Today we’d like to introduce you to Icis Mims
Hi Icis, 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?
It all started at 1072 N Watkins in Memphis, TN, where my mom worked as a hairstylist at Unisex Styles Shop. She was well-known for her work, and I loved watching her on the rare days she let us stay at the salon, usually when my sisters and I had appointments. My mom didn’t believe in kids just hanging around the salon, so I learned whenever possible. I remember watching her so hard that she pulled me aside one day and told me it was rude to stare at her people. I had to tell her “Ma, I’m not looking at them; I’m watching you do their hair.” That’s how I picked up many of the techniques I still use today.
As a teenager, I began styling and braiding my friends’ hair for a $15 tip. My mom wasn’t thrilled about that little bitty tip, thinking it wasn’t worth the cost of the products I used, but I was just happy to be behind a chair. As I grew older, I tried everything besides hair, but nothing worked out. It seemed like the universe made every other job difficult to keep.
Eventually, I realized that hair was my true passion, so I opened a salon with my mom’s help. While she managed the salon, I went to cosmetology school. However, when I took my licensing test the first time, I failed. I hadn’t studied and was distracted by personal issues, but after taking time to get my life together, I returned to take the test with a clear mind. I prayed before going in, asking God to guide me through. In just 10-15 minutes, I passed the written portion. Soon after, I completed the practical part and walked out a licensed stylist.
While I was getting my personal life together, my business began to struggle. The building owner refused to make necessary repairs, so I decided to close the salon. I didn’t work for two years, just living off my savings and feeling stuck.
One day, I decided to start applying for jobs out of the city, hoping for a fresh start. Nothing came through, but I applied to the USPS in Memphis and got the job. I thought I’d work there for a few months to get back on my feet, but I ended up getting injured on the job and couldn’t continue working.
I thought to myself, it’s time to go back to what I love. So, I went to renew my cosmetology license, but too many years had passed, so I had to retake the test. I did, and I passed. This time, I didn’t just want to be known for extensions; I wanted people to know I could grow and care for hair just as well as I could style it. Soon, I was getting booked like crazy, and it was such a surreal feeling after all those years.
A year into being back in the salon, Matrix invited me to an event in Nashville, even though I wasn’t living there at the time. I didn’t want to let the opportunity pass, so I hopped into my Mini Cooper and drove there. I met so many stylists from the Nashville area and connected with the Matrix team. I thought to myself, “I could live here.” It felt diverse, and I liked the atmosphere.
Two years later, I woke up feeling like I needed a change of scenery. I didn’t know if I needed to open another salon or do something else, but I was tired of starting over in front of the same audience. I called my big sister, and she suggested I move out of town. So, I googled “the wealthiest place in Tennessee,” and Belle Meade popped up, which led me to Nashville. Around Christmas 2023, I started looking for a place to stay and work in Nashville, and by January 13th, I had a job—not in my field but a job nonetheless.
When I came to Nashville for interviews, I searched TikTok for salons. I contacted every salon I found and went to a few interviews, but they all told me the same thing: “We don’t have the clientele for you.” Some even pointed me toward more traditional, old-school salons, but that’s not why I came to Nashville. I came for diversity. I wanted to be put up against any head of hair. I was bummed.
Then, I saw Fruits Hair Lab on TikTok and asked the front desk girl at my hotel about it. She told me, “Oh, it’s pretty hard to get a job there. You should try _____,” not knowing I had already tried, and they had told me no. Still, I sent Fruits my resume, hoping for the best, and they set up an interview with me. Long story short, I got the job. I told them, “Everyone is telling me they don’t have the clientele for me. I know you may not have the clientele for me, but do you want it?” And they said, “Yes! We want the clientele, we want diversity.”
I was so happy and relieved. I could finally stop crying in my car during lunch breaks at the job I’d only had for two weeks. Since then, I’ve been building my clientele, and I even had the chance to work at New York Fashion Week with one of the salon owners, Brian O’Conner, as the key stylist. My life has completely shifted in the direction I wanted, and even though I’m still building my clientele (after all, I’ve only been here since March), it feels incredible to start over in a new city doing what I love.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. There were many bumps along the way, both personally and professionally. When I decided to move to Nashville, it wasn’t easy. Most salons told me they didn’t have the clientele for my skills. I applied to so many places and went to several interviews, only to be turned down. I started to question whether I made the right decision by moving. But finally, I found Fruits Hair Lab, and they were open to diversity and growing the clientele for my skills. That was a huge turning point. Even after I got the job, building a new clientele in a new city is tough, but I’m seeing progress, and it’s been worth the struggles to get to where I am now
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a hairstylist who specializes in natural hair and extensions. I’m most proud of myself because I did what I said I set out to do. What sets me apart is that I was raised by a professional, old-school stylist, so I picked up her habits and mannerisms in the salon.
I’m also a girls’ girl, and everything I do behind the chair is about making women feel good about themselves. I’ve had women tell me I make them feel like they’re talking to their big sister. I call it “girl therapy”
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned along my journey is to trust the timing of my life and embrace every setback as part of the process. There were moments when I wanted to give up, especially after facing challenges like failing my cosmetology test or having to close my first salon. But each of those experiences taught me a lesson and pushed me to work harder for what I love. Patience and persistence have been key, and now I truly appreciate the journey, not just the destination.
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