Today we’d like to introduce you to Bia.
Hi Bia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Whew, way to take me back. Creativity has always been apart of my life, as long as I can remember. As a child, I found many ways to put my creativity to work. Whether that came to drawing, arts and crafts, fashion, music, cooking/baking, even science experiments! Anything that gave me the ability to create, I often found joy in. As I got older, I found my niche: art. If it really came down to it, no money involved, I always wanted to be an artist. I took many different art classes in middle school and high school, creating pieces with many different mediums on different canvases. But, as most first generation families, my elders down played my childhood dream of being a successful artist. I began to veer away from it the closer I got to high school graduation. Even as I was creating art portfolios, in art shows and selling my art! I put all that aside and focused an a more practical plan A; art was just a hobby. After a few troublesome years and trial and error, I decided to take a break from university. Back in my hometown, I had lunch with my best friends mom. We had a heart to heart and she implanted the seed of cosmetology school. She reminded me of the times in school that I did my friends make up and hair for many different occasions. I started doing different hairstyles and make up looks on myself. I was bartending at the time so I always found it profitable when I was done up. It had sparked something in me and in 2022 I started cosmetology school. That was where my brand Slaybae by Bia was born! Rough draft of course, I just needed something my cosmetology school clients could remember for when I finally graduated. After some re-branding, Slaybae by Bia morphed into this beautiful idea my husband had: B Dazzled. Every thing I create ends up dazzling, in his words, but he may just not be trying to butter me up. The work I was doing leading up to B Dazzled helped mold and create my new brand! I learned so much in those years as Slaybae and what I really wanted for myself and my clients: a luxury experience for those who want to feel that all their needs and desires are being met. I take pride in my art work, and my clients are the canvas! I found a career that would allow me to create and clients that allow me to be as creative as possible. Becoming a cosmetologist has truly given me the foundation to be able to pave a new path in my artistic journey. Of course I still paint and do the traditional art methods, but I have now incorporated different canvases: people!
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?
Oh yes, as smooth as chunky peanut butter! It’s been quite a few bumps in the road, some that almost were successful in veering me to a different path. My father’s passing, getting kicked out of cosmetology school, quitting my job and moving place to place, moving cities, losing cars, ending friendships, low clientele, and most recently, the loss of my dear uncle. You name it and I guarantee I went through it. I’m a very passionate person and often times more sensitive than I’d like to admit, so I take things really hard. On the other hand, I got the opportunity to go to New York this past year to work with and see behind the scenes of the modelling industry. I went from sharing space, products and tools to being strictly a travelling stylist to having my own space with the freedom to set the ambience and personalization for each of my clients! I’ve been blessed with friends who see the vision for me as well and fully support my endeavors (they make some of the best test dummies lol)! I say that to say this: the lows make the highs worth it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
B Dazzled is a brand, or slogan I suppose, that refers to my artistry. I am a licensed cosmetologist and I promote an atmosphere for my clients to indulge in self-love! In a society where social media sets the beauty standard, I push against that! I personally like when people are individualistic, dressing and styling for their own standard of beauty. People are walking art forms! I look at hair, fashion and make up as adorning one’s temple. It is an honor to be able to work with all hair types and skin colors, and getting to experience people in their raw form. They come in blank and leave looking and feeling like who they truly are inside! Those who have received my services before, can definitely say I’m known for the cleanest parts and braids. Before I was licensed, I had to work within the scope of my practice and I specialized in braids, locs and other protective styles. Since being licensed, I added more services to assist in the journey of a clients beauty goals. I am an all inclusive service provider, meaning everything is provided by moi, you just need to bring yourself and some patience! As far as what I’m most proud of, I would say my dedication. Dedication to puttingquality work out, dedication to my supporters and loyal clientele, dedication to pushing the artistic limits and most of all dedication to myself because I know what I have envisioned for myself is attainable.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
As much as I tell my clients that proper maintenance for their hair and or skin is important, I myself do not abide by those rules and ignorantly wonder why I am not achieving my goals. Don’t do as I do, do as I say lol.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bookbdazzledlooks.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/x_bdazzled_x?igsh=MTk1dXFkaDR0YTBvdw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/B-Dazzled/61572149171124/#
- Other: https://dot.cards/bdazzled
Image Credits
Bia
