Today we’d like to introduce you to Daci Hossanah.
Hi Daci, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
So, I started braiding in the 4th grade. My mom was actually also a braider, so from watching her at such a young age and practicing on my dolls and my little sister, I got pretty good at braiding. So good that I started braiding my own hair and the girls in my 4th-grade class would let me do cute quick styles on them in the bathroom at recess–that was my favorite part of school. From there the skill never left me, but of course coming from a Caribbean family, that wasn’t the skill i went on to pursue. They wanted me to go to college to be a nurse or a doctor, so I went to college for a few years before I took a different route. I worked a lot of odd jobs to help with tuition while I tried to make the school thing work for my family (movie theater, retail, security, service call centers) but I hated it. I was only getting A’s in school because I knew I could. But it wasn’t fulfilling for me. These jobs weren’t fulfilling for me. I hated working for someone else. At one point, I used to cry in the bathroom at 7am every morning before clocking in at one job, and I just knew this wasn’t the life I wanted to live forever.
After A LOT of convincing from a family member to start my own business braiding, I went ahead and quit my job. I even left my apartment after my lease was up and moved back home, and then I started my business. It has now been four years and I now have my salon suite that I braid out of, and I also own my own line of hair care products (@beautyexpressproducts). I also realized I had a passion for creating in other ways and so I started a company under my original company (@dacisbeautyexpress) where I’ve put together a creative team I spearhead as the Creative Director. We put together hair, makeup, wardrobe, and creative concepts for our clients that book for special occasions like birthdays and even for product shoots for their own businesses. So far, we’ve worked with many influencers and creatives and hope to create with so many more.
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?
Is it ever? Honestly, nothing in life comes easy. I struggled a lot in the beginning. Trying to grow clientele is not easy! Having to give up my apartment and move back home with my mother also was not easy, especially for my ego. But in order to quit my job and have the time to do what I needed, it seemed like the best decision. I struggled a lot with wondering if I was making a mistake, wondering if I should just go back to a regular job. I even went back to retail part-time at some point because I’d go months with no appointments and could not survive like that. I also struggled with getting family on board. In the beginning I was told a lot that I was making a mistake by not just finishing nursing school. But I don’t regret anything I did or any of the struggles I faced. Where I am now definitely makes it all worth it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Daci’s Beauty Express is the umbrella of everything. The name was given to me by my cousin who gifted me my LLC on Christmas Eve four years ago. At first, it was just braiding and makeup. But then I realized “Beauty Express” means this is where people can come for all things beauty–all things beautiful are created here. As a hairstylist, I specialize in braids–mostly knotless now that it’s become such a big trend. The girls love my knotless, they’re super lightweight and super neat. I’m known for how clean and straight my parts are. Through my products, I am most known for my Growth Elixir. It is a Growth oil that I concocted and began to sell two years ago. The results women have experienced has brought me a lot of customers. I never imagined it would, I thought with all these other products out here who would buy mine? But the support has been great.
With the photoshoots, I am known for bringing vision boards to life in ways that clients never expect. I’m known for taking clients out of their comfort zone. They always say “Oh my God, who is that??” when they see photos of themselves and what we’ve created. My most proud moment was when I created the globe with Africa on it, all from braiding hair and gold painted foil, where I created such a beautiful moment between a mother and son not knowing the impact it would have on the client or on social media. For me, that was a moment where I realized that this is really what I want to do. Make creations that have positive impacts on the lives of every individual I create with.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
To work with me, you can check me out on Instagram @XO.Dacii and all my information for all of my businesses are there. My creative page is @dacisbeautyexpress where my email is also listed. My website where you can purchase my hair products is (beautyexpressproducts.com).
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: beautyexpressproducts.com
- Instagram: XO.Dacii
Image Credits
Daci’s Beauty Express Team
