Dreadlocks has now emerged to being a popular fashion trend among Black men and women, as the need for natural hair styles is on the rise; thus resulting in the call for good locticians, according to Shoshannah, president of Shoshannah’s Natural Boutique.
Shoshannah has been a loctician for ten years, specializing in creating and maintaining locs. The New York Native, who was born in Harlem and raised in the Bronx, said she had to teach herself how to create and maintain locs due to a lack of locticians. “I had a burning desire to know how to do locks,” she said. “I guess some people could say I have a natural talent. However, it took a lot of hard work and lots of dedication to reach the level that I excelled to.” Now a successful business owner, Shoshannah says she enjoys her job as a loctician, helping people to feel better about themselves. “Whenever someone gets their hair treated, they tend to feel good and natural,” she explains. “A well done hairstyle can really rejuvenate a person.”
Despite the rocky economy, she has managed to maintain her clientele, as she firmly believes, “People always want to get their hair done.” Like many small business people, the challenges of owning and operating a small business is not an easy walk in the park, and Shoshannah has seen her ups and downs.
“I started my business at home like most people do,” she said. “I worked from home for approximately eight years, before I was forced to open up a shop. I had a lot of clients and it was more feasible for them and myself to move the business from home.”
One of Shoshannah’s biggest gripe is having to repair locs that was done improperly.
“It is just so frustrating to have to fix someone’s hair after it was poorly done. Beauticians often use the wrong kinds of wax, over twist the locs, don’t have know how or use the wrong products.”
“I am very passionate about my work and I don’t like to see my clients unhappy,” she continued. “Beauticians should not be doing locs; they should leave locs to the locticians.”
Shoshannah offers a health-based approach to maintaining locs. She uses products such as aloe, herbs and oils that promote growth. She repairs locs, and provides steam treatment.
“Our approach to locs is to promote natural hair,” she explains. “The hair needs to be neat and groomed, but most importantly, clean.”
She also offers herbal rinse, wash, oiled scalp, palm-rolled and other treatment. Customers may choose from any array of styles and designs such as flat twist, cornrows, loc extensions, two strands, weave on locs and a variety of locs and loc styles.
At Shoshannah’s Natural Boutique, customers may also purchase cultural accessories, hats and books.
Shoshannah’s Boutique is located at 3957 Bronxwood Avenue in the Bronx, between 224th and 225 Streets. She can be reached at (718) 515-0060.