Today we’d like to introduce you to Fatimah Christian.
Hi Fatimah, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started doing hair when I was just 10 years old. As a young girl, I began teaching myself how to braid by practicing on my own hair. My mom had the challenging task of keeping my hair and my sisters’ hair done, so I decided to start learning for myself. It wasn’t easy at first, but the more I practiced, the better I became.
Eventually, I started doing my sisters’ hair, and through word of mouth, I began braiding other people’s hair as well. What started as a young girl simply practicing on herself slowly became something much bigger.
In my early 20s, I decided to take my passion more seriously and attended cosmetology school to further develop my skills and learn different techniques in hair styling. I completed school in 2013 and obtained my cosmetology license in 2014.
In January 2015, I began working at True Glory, a hair store that sold bundles of weave. In the evenings, I also worked at Dreams Hair Studio, continuing to gain experience and build my career. Later that year, in July 2015, I became pregnant with my daughter. Unfortunately, I experienced health issues during my pregnancy, including fainting spells from standing for long periods, and I had to step away from work.
I gave birth to my daughter in April 2016. After becoming a mother, I tried several times to get my career back on track, but I faced many challenges along the way. In April 2019, I gave birth to my son after a pregnancy that was physically, mentally, and emotionally difficult. Postpartum challenges also played a major role in why I stepped back from actively pursuing my business.
For a while, I made the decision to focus on raising my children. I still did hair here and there, but I wasn’t consistent because establishing my career took a back seat to motherhood and everything else I was navigating in life.
Then, on February 5, 2022, I lost my grandmother. That was, by far, one of the hardest days of my life.
My grandmother was one of my biggest supporters. She was always encouraging me to keep moving forward with my passion for doing hair. She constantly reminded me of why I started in the first place: to make people feel good about themselves.
There is something incredibly special about watching someone sit in my chair not feeling their best and leave with what I like to call a “Kool-Aid smile” because they feel beautiful again. That feeling is what brought me back to my purpose.
After losing my grandmother, I began doing my research, reconnected with my mentor, and took the necessary steps to seriously build my business. That is when Elsie’s Hair was created.
Elsie was my grandmother’s name, and it is also my middle name. Naming my business Elsie’s Hair allows me to carry a piece of her with me every step of the way. My journey has not been a straight path, but every challenge, setback, and life experience has helped shape the woman and hairstylist I am today.
What began with a 10-year-old girl teaching herself how to braid her own hair has grown into a purpose-driven business built on passion, perseverance, and the desire to help others see the beauty in themselves.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it definitely was not a smooth road. There were many challenges that caused me to put my career on hold at different points in my life.
Financial struggles played a role, as did self-doubt. There were times when I questioned whether I was good enough, whether I could successfully build a business, and whether pursuing my passion was realistic for me. Becoming a mother also meant that I had to make sacrifices. At times, I had to put my career on the back burner to focus on raising my children and being the mother they needed.
After having my children, postpartum challenges had a significant impact on me mentally and physically. There were periods when I lost motivation and struggled to find my way back to myself. If I’m being completely honest, one of my biggest challenges was myself. There were times when I gave up on my dreams and stopped believing in my own potential.
My journey hasn’t been about everything falling perfectly into place. It has been about learning how to keep going, even after setbacks, self-doubt, motherhood, financial struggles, and personal loss. Every time life pulled me away from my career, finding my way back became a little harder—but it also made me stronger.
Today, I can look back and realize that even though I may have given up on myself at certain points, my passion for hair never truly left me. I just had to find my way back to it. Building Elsie’s Hair has been part of reclaiming that confidence, believing in myself again, and proving to myself that it is never too late to pursue something you truly love.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am the owner of Elsie’s Hair, where I provide a variety of hair services with a strong focus on braiding and healthy, beautiful styles that help my clients feel confident. Braiding has been at the heart of my journey since I was 10 years old, so it will always be one of my greatest passions and specialties. Over the years, my cosmetology education and experience have also allowed me to expand my knowledge and develop my skills in different areas of hair styling.
What I am most proud of is how far I have come. My journey has included many pauses, setbacks, and moments where I questioned myself and even gave up on pursuing my dreams. To be able to find my way back to something I have loved since childhood and build a business around it is something I am incredibly proud of.
I believe what sets me apart is the heart and purpose behind what I do. For me, doing hair is about much more than creating a beautiful style. It is about how my clients feel when they leave my chair. I love seeing someone come in and leave feeling beautiful, confident, and good about themselves.
I think my experiences as a mother, a woman, and an entrepreneur have also shaped the way I approach my business. I understand that life can be challenging and that sometimes people simply need a moment to feel cared for, seen, and beautiful. My goal is to create an experience where my clients not only love their hair but also leave feeling better than when they arrived.
At the end of the day, I am most proud that I didn’t allow the moments when I gave up on myself to become the end of my story.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My biggest supporters are my grandmothers—one who is still here and one who continues to inspire me—along with my mentor, Shawna Renee of MsBhave Beauty and SR Bridal, my parents, siblings, aunties, and most importantly, my kids.
They encourage me and keep me grounded. Sometimes that tough love kicks in, but it needed in order for me to thrive with what I do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://elsieshair.glossgenius.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elsies_hair
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elsieshair
