Hidden Gems: Meet Sara Baskerville of TaylorMADE

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Baskerville

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My interest in the hair industry started a little later in life, around the age of 14. I’ve always been a creative. Drawing, acting, painting, singing, and writing, to name a few. Hair and makeup were involved in everything I touched. By my senior year in high school(2012), hair and makeup had become a form of income. Since academics were my main focus, I never considered the beauty industry as a career path. While in college, I quickly became overwhelmed with clientele. I made the decision to pivot careers. I had little support. My family had never known anyone to become successful in the beauty /barber industry. Things like job security and retirement were definitely in question but, I was determined. I wouldn’t attend beauty school until a few years later in 2017 after the birth of my son. Some may view that as a setback. However, my son helped me meet the criteria of an independent student. I could now enroll in beauty school! I completed my hours at Lisa Akbari’s World Trichology Institute and went on to be licensed by the state. After I received my license, my son and I moved to Denver, CO. We lived there for about two years before I met my husband and returned to Tennessee. We moved back February 29,2020. We were so excited to return to the South and reunite with family and old friends. Two weeks later, the world was quarantined, and my career was deemed “non-essential”. The State was handing out $1000 fines for even thinking about a comb. Forcing me back into the workforce before my savings were completely depleted. Once we returned to some sense of normalcy, around June, I began working in a local barbershop. While working at the barbershop, I realized that I was leaving money on the table. I would send my clients across the floor to “finish” the look. That sparked my interest to dive deeper into male grooming. I picked up those clippers and fell in love again. I soon after enrolled in barber school. I was able to apply my newfound skill to my growing business and my clients responded! The community responded! Social media allowed me to connect with my new community and “word-of-mouth’ did the rest. My business was growing! This growth allowed me to move into my own studio within a year! I named the business in honor of my late cousin Taylor Woodson. Who was tragically killed in a murder/suicide in 2010. Fast forward to 2025, God has blessed my business to see 5 years! I recently moved into an even larger space and have expanded into makeup! This year I’m looking forward to traveling to more shows, competing, and teaching.

I went to college to become a midwife. I wanted to teach black women about their bodies and the magic they possess inside and outside of medicine. I thought that I’d lost that opportunity due to my career shift but, that was not the case. I get to advocate to and for all women from my chair. What I’d thought I’d lost came back tenfold.

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?
It has not always been an easy road building this business. The most challenging part of it all would have to be finding balance. Balance with accepting that you are indeed the marketing team, human resources, accounting, influencer, therapist, interior decorator, and the weekly janitor. You will quickly burnout. I remembered my mentor telling me, “You have to ‘run’ your business. You can’t allow it to ‘run’ you.”. Once I found that balance, I found joy in my business again.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about TaylorMADE?
I am a Barber/Natural Hair Specialist that specializes in all things natural hair. I am currently mostly known for my cuts and loc services. I also offer loc repair and loc extensions. What sets my business apart is that you are able to tailor your services to your needs. I pride myself in being a “one-stop-shop”. From hair and makeup to braids and fades.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My advice would be to find someone skilled and trustworthy in the business and learn. Because I had someone pour into me, I bypassed years of mistakes. I would also find a financial literacy class. We touch a lot of cash. You don’t want to look up and you have no retirement or savings plan.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylormadeslays?igsh=MXkwbGRzYTY2aWl5dQ%3D%3D&utm_source=gr