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Time is the most valuable asset in the hair braiding business, and it's something veteran stylist Vandy of VLS Hair ATX has mastered through years of perfecting her craft. In this candid conversation, we dive deep into the realities of professional braiding that clients rarely see and stylists often don't discuss.

Vandy shares her journey from doing hair as a side hustle while working as an accountant to opening her own salon and preparing for a second location. Her perspective combines artistic talent with business acumen, offering rare insights into how financial literacy transforms a passion into a sustainable career. Through stories of challenging clients, industry evolution, and professional growth, she reveals the strategy behind her success.

We explore current trend favorites (the barrel boho bob is winning for low-maintenance beauty), unpack common misconceptions about different hair types, and discuss why touching your hair during an appointment is the ultimate stylist pet peeve. Vandy doesn't hold back when addressing client behaviors that disrupt the creative process – comparing it memorably to someone throwing milk on a painting you're working on.

The conversation takes practical turns too, with Vandy dispelling myths about who can wear braids (everyone, but not every style works for every texture), offering advice for clients with traction alopecia, and explaining why deposits matter to serious professionals blocking out significant time for appointments. Her efficiency tips for fellow braiders demonstrate why some can complete a full head in three hours while others take ten for the same style.

Ready to transform your understanding of what happens behind the salon chair? This episode delivers professional wisdom served with honesty, humor, and insights you won't find in beauty school.

Stay Connected with Vandy by following the links below:

@vandyvanity

@vlshairatx

TikTok

Schedule an Appointment

Learn How to Braid

Vandy's Youtube

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Do you have a story to share that’s worth our listeners hearing, please fill out the Listener Letters Form and tell us your story! We would love to hear from you!

Don't forget to follow Kinetra on Instagram @_hairwhatimsaying_ and check out her website Hair What I'm Saying for more.

Please leave a review and rate the show. Let us know how we are doing!

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Support the Hair What I’m Saying Podcast
If this podcast has ever made you feel seen, inspired, or helped you better understand your hair, please consider supporting it. Every single donation; no matter the size, makes a difference and helps me continue creating meaningful conversations and sharing real solutions for your hair journey.

💛 From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of this community.
buymeacoffee.com/hairwhatimsaying

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When Raeshetta Thompson discovered her first sign of hair loss at age 12, she couldn't have known it would become the foundation for her life's purpose. After hiding her alopecia for nearly 30 years while building a successful career as a hairstylist, Raeshetta finally embraced her natural self and discovered a world of women who needed exactly what she could offer.

This conversation takes us through her emotional journey from feeling "cursed" to recognizing her experience as a blessing that allows her to serve others with profound empathy. Rayshetta shares the vulnerable moments that defined her path: hiding under wigs even while sleeping, refusing to let her romantic partner see her without hair, and finally cutting it all off in a moment of spiritual clarity that changed everything. Her story illustrates how self-acceptance becomes a powerful force not just for personal healing, but for creating ripple effects throughout a community.

The Hair Rich Club, Raeshetta's mobile salon, offers more than just quality hair services; it provides dignity, privacy, and understanding for women experiencing hair loss. She explains that having alopecia while working as a hairstylist gave her a unique perspective on beauty that transcends conventional standards. Through her business, she's creating safe spaces where women can feel seen and supported rather than judged or pitied.

Perhaps most fascinating is Raeshetta's holistic approach to hair health. As a certified trichologist, she shares how changing her diet helped regrow hair in places that had been bald for decades. This conversation reminds us that true beauty isn't about perfection but authenticity, and sometimes our greatest challenges become our greatest gifts when we have the courage to embrace them fully.

Stay connected with Raeshetta by following the links below:

Instagram

Hair Rich Club Instagram

Enroll in Raeshetta's Wig Class/Schedule an Appointment

Read Raeshetta's News Article

Support the show

Do you have a story to share that’s worth our listeners hearing, please fill out the Listener Letters Form and tell us your story! We would love to hear from you!

Don't forget to follow Kinetra on Instagram @_hairwhatimsaying_ and check out her website Hair What I'm Saying for more.

Please leave a review and rate the show. Let us know how we are doing!

🎥Create Viral Clips with Opus Clips

Support the Hair What I’m Saying Podcast
If this podcast has ever made you feel seen, inspired, or helped you better understand your hair, please consider supporting it. Every single donation; no matter the size, makes a difference and helps me continue creating meaningful conversations and sharing real solutions for your hair journey.

💛 From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of this community.
buymeacoffee.com/hairwhatimsaying

Send us a text

Angel Henderson turns conventional wisdom about "protective" braided styles upside down in this eye-opening conversation about hair health, scalp care, and the true cost of convenience styling. The natural hair expert begins by challenging our fundamental understanding of protective styles, asking the provocative question: "What are we actually protecting?" Most of us aren't protecting our hair at all; we're protecting our time. This mindset shift sets the stage for a deep exploration of when braids help versus when they harm. Hair loss warning signs get special attention as Angel outlines exactly what to watch for: white bulbs appearing consistently around edges, persistent itching, inflammation, and redness. "When you see consistent white bulbs, especially around your hairline, sometimes that's not coming back," she cautions. Her professional experience reveals how ignoring these signals can lead to permanent conditions like traction alopecia or Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA). The conversation tackles hard truths about our beauty priorities, with Angel noting how willing we are to invest in synthetic hair while neglecting our natural crown. "You spend all that money on weave and braids, but you will not spend money on your hair," she observes. Her passion for client education shines through as she describes turning away business rather than participating in clients' hair damage cycle. Angel shares practical scalp care recommendations, including her favorite treatments, and explains why that six-week mark seems to be the sweet spot for most braided styles before they become counterproductive. For anyone wearing braids or considering them, this conversation offers the science and soul of proper hair care, emphasizing that healthy hair isn't about quick fixes but a committed journey worth taking.

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Stay connected with Angel by following the links below:

Website

Schedule an Appointment with Angel

Instagram

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Instrumentals: @duwhop_2.0

Support the show

Do you have a story to share that’s worth our listeners hearing, please fill out the Listener Letters Form and tell us your story! We would love to hear from you!

Don't forget to follow Kinetra on Instagram @_hairwhatimsaying_ and check out her website Hair What I'm Saying for more.

Please leave a review and rate the show. Let us know how we are doing!

🎥Create Viral Clips with Opus Clips

Support the Hair What I’m Saying Podcast
If this podcast has ever made you feel seen, inspired, or helped you better understand your hair, please consider supporting it. Every single donation; no matter the size, makes a difference and helps me continue creating meaningful conversations and sharing real solutions for your hair journey.

💛 From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of this community.
buymeacoffee.com/hairwhatimsaying