This STL Hair Entrepreneur Goes Beyond Business to Tackle a Community Need
Braiding hair for over 20 years, Michelle Byrd’s entrepreneurial journey began out of necessity. She started to braid and style client’s hair to pay for her youngest daughter’s private school tuition.
Even though Michelle never envisioned herself starting her own business and just took on a few clients to supplement her income, she soon realized her services were fulfilling a deeper need within her community.
“I started realizing it was more than just me doing the hair for the purpose of paying the tuition; they needed me, and I needed them, too,” Michelle says. “What came out to be just a way to pay tuition for my daughter turned out to be my heart’s work.”
Today, Michelle puts connection and hair education first at her mobile hair salon Tender Love & Tresses, braiding natural hair and even educating clients on how to properly take care of their hair even after her services.
“A lot of times I’ve experienced elderly people who just don’t know what to do or how to care for their skin in their hair,” Michelle says. “So that’s one of the things that I lean into. I’m very intentional about what we do to make sure that we are maintaining healthy hair.”
Her heart’s work
Tender Love & Tresses primarily serves elderly and disabled clients, with Michelle traveling to their homes equipped with everything needed for a comfortable full salon experience.
“I have a traveling shampoo bowl, a hair dryer, towels, supplies — everything,” she says. “My clients deserve to feel like they’re getting a professional service, even in their own homes.”
Michelle’s journey has been influenced by her background in music and early childhood education, particularly her experience working with children with special needs and disabled adults, adding music therapy to her sessions and ensuring those clients learn hair techniques for themselves.
“Those skills translated perfectly into my business,” she says. “I know how to care for clients with autism and other special needs. I do take clients who don’t have any disabilities at all, but that’s the main focus.”
Beyond Housing
In addition to running Tender Love & Tresses, Byrd is deeply involved with Beyond Housing, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing affordable housing and support services. She learned about the nonprofit through her niece.
Beyond Housing has been a significant part of Byrd’s life, offering stability and support as she navigated Tender Love & Tresses and her full-time job as a Programs Manager at the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Through the nonprofit, she was able to find a home close to her work and her daughter’s school.
“Living in the community I serve is important to me,” she says. “It’s a way to show the students I work with that success is possible. The timing was perfect, and it’s been a blessing for my family.”
Despite her busy schedule, Michelle continually seeks opportunities for growth and education. She recently participated in Beyond Housing’s Biz Smart START Program in 2023, a 12-week program with coaching and mentorship to advance early-stage businesses.
Since her business was already established with an LLC, she credits the program with reigniting her entrepreneurial spirit and finding new ways to engage her clientele and connect with other cohort members for potential collaboration.
“I think more people should have a community mindset,” Michelle says. “Partnerships make a difference. I remember the first day of class when people explained what they did and I was writing stuff down about who could use this service or I knew somebody who might need it later.”
Tackling hair care misconceptions
Treating clients suffering hair loss due to diseases such as cancer or COVID or from improper styling, Michelle focuses on styling their hair in protective and natural hair styles they can easily manage after they leave her chair.
She often finds herself debunking hair care misconceptions with her clients about Black hair, such as solely using oils to moisturize as opposed to water-based products or getting chemical relaxers to achieve hair growth, as both can lead to unhealthy, damaged hair.
“I’m constantly educating them about proper hair care,” Michelle says. “It’s about really being disciplined with your hair, it’s like a plant. You do certain things like fertilizing and watering it, and you’ll see the same thing is true for your hair.”
Byrd aims to expand Tender Love & Tresses and continue her education in hair care. She is currently focused on researching natural hair care schools in St. Louis, like SweetHead Naturals.
“My goal is to better serve my clients and eventually transition into full-time entrepreneurship,” she says.
Knowing that traditional salons often don’t focus on getting to know their clients, she says she wants the relationships she forms at Tender Love & Tresses to always be at the forefront of her work.
“I can’t tell you how many times I’m talking my clients through something and encouraging them by just letting them know somebody loves you and somebody cares,” she says.
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