, or at the table after being serviced. As your own boss you have to get yourself out there, no one can do that but you. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a jack of all trades. I specialize in ponytails, braids, quick weaves, sew-ins. wig installs kids’ styles, and more. I am mostly known for my ponytails and my baby hair slays which brings me so much clientele… In 2021, I took a lash extensions class to open up another source of income and I am still perfecting my craft to officially launch out in 2023. 

When I say Leiani and Co “Co” means company! So that’s including hair, lash extensions, graphic designing, body waxing, selling lash strips, and selling my hot tools. On my downtime I graphic design. As a stylist, we operate by websites for booking because it can get so hectic! Coming out in 2018 I made me a website which was basic because I had to learn how to work the website and its features but after being with the site company for so long, I’ve learned everything about the site. For another quick source of income, I began to make booking websites for entrepreneurs. If they did lashes, hair, waxing, nails ANYTHING that needed a booking site I could do it. Also making flyers, revamping Instagram pages, giving them more a professional look because in the industry today appearance MATTERS! 

I am most proud that I can be balanced with all my company offers. I’ve prayed to God to help me with balance because at a point in my life I hesitated to add more business to my brand because I was unsure of the audience it would bring and scared that it wouldn’t be an easy and balanced flow trying to maintain different businesses at once. What sets me apart from others would be that I’m a full-time mom of 2, a full-time cosmology and esthetician student, and multiple business owners I am blessed to be able to be versatile with all of my clients & their personalities. I’m big on making sure that my clients get the FULL experience when being serviced by me no matter what service it is. Complimentary snacks and drinks are included in your service, also watching shows for a good laugh or even listening to music for a good VIBE while being pampered. I’m down for anything my client is with. I build a relationship with each individual that comes in my chair or service because positive energy plays a big part in business. I run BIG on energy because bad energy can open so unnecessary doors if it isn’t positive. 

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters the most to me would be getting to where I want to be in life and also continuing to make others happy and satisfied in that process. Every month I set goals for myself to achieve and if my goals aren’t accomplished that’s another step that I’ve have to backtrack to achieve. Every day I wake up to better myself than the previous day. I constantly evaluate myself to stay focus in my assignment. I have kids that look up to me and I want to continue to be the example for my kids. I am glad years ago I made this decision to be who I am today I do not regret the choice I’ve made I only want to get better from here. So many doors and opportunities have came my way in this industry and I am blessed to be in this position. 

Pricing:

• Ponytails $155
• Hot combs $75
• Strip lashes $12
• M/L KNOTLESS $250
• Traditional sew in $170

Contact Info:

• Website: Leianiandco.as.me
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leianiandco/