Today we’d like to introduce you to Dela Ameke-Assou.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Dela. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started braiding at a young age. My mother, Aunt, and sister all know how to braid hair so I grew up watching them. In high school, I went to cosmetology school to get certified as a Braider and immediately started braiding at a shop in the mall. When I got married, I relocated from Houston to Dallas, Texas and brought my passion with me! At the time, I had a 9 to 5 and would only braid in the evening and weekends. But, my clientele started growing so I got a small studio to get my business started. And five years later, I started Zion’s braiding school to teach others how to braid hair, we teach men and women how to braid hair! My long term goal is to open other braiding studios in Atlanta, Houston, and Austin.
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?
It has not always been easy! To become the person I am today requires patience, consistency, and dedication. When I first started, it took me forever to get done with a hairstyle. I struggled with box braids particularly for three years, it was always loose at the root. But I was determined to learn all styles and I did! I would always practice and one day, I learned the right way to position my hands and I got it! As soon as I mastered that style, I got promoted to a manager at the shop I was working at the time. Braiding became the least of my worries! I’ve always been a shy person so managing people was a huge challenge for me. It was easier just working! But to whom much is given much more is required so I got over my fear of speaking and I did it! I was a manager over three years before I got married and relocated to Dallas. It was never easy, still, it isn’t but I’ve made up my mind overcome any challenge thrown my way. Now, I run my own business, market, sell and provide great customer service!
Please tell us about Zion’s braids & Boutique .
Zion’s Braids & Boutique Started in June 2014. The name Zion is not my name, it’s named after the hill on which Jerusalem was built. Got it from the Bible! People often think it’s my name, lol. We specialize in feed-in braids, box braids, Senegalese twists, Marley twists, crochet braids and faux/goddess locs. We are a company that cares for our clients! We care for healthy hair! We do our best to satisfy everyone that comes through our door by providing quality services at affordable prices. What sets us apart is our kindness and affordable prices! We want each client’s hair dream to come true not only that we want them to come back and refer others!
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I have so many! But to pick one was when my uncle, my mom and I were going somewhere and we kept getting lost. Instead of asking for directions, he was so sure that he knew where we going and we ended up in another city and told us we have arrived. We drove 3 hours and I couldn’t remember the name of the city but I told him that wasn’t where we were going. We are trilingual and he couldn’t understand English at the time so we kept on trying to tell him he was going the wrong way! After several attempts, we just let him do what he wanted and he finally stops at a gas station and shows the address and the clerk tells him that he was waaayyyy off! You should’ve seen his face!! He dropped the paper and just stood there for a good minute and my mom just said oh my god. It was an awkward silence, then we all just burst out laughing!!! It was hilarious!! I’m laughing just remembering that day! We still get on him about it!! It’s my favorite memory because instead of getting upset everyone started laughing at the same time, not at my uncle but do to the point that we drove to a whole other city and didn’t even realize it. In the end, we got a hotel and made a vacation out of it! Now that I think about it, I guess they didn’t have to work the next day! Lol.
Pricing:
- Feed in braids $50 & up
- Box braids $130& up
- Marley/Havana twists $150 & up
Contact Info:
- Address: 777 s central Expressway suite 6-f Richardson, Texas 75080
- Website: www.zionsbraidsboutique.com
- Phone: 4692838990
- Email: zionsbraidingschool@gmail.com
- Instagram: @zionsbraidsboutique
- Facebook: Zionsbraidsboutique
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.
