Today we’d like to introduce you to Daphne Venters.
Daphne, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
It all started the day I got my pink slip the day I returned from vacation, April 1999..lol! That was the day I made the decision to enroll in cosmetology school at Houston Community College. I have always loved hair!!! I wanted to go right out of high school but my mom was not too keen on the idea. I was always in somebody’s hair in high school doing hair in the kitchen at home.
After graduation, I went straight into being a booth renter on faith. I never worked for anyone but myself. In 2005, I decided that it was time to open my own salon and that when Studio 1-Eighty Salon was birthed! Located in the heart of Houston’s Galleria area. It was booming! I went from having two chairs to five chairs rented in a short time! From there, I started being asked to style hair for local editorials, fashion shows and hair shows! Unfortunately the building my salon was in was sold and that was a sad day but it didn’t stop me. I opened a private one chair suite under the same name and then began being requested to do hair for celebrities. My big break came when one of my clients asked me to be the lead and only stylist for a The Book of John Gray on OWN Network! YES OPRAH!!!
During that time, my now boyfriend asked me to move to Dallas with him. That was a tough decision but I DID IT! I was traveling back and forth from Dallas to Houston to style my clients and work the show & style my clients. What a journey. The show moved to Greenville SC and that was also part of my travel! It was exciting but exhausting at the same time. My love for natural hair came when I owned the salon. I recognized the toll relaxers were taking on the hair of black women. With all the coloring and extensions it just wasn’t good. I really noticed how as their pH balance was a major effect with relaxers. Workouts, surgeries, medicine & menopause were all key factors in how relaxers were just not good. I slowly but surely convinced all my clients to transition out of relaxers and that’s also how the name Tressgoddess came to life! I became to the Tressgoddess of hair! No my clients were not happy about the move but they understood that change was necessary for me.
The transition in Dallas took a toll on me. It was hard gaining new clientele but thankfully I was given referrals from my celebrity clients to their friends here in Dallas and then I began being a concierge service for all hair care right in the comfort of their homes! While doing that I started working with other on call services doing blowouts to not just moms who couldn’t make the salon but also celebrities who needed service at their hotels! They not only loved their hair but consistently asked me do I have my own products because I was so knowledgeable about the care of ALL hair. December 24, 2018 at my moms kitchen table one of my best friends stopped for a visit. She and her daughter are the creators of Sienna Sauce. She looked at me and said Daphne, you have nothing but time. What are you waiting for? I have always known what worked for hair.
With that on December 26th, I got back to Dallas and started creating, mixing and testing. The right combo came together and on February 14, my birthday, TRESS ROOTS was launched and I have not looked back! I’m still styling hair as a concierge and I also work for and voted the Best Blowdry Bar in Dallas and the amazing Pop up salon giving Blowouts for natural hair where we, not long ago did a segment on Good Morning Texas. It’s all funding for the dream, Tress Roots! Sales were out the roof on launch day and have been consistent. Tress Roots is just looking for the right partner to take it further and I truly believe by the end of the year it will have reached a new level! It’s still a baby but a growing baby and the reviews and consistency have been amazing. I am so thankful!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not been a smooth road. I am the creator, marketing dept, social media, sales rep, bottler, labeler and shipping departments..lol! That is a huge challenge. I have invested in some companies that were SUPPOSE to help and bring the support o need but that became money wasted as they didn’t fulfill the promise! As a small business that you are funding yourself, that can be a blow especially when that month, sales were not what you were anticipating but it don’t stop and won’t stop!
Tress Roots – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am a hairstylist known for my healthy care & time management and actually making the silk press popular before it was actually popular! Time management you say? All of my clients always talk about how quick and proficient I am. They are never waiting, depending on service, in and out within 2 hours with amazing hair. I started it 11yrs ago. I am also the creator of Tress Roots by Tressgoddess an all organic Hair Care System consisting of a Detox Hair Mask to rid of all build on hair scalp. Rosemary & Peppermint Shampoo, Aloe & Avocado Conditioner & Faith of a Mustard Seed Growth Serum where the main ingredient is mustard seed along with other amazing essential & natural oils! All my consumers consistently talk about how amazing it all smells and how manageable their natural hair is at the 1st use. They express that has not been the experience with other natural hair products. I am proud of all that I have done but I am most proud of taking this leap. There are so many products on the shelves and in salons dedicated to natural hair but what sets me apart is that what’s in my product is all-natural and absolutely no dyes, chemicals, sulfates, alcohol or anything harmful. It’s so natural that you can actually put it on your skin but we gone stick to hair..lol!
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is surely personal. Its a goal that you have set and willing to go the gamut to achieve that. Its the fire that won’t die inside you, a dream you have with open eyes.
Pricing:
- Tress Roots Tressure Box/all 4 products /24.95
- Tress Roots Tressure Duo/ shampoo & conditioner/14.95
- Tress Roots Healing Hair Detox Mask/10.95
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tress-roots.myshopify.com
- Email: tressroots180@gmail.com
- Instagram: @tressroots
- Facebook: Tress Roots by Tressgoddess
Suggest a story: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
