Today we’d like to introduce you to Anisha Sapho
Hi Anisha, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
As COVID began to spread things began to change for many of us. In the earliest of days, 2019 to be exact I was working in the Robbinsdale School District as a Special Needs Educational Assistant at the elementary school that my three youngest children attended. I had already been working in education for about 10 years holding roles such as youth support specialist, paraprofessional, educational assistant, youth worker, and such. Because I had not obtained a degree I was held to a different set requirements per my contract at the time. This required me to report to work as an essential worker regardless of the restrictions placed on other roles in the education field. To make a long story short I was required to be in office supporting daily operations.
When it as all said and done only children of essential workers within certain fields had the grace of sending there children to school when it was finally decided that everyone was to be quarantined. Because I am a single mother, my children were left to learn at home alone. Worried about their education I tried to figure out ways to entertain income that would not interfere with raising my children. I was unsuccessful because most opportunities were on hold because of the shut down.
A friend of mine called me up one day and asked, “Do you know how to retwist locs?”
I said, “No. I barely know how to braid.”
They said, “Go on YouTube and watch a video. I’m on my way.”
I wasn’t to worried about the challenge because I am a good visual learner. I watched a few videos and discovered a few techniques. After my first training session I was not feeling confident, but I was ready to give it the best try I could. Turns out I could twist locs and my friend was going to let me stop there. During his retwist we talked about so many opportunities that could open up. They were already an entrepreneur. They were successfully running a music production company, barbershop, boutique, and lounge. They suggested that we find me a salon chair and make room for me at their headquarters, Swagg House.
I hesitated to the chance as I too was not new to starting and running a business, but doing hair was not in my rolodex of experience. It was something I wanted to pursue in the past. I didn’t follow through because I was unable to attend school for it. I thought to attend school for it now wouldn’t make sense at all either. I was only looking for a temporary fix to situation.
My friend brought me a used salon chair and told me to “TAKE OFF!”.
I started to do some research and discovered that the Crown Act was passed helping to recognize that some things just come natural to us and does not require dedicated study. This was the information that brought me the peace I need to pursue my journey of becoming a Loctician. Royalty Locs was born in July 2019. I advertised my services and began to take clients in the basement of my home. I have since then been hosted at several other spaces such as Foreign Lengths (Mpls) and Art of Barbering (Dwntwn Mpls).
I started to take the craft more and more serious as I learned and perfected techniques not so easy to learn from watching a video. So many times I wanted to quit, but my clients begged me to continue. So now here we are today I am celebrating the second month of me servicing clients in my own suite far from the basement where it all began four years ago.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nothing about this journey has been smooth. I had no idea what I was doing from the start. The most I knew was how to start and maintain a business.
I was seeking clients through various social media apps often only attracting a lot of men whom I know and suspect were only trying to land a date with me, so I wasn’t retaining a lot of clientele. Many were coming from out of town; passing through for work, celebrations, concerts, and family visits.
I wasn’t understanding the mechanics of work. Why this product? Why this technique? The requests of my clients were becoming more challenging. I never wanted to say that I didn’t know how to do something, so I learned to apologize later if I had trouble figuring it out. I remember the first loc reattachment request I ever had, LOL. All my efforts of research at the time only led me to videos of folks completing the work using a needle and thread. I tried and it looked horrible but the job was done. To my surprise it was satisfactory for the client as well. Because I am a perfectionist I could not just let that be the end of it because they were happy. I taught myself how to use the internet to generate better information and learned other techniques. Eventually we were able to secure his locs back in permanently using a method that only LOC GODS at the time supposedly knew how to do.
I was not ever sure how much I should charge. I thought the world was charging absolutely too much for loc services. For the first year and a half I was basically doing services for so low you would pick me just to save a dollar. the loctician in me now would have shamed the loctician I was then for charging anything because not every client left with the best style. They did leave with the best hair care though.
And when the restrictions were lifted from the city and we had to return to work I had to learn to manage my job and my business, and my children often finding myself exhausted.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Loctician, I specialize in servicing locs. I also provide limited natural hair care services and sell natural hair care products made by me. I also plan to expand my product line in the future.
I am known for being a caring and kind hearted loctician. I strive to go above and beyond for my clients, who I refer to as Craeniacs.
I am most proud of how my abilities have evolved over time to support my craft and the daily operations of business.
what sets me apart is my ability to provide loc services using simple natural products excluding gels, palm aides, or waxes.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Our city is a mecca for curl patterns of all kinds. I literally have access to thousands of different canvasses everyday. The thing that I least like is that during the cold weather months many do not take good care of their natural hair.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.craelocs.wordpress.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craelocs/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crae.locs
