Daily Inspiration: Meet Kiara B

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kiara B.

Hi Kiara, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was raised in the heart of South Central Los Angeles, where culture, resilience, and hustle shaped everything around me. As a child, I watched my mother braid hair on the weekends for family and friends-she wasn’t just styling, she was making a way. That was my first glimpse into entrepreneurship, and I didn’t even know it yet.

At 12, I picked up the comb and followed her lead. I was a visual learner in a time before YouTube tutorials. My friends and family were my first canvas-my training ground. I fell in love with the craft: the precision of braiding, the creativity of extensions, and the joy of transformation. By the time I hit senior year at my private high school in Inglewood, I was already dabbling in makeup. I still remember doing my own prom makeup after a disappointing appointment at the mall-it lit a spark in me I didn’t see coming.
After high school, I enrolled in the cosmetology program at LATTC. At the same time, my father built me a small suite at home, and I started taking clients while my mom ran her daycare. It was a full house in every sense of the word, but it taught me balance, boundaries, and how to build from scratch.
In 2016, I opened my first official beauty bar inside the Slauson Super Mall. It was called Sugahoney Glam-my love letter to the community. You could come in for brow waxing, a lash set, makeup, and quick braids-all in under two hours. My goal was simple: deliver quality beauty services without leaving the neighborhood. I knew this chapter was foundational, and after two years, I was ready to expand.
By 2019, I launched my salon in Inglewood. For over five years, I built a space where clients could experience full-service care-from hair to lashes to body waxing. Alongside me was , a talented nail artist and dear friend, and together we created an atmosphere that felt intentional, warm, and deeply rooted.
But dreams aren’t always linear.

In late 2024, I began rebranding the salon under a new name: Co.Odyssey. I wanted to create a collaborative space where beauty professionals could thrive independently but collectively. I introduced a mentorship program aimed at helping cosmetology students find their footing in an industry where professionalism in Native Black American salons was increasingly overlooked.

Then the fire came-not literal flames, but a storm that scorched my spirit ,right after the fires that happened at the top of the year in California . I lost all three of my contractors during the transition. My salon sat empty. I sat still-questioning everything. Was this a failure? Had I expanded too soon? Was I dreaming too big? I cried often. I stopped eating. I lost 20 pounds in just weeks. My daughter-only two years old-wiped my tears on days I couldn’t pretend I was okay. And through it all, my husband held our home steady. That was the beginning of my rebuilding-from within.

I started with acceptance, then moved toward forgiveness, and finally, rediscovered grace.
Thanks to a grant I received from The Wild Seed initiative, I opened a new suite inside my salon for my very first mentee, a 19-year-old student at LATTC, just like I once was. That full-circle moment reminded me that my path wasn’t ending. It was evolving.

Soon after, a new esthetician joined , bringing skincare services to our growing team. Things are still unfolding, but now I walk with more intention, more healing, and more trust in divine timing.

My mental health has become my top priority. As a second-generation entrepreneur and the first salon owner in my family, I’ve come to learn that the journey will always come with storms. But the sun always rises after.

Co.Odyssey is more than a salon-it’s a collective journey of beauty professionals committed to offering care at the highest level. From the way you book, to how you’re greeted, to how you feel when you leave, everything is rooted in love and legacy. This isn’t just about beauty-it’s about being seen, heard, and valued.

To anyone reading this who’s navigating their own odyssey: don’t quit. Even when it hurts. Especially when it hurts. Because sometimes, your breakdown is just the beginning of your breakthrough.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely. There were definitely bumps along the way. Learning to balance finances while managing new expenses was a challenge in itself. On top of that, handling social media and marketing often felt like an entirely separate career. One of the hardest parts, though, was learning to make space for others—to trust new people with a brand I built from the ground up. That kind of trust takes time, intention, and a lot of letting go.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I started off known for creating a variety of natural hairstyles and makeup looks. “The girl that does it all” . Over time, my craft evolved—and now I specialize in loc transformations, including custom color, extensions, and my signature braids and twist-over-loc illusions that give a fresh, versatile look while honoring the loc journey. Being able to impact the next generation through my natural passion and talents , is what I’m most proud of . Being a mother and wife has helped me nurture those skills.

What sets me apart is the intentional space I hold for every person who walks through our doors. My work is deeply rooted in metaphysical awareness—tuning into more than just appearance, but energy, emotion, and embodiment. At Co.Odyssey, it’s not just about the service—it’s about the sensory experience, the feeling of safety, clarity, and care. I don’t just ask what style you want; I help you understand what your body, your spirit, and your current season can hold.

I educate my clients on how inner health reflects outwardly—how your hair, skin, and nails are deeply connected to how you’re feeling, what you’re eating, how you’re living. I believe beauty isn’t just seen—it’s felt. The chair becomes a sacred space, and what we create together becomes a ritual of self-recognition and self-respect. This isn’t a traditional salon—it’s a practice in self-care, transformation, and truth.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
New clients can book beauty services directly through my booking site, while aspiring professionals can connect with me at my email [email protected] . I also collaborate with stylists, estheticians, and creatives who are passionate about offering high-quality care in a professional, uplifting space. Whether you’re looking for a service, a partnership, or a place to grow—we can build something beautiful together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.Co-odyssey.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/co.odyssey
• Other: [email protected]