Aura-based mum Nat turned her knack for making her daughter’s hair look fabulous into a full-blown business – meet Dolce Lisa Braiding Boutique.
What started as a simple way to impress her daughter Elisa (or Lisa, as she’s affectionately known) turned into a thriving business offering everything from in-home braiding services and birthday party styling to braiding workshops.
“My daughter Elisa was my inspiration to start my braiding business,” Nat said.
“When she was about four years old, she is 11 now, I used to do simple braided styles for her every day.
“A while later I came across an online braiding course, which I completed, and I couldn’t stop braiding since then.
“I opened my business in January 2020 when my daughter began school and a lot of people from her school and everywhere she went started asking me to braid their hair.
Nat has since completed more than 20 courses learning to do a variety of braiding styles and techniques, with close to 200 styles and designs available on her booking page.
Along the way, she’s picked up valuable tips, including the lesson that “you get what you pay for” when it comes to braiding materials.
“The quality of the material we use affects the quality of our work – how the braids look, how long they last, the speed of the braiding process and even how we enjoy it,” she said.
“Another problem that I saw some braiders have – is buying good material, but not using it to its full potential.
“Braids done with the professional quality kanekalon have to be braided all the way down and then set with hot water or steam instead of tying them with the hair band and left untreated.
“When it’s not done, braids bend and become kinky which doesn’t look nice.”
And for summer braiding tips and tricks? Nat explained that not all braids are created equal – the style must be suited to both the hair type and the desired outcome.
“For example if you need the braids to last a whole week consider choosing style with four or more braids and add extensions; or if you have thick hair consider doing more braids which will be easier to make tight, so they stay neat longer,” she said.
“Also it is a good idea to sleep using satin or silk bonnet or a pillowcase, and avoid getting the braids wet.”
Dolce Lisa Braiding Boutique offers one-on-one micro training groups for professionals who wish to braid clients’ hair and group workshops for the general public who want to get better at braiding their kids’ hair.
For more information email [email protected].
