Taliah Waajid, the founder of the World Natural Hair Health and Beauty conference, speaks with us today about her self-care that turned into a lifestyle. Hers were some of the first hair care products created specifically to care for natural hair carried in the big box retailers. This year’s event is on April 22nd-23rd at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park. Waajid shares that the event is family-friendly for women and men of all ages. In addition to her haircare products, Waajid has created an opportunity for hundreds in her community to make her success their success. This wasn’t by accident. She deliberately set out to create opportunities for millions. She speaks about being “one of the millions of Diamonds” in the rough and believes anyone can be successful if they have confidence, direction, knowledge, tools, and opportunity.
I asked Waajid about the launch of her business. She shares that at age 14, she was trying to figure out how to comb and manage her “poufy” hair. After figuring out a process for her hair, she shared the information and began selling her homemade products.
She opened a salon on Godby Road in College Park and began caring for clients with natural hair. All the while, she was still creating products.
At this time, she launched the Natural Hair Show to expand her reach and engage with others in this burgeoning area of Black hair care. The conference includes a Women of Color in Business Summit on April 20th.
Waajid moved her salon to the historic West End, where she extended her product line to the public. She speaks about the challenges of running two businesses with different needs. Taliah Waajid’s products were among the first to be carried in big box retailers. She mentions some challenges this brought and wants to help others navigate the opportunity.
I ask Waajid her thoughts on the change in acceptance of natural hair that has gained speed with the passage of the “Crown Act” in over 18 states. She mentions that natural hair has never been a trend for her. The health and wellness of our hair is beautiful in every aspect.
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