Whether a stylist is passionate about hair care or providing protective style services to supplement her income, starting a braid business has become a popular side hustle for women everywhere. Although there is an ongoing discourse on social media about how some stylists treat their clientele with compassion, Nekaybaw Brooks is more concerned with raising the next generation of stylists to be better than their predecessors.
Brooks is the girl boss behind BraidsByKayba, a business that helps her curate safe spaces where women and teens can learn how to do protective styles and start their own braid businesses. The former middle school teacher took her educational skills and started BraidsbyKayba in 2020 to inspire stylists and build community through braiding. Since its inception, Brooks has hosted many braiding camps for kids, teens, and adults, teaching them how to install cornrows, knotless braids, soft locs, and stitch braids and how to start their own businesses.
The idea for starting a curriculum around braiding began when one of Brooks’ long time clients suggested she teach a class on showing women how to cornrow. After talking herself out of it, Brooks decided to talk herself into organizing a small four-person class, and despite only one woman showing up, the experience made her want to continue down a similar path. Brooks held her first teen braid camp, this time with four students, in October 2022, and then suddenly, everything began falling into place.
Braiding became a part of Brooks’ life long before BraidsByKeyba became a reality. Brooks was taught how to braid by her mother and continued to practice on her dolls at a young age but back then, she never imagined that decades later, she would be passing on her knowledge to other girls.
“I was my grandma’s beautician for so long, but I never took it as anything [serious], she would just get regular braids or cornrows,” Brooks tells GU. “My grandmother actually passed away in 2020 before any of this, so I really feel like this whole journey is our special connection because she was my first client ever and I didn’t even realize braiding would be such a big part of my life today.”
However, when Brooks’ braiding page went viral for the first time in July of 2023, it seemingly solidified her spot among some of the top social media-savvy stylists. It transformed her business by way of visibility. “I feel so amazing,” Brooks says. “I just feel so happy about how everything has transformed over the last year and how more people have learned about braid camp, all of my other classes and also just the impact I’ve been able to have on both kids and adults.”
As a Black woman, hair care and styling is important regardless of texture. The immediate confidence felt after getting a fresh protective style is unmatched, but the empowering feeling Black women have after learning to install their own protective style is everlasting. Learning how to braid is a rite of passage not every Black woman is privileged to experience. However, Brooks wants Black women who don’t know how to braid to know that it’s never too late to learn. “Having this class is like a secret entryway,” Brooks says.
During braid class, Brooks doesn’t just crack the door to the secret entryway; she also informs her students about starting their own braiding businesses. According to Brooks, here are the key tips to starting your braiding side hustle.
Figure Out Your Why
Brooks believes finding your why is important to motivate yourself in the beauty industry. Before starting, decide if you want to be a full-time job or a side hustle to supplement your income.
Invest In Taking A Braiding Class
Like any other skill, anyone looking to make a professional business out of braiding needs to invest in a class to upgrade their skills. Virtually learning skills through YouTube and TikTok is an affordable alternative.
Decide Your Specialty
Brooks always emphasizes the importance of finding a specialty during class to help students understand that the beauty industry isn’t as saturated as it seems. “ It’s also not just about seeing each other as competition. You all have your own space,” Brooks says.
Market Your Styles
Marketing is arguably the fun part, but it can be tedious. It’s important to think about how to create a strong social media presence and content that will catch the eye of potential clients.
Practice On Friends & Family
Like many stylists, Brooks found her first clients in her family and friend groups and styled them free of charge. She used the content she made from these appointments to get her first few paid clients and continued this marketing strategy.
Create A Booking Site
Make sure you have a user-friendly booking site with clear prices and include the basics of the appointment, such as braiding hair, to entice people to book.
Consider The Client’s Experience
Put yourself in the client’s shoes, think about how you want clients to interact with you, and give them the same respect. Being understanding, friendly, and polite will help maintain clients at a minimal level.
Of course, other aspects of running a business, such as starting an LLC, come with time, but at its core, the braiding experience is for every woman who chooses it. “I think that if I’m someone who has transitioned my career from being a full-time teacher into being a business owner, I would say just go for it,” Brooks says. “ If I can do it, then you can too, and if it’s for you, it will happen.”