Today we’d like to introduce you to Nelly Span.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Nelly. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Running my business is a dream that I carried all of my life and finally became a reality. At eight years old, I was gifted my first mannequin head. At 12 yrs old, I learned how to braid hair. When I was 16 yrs old, I was accepted into cosmetology school and successfully graduated with my license before finishing high school. In 2005, I graduated from Ball State University with a B.S. degree in Entrepreneurship, with a sound business plan written to open my salon in Dallas, TX.
Fast forward to 2015, after giving birth to my son and briefly exploring a corporate career path, I moved to Irving, TX with a plan to turn my dream into a reality. I marketed myself on social media for braids and traveled to people to begin to build my brand and clientele. two months later, I opened my mini salon suite. In Feb. 2016, I quit my salary job and stepped out on faith to do hair full-time. To date, I’ve physically expanded my salon to allow two braiders who I’ve hired to rent chairs from me. I’m currently looking to hire a third braider. I’ve also won several hair shows, taught and became active in the Texas International Hair Show. I’ve secured multiple celebrity clients who are now repeated clients, along with a high (and still growing) social media following. The list of accomplishments can go on and on.
I will say, persistence was required to get to where I am today. I’ve been told “No” numerous times, many emails, DMs, and calls and have gone unanswered. But I kept going. I kept going because I refused to take no for answer. And when someone finally said “yes”, I took that opportunity and ran with it. I couldn’t be happier.
Has it been a smooth road?
I believe social media has a way of making people believe that Entrepreneurship is easy when it’s the furthest from easy. I gave up a guaranteed salary job and 40 hours/week to work 80+ hours/week and not sure how much or if I was going to make any money each week. While I was still working my corporate job, I would get off work, get my son from school and pack a bag so that he could come with me while I did hair until 1, 2, sometimes 3a. I would get us home and I would sleep until 6:30a, just to do it all over again. Weekends would consist of nothing but hair appts. I endured a lot of criticism from family and friends, but I knew I that I had to do it so that I could finally quit my day job and have clients for my new career path. This went on for several months.
I was also wanting to gain my first celebrity client. For a year, I attempted to contact managers and celebrities and use every social media trick that I could think of to get someone’s attention. No one gave me a chance. Then, I reached out to DJ Hollywood Zay of 97.9 The Beat and he responded and gave me a chance. He made me his official hair braider the first time we met and he said that he would help me. A few weeks later, rapper Mike Jones was sitting in my chair and he too made me his official hair braider. It was then a ripple effect, in which more celebrities have been serviced by me since then. It took persistence for a year before it finally happened.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Braids by Ms. Nelly story. Tell us more about the business.
Although I’m a licensed cosmetologist, I’ve decided to specialize solely in braids. My brand now has strong credibility in quality and professionalism. Clients fly in from all over the world to take classes and be serviced by me and my team of elite braiders. The experience is something that all of my clients greatly appreciate and continue to book our services. This is how we separate ourselves from others. I instill in my staff that 50% of the reason that a client gives you business has nothing to do with talent. The experience is just as important as the service rendered.
There are so many proud moments and accomplishments, but I would have to say that my most recent salon expansion is my proudest moment. I knocked out a wall in August 2018 to allow for more space. With business continuing to flourish, I realized I needed more space. So the manager of the salon suite plaza allowed me to knock out another wall, becoming the largest salon in the entire plaza. I’ve dreamed of running a salon since I was a small girl. So to see it become a reality is just amazing to me.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
My mother always said, “Someone will always need their hair done.” I imagine that new trends will come around, but the industry will never die. My team and I will continue to stay involved with events in our industry and stay tuned to new trends and changes. I think the worst thing that anyone in business can do is not be open to change because change will always be a part of continuity and growth.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3909 West Aiport Freeway Ste. 109
Highland Salons
Irving, TX 75062 - Phone: 2144150887
- Email: braidsbymsnelly@gmail.com
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