Today we’d like to introduce you to Talya Cooper
Hi Talya, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I was in college, I was a Radiation Therapy major. About three years in, I realized I wasn’t pursuing what would truly make me happy. I was simply chasing what I thought I should do to be successful. During that time, I had a YouTube channel where I shared hair and makeup content. It was a passion and creative outlet for me, though I never imagined it could become a career.
Thankfully, my mom recognized my love for the beauty industry and suggested I consider cosmetology school. That conversation changed everything. I decided to leave college, and a few months later, I was enrolled in cosmetology school.
From the start, I knew I wanted to specialize in curly hair. Growing up, I never had a stylist who understood or celebrated my curls, and like many people, I struggled to love them. Now, my mission is to show people that curls are beautiful in all their forms.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The past three years in the industry haven’t been without challenges, but most of them have been mental. Nothing is handed to you in the beauty industry . Success requires constant hustle and the confidence to put yourself out there, especially in the beginning. I’ve leaned heavily on social media to build my clientele, which has been a game changer. But with that visibility comes negative comments and opinions that can sometimes make you question your abilities. Learning to push past those doubts and stay focused has definitely been essential to my growth.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I like to consider myself a Texture/Curl Focused Stylist. I specialize in all curl types for haircuts or color services. I recently opened my own salon suite in Southlake. I’m striving to create a comfortable, welcoming environment for my clients.
I think I’m most proud of how much my business has grown in such a short amount of time, I’m consistently booked out for 3 months at a time and that’s all I’ve ever wanted from the beginning of my career.
I was also nominated top 100 in the natural texture category in one of the biggest hair show competitions in the world, so I am definitely proud of that.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I am always open to collaborations, I have my email on my instagram page where people can reach out! I’d love to host classes or events for the natural hair community.
My instagram is @talyajadehair and my TikTok is @talyajade.
I also recently started a podcast with a good friend of mine Cass who is also a Curl Focused Stylists, the podcast is called Curl Talk Unfiltered and we share our experiences behind the chair, the current trends and talk of the industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://talyajadehair.glossgenius.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talyajadehair?igsh=MTVqaHkweTN0a3N2NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@curltalkunfilteredpodcast?si=9smHpTl8mp2oSYMD
