Today we’d like to introduce you to Sylvia Blakney
Hi Sylvia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It all started with me as a teenager in Shreveport, Louisiana. I loved doing my own hair. I grew up in a very strict , religious household, so doing my hair was my form of self expression.
Fast forward to 2003 at age 25, I decided to go to cosmetology school on a whim. I immediately fell in love and the rest is history!
A short time later, we moved to Atlanta, GA and in 2011, I decided to take my career a step further and study to become a licensed cosmetology educator as teaching has seemed to always come easily for me. I wanted to teach women the profession of beauty and have it change their lives the way it had changed mine. Now, residing in Nashville, TN, I am teaching esthetics and I love it! Teaching these amazing women everyday and watching them grow in their careers is a gift. Nashville has been amazing so far and I have a lot of amazing projects on the horizon in the upcoming months. I can’t wait to grow here!
In the cosmetology world, teaching, focusing on the health and care of natural hair and taking a holistic approach to skin therapy have been my focus and have given my life so much purpose and I am so grateful that this is my career!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My road HAS NOT been smooth! Man! It’s been a ride actually! (lol)
Both being in business for myself and teaching has come with its challenges.
Being in business has come with its ups and downs and though I am thankful to now have wonderful, faithful clients, there were times when I questioned myself and my abilities. There were times when I wanted to quit and actually did! But I was brought right back to what I love only a few months later. It was like I never left.
As far as teaching, I love it with all my heart. It’s what I was born to do! But there were periods at certain places, where so felt like I couldn’t teach effectively because the school didn’t have supplies or they had the teachers doing excessive work. Excessive to the point that it took away from the job I was hired to do. TEACH.
This was very disheartening and made me feel like “What’s the point”? But yet again, I was brought right back to what I love and I haven’t looked back. This is why it so important to LOVE what you do! I can never promise you won’t face challenges in your career but if you LOVE what you do, it will be a lot easier to stay with it !
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
What do I do?
– I am a cosmetologist of 21 years and a cosmetology educator of 12 years. I am currently teaching esthetics.
– I own two companies. The Lady of Styl and SisuuLuxe Skin and Body Care.
– I create all natural hair and body care products. My haircare line is The Sylk Line. The body and skincare line is SisuuLuxe Body Care.
What do I specialize in?
I specialize in the health and growth of natural hair as well as effective holistic body care.
What am I known for?
I’d like to think I’m known for producing and mainly healthy hair, creating effective hair and body products and being a nurturing, supportive and compassionate teacher.
What am I most proud of?
I honestly feel I have a lot more work to do and goals to reach before I can rightfully say I’m most proud of anything.
What sets me apart from others?
I am a card-carrying empath. I care very deeply about the people I serve. I FEEL them. For me, this is not just a business or just a career. This is my PURPOSE AND PASSION. Nurturing women and building their confidence is what I was born to do.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was rebellious and stayed in trouble. I was a good kid but having grown up in an extremely strict religious environment, I learned early that I would never be a conformist.
To paint the picture, in my environment, we went to church at least 4 times a week. The women and girls could not wear pants. I couldn’t participate in any extracurricular activities, no school dances, no makeup, could barely wear jewelry. The women were controlled by men. When all the girls at school had cute hair styles and nails, I couldn’t. I had to sneak to do the most normal things, like wear CLEAR nail polish! lol
I learned real quick that this lifestyle wasn’t going to work for me and I acted out a lot because of it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Theladyofstyl.square.site
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/theladyofstyl
