Exploring Life & Business with Nkonye M. of New Village Braid

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nkonye M.

Nkonye, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
New Village Braid first started as a braid salon concept that I had in mind for more than 10 years. But my schooling, corporate career, and raising a family kept that dream on hold. The business idea remained persistent over the years and in 2020–after completing an MBA, building a successful corporate career, and starting my young family–I decided to put the dream into action and work on opening the braid salon concept. Just over 1 year into building the dream and locking down a location complete with architectural plans, I was faced with having to relocate cities for family-related reasons. Although this meant I would have to put the salon on hold, another idea was taking shape as I started learning more about toxicity in the synthetic braiding hair–which I would have been providing in my braid salon. From there, the eco-braiding hair concept was born. I started partnering with local stylists and business to carry my hair, along with making the hair available for sale to customers on my new website. Not long after, I incorporated the hair recycling service into my core offering.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Once I committed to the business idea, it felt like an uncertain yet steady road. There have been many highs including securing new partnerships, experiencing great customer reception and being invited to speak at panel engagements. However, there are constantly new challenges associated with things like shipping and logistics, new customer acquisition, and even marketing and social media. Especially in the beginning, being one-person operations is no joke. But it’s been an amazing lesson on the importance of building great partnerships and establishing a ‘virtual team’ of people who support you–that can be family, friends, freelance partners, and other industry allies.

We’ve been impressed with New Village Braid, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
As the founder of New Village Braid, I come with over 15 years of experience developing products and global business strategies in fashion and tech spaces. So I bring a unique perspective to the hair and beauty space–more specifically the Black hair niche.

New Village Braid is an advocate of healthy hair braiding, sustainable beauty, and conscious consumption. The business provides eco-braiding hair and hair recycling services. Our hair is hypoallergenic and pvc-free. We serve a market that is traditionally overlooked in the hair and beauty space–Black women and girls. This is important because most hair on the market is PVC-based and the components of PVC are known-human carcinogens that have gone un-regulated in the Black hair space.

When it comes to what we buy, why we buy, how we use it, and how we dispose of it, I truly believe that the way we consume products have a definitive impact on our planet and this is what led me to establish New Village Braid’s eco-braiding hair and hair recycling services to offset the ecological footprint we leave behind.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Some of the most important lessons I’ve learned along my journey with New Village Braid include the importance of self-awareness and confidence. There were too many opportunities for me to get down on myself, shut down and give up; after all, there were so many things pulling my attention including my ‘9 to 5’, my family, and my own self-doubt. But because I was confident in my ability to take on challenges for something I believed in, that confidence and desire was real fuel for my journey.

Also, there is the undeniable importance of having a great personal & professional support system. I can be confident all day, but if I can’t enlist the support of my network (old and new) to believe in what I’m doing–or at least believe in me as an individual, it would be very tough to continue pursuing my ambitions in a bubble.

Lastly, knowing when you need help is critical. I’m so confident in my own abilities that I genuinely believe I can do everything. And I tried to, in the beginning. Ha! I learned quickly, there is simply not enough time in the day. Being willing to admit that, to ask for help, and to hire support is a real and tangible skill. Since I started to do that, I have grown more resilient and resistant to burn out. And there is no doubt that I move faster and more effectively with the support of others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://newvillagebraid.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newvillagebraid/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newvillagebraid/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAlYEiUhSvuIdv2HlISJgVg

Image Credits
Olot Parking Lot Ornelle Chimi