Time, She's Leaving, Envy

She's Leaving!
When clients move, I get a little misty eyed.  Yes, I'm emotional.  Zo has been my client since her install in April 2010.  My 13th install client!

Envy!
As I was doing her hair, I wished mine looked like hers.  I always wish my Sisterlocks looked like my clients.  There's something unique about each person's hair that makes me want mine just like that.  It can be the size, length, cut, style, color, bounce, smoothness, or texture that brings that ooh la la feeling over me.

Time!
Looking at the journey over photos is the best way to see progress.  Sisterlocks are instantly rewarding because it doesn't take long to see magic. The thickness comes in after shampooing a few times.  They maintain the length as it grows so it seems like they grow an inch overnight.

Zo, I wish you a happy journey up north! 

Natural Hair Shows, Vending & I

I have a love, hate relationship with vending.  

I applaud anyone that can mass produce anything they make.  Most artists don't like doing the same thing over and over.  There's got to be a break in the monotony, or seriously stubborn will-power.  Building inventory is a feat because you have to find and be able to buy supplies.  Then there's everything else.  The tables, business cards, mirrors, tools, displays, tissue, and bags. I know I'm missing something from this list and I will miss something once I'm at the show.  How much inventory is needed is a huge factor too.  I could buy a truck load of supplies and it will not be enough.

It's one thing to see items on the display.  It's when I demonstrate the product that gets the ooh-do-it-again.  I always get a little teary eyed.  But after a few hours of that, I want an assistant or a looping video of people putting on the products.  I want a whole team like Miss Jessie and them. 

Driving around in downtown ATL and on 20s, 85s, 70s is for the birds.   Driving more than two hours has my nerves on edge.  Sleeping in hotels, I can't stand it.  I don't want my skin touching the bed, floor, shower curtains, toilet.

With all of that said, the worst thing that happened to me is a lady tried to haggling.  Vendors have already cut prices ridiculously low for quick sells.  Don't insult us.

I've summed up what I don't like so here's why I still get out there every now and again. 

People recognizing me from the internet is so tickling. 

People buying and wearing my accessories is still surreal. 

tomokastwists.com

Camera Shy ~ 32nd Sisterlock Install Client

Install took about 12 hours.

Ms. J Rabbit ~ 31st Sisterlocks Install Client

Client wanted a swoop and the first thing that came to mind was Jessica Rabbit.  It took a long time to complete her hair.

Kitty Bella 30th Install Client

Well, we did discuss being a number, being the '30'.  When sitting for hours on end you learn a few things about each other and something will hit me and I'll think, "I have a name for you already". With Kitty Bella I was going to go with Soft Paws, Ms. Swan, Bella, or Kitty from a few movies we watched.  I actually coined myself Soft Paws because of my skills with my hands and low nails like Kitty 'Soft Paws' of Puss in Boots who has no nails at all. We also watched Twilight so I couldn't leave out Bella Swan.  Maybe with 31, I'll just focus on remembering the real name.

Kitty Bella took roughly 11 hours.  Hair has relaxed ends and was heat styled.

Brooklyn We Go Hard ~ 29th Client

"Brooklyn's Finest" is my 29th install client.  Her session was completed over two days in 11.5 hours.  Her hair is about eight inches long so I was thinking it would take much long.  Being that Brooklin's Finest has low hair density in some places and fine strands, I used medium to large locks.  Also, her head is rather small and I was drinking coffee.

New Products & Code TENEXTRA

A friend asked me why I kept buying beads when I had bags, boxes, drawers, and organizers full of beads. I answered, "Because I need them." Goodness! After going through my collection, I realized I was hoarding many items because I'm afraid I won't find them again. This time instead of stashing them way in the back of the drawer never to see the day of light, I'm selling them and will continue to dig around. Thank you for your support!



Please visit Tomoka's Twists & use code TENEXTRA for 10% off your next order. Code ends 11/1/11 11PM EST! Free S/H on orders $30+, no code needed just shop.

Latching Gone Wrong

This is extreme. The locks were latched improperly and appears that a pattern was not maintained while retightening. Instead this looks like the lock was taken back through the root the same way each time, several times.

Special love to M. George the author of The Knotty Truth.

27th Client's Install Photos

Gwen's install was completed in less than 13 hours over two days.

Natasha ~ 26th Sisterlock Install Client

Natasha's Sisterlocks were completed in two days August 9 & 10 in 16 hours.

Give-Away: Pink Petals Set & Naturaleza

Please visit Naturaleza's blog for your chance to win this set!

Social Media Networking & Marketing Advice

With more and more home-based businesses starting and using social networking to market their products, it's good to have a few tips on how to work these free advertising venues.

1. Follow the rules. If you join a group or website that has rules, then follow them. When you break rules, you are a trouble maker, not a revolutionary. Other group members will think, know, you're just there for marketing and don't care enough to learn about the group and support its members. Ultimately, you might even be banned from the group and your company becomes the one that was kicked out of the circle. You lose because groups have valuable information and even potential customers.

2. Don't steal friends. To sit there and go through another businesses friends' list is down right rude. Facebook and twitter have made it easy for you to find people who share similar interests, add them if you want more followers. If you're just starting out and all of sudden you have all the same friends as another shampoo maker, something just doesn't seem logical even with the friend suggestions. Plus, their customers will be quick to call you on it. Instead do the work to get friends, that way you're adding slower and actually get a little inkling of who the person is.

3. Don't abuse tagging. Don't just randomly tag people that you really don't know. Yes, the site is free and you can do what you like, but it costs you in long run. Would you want other businesses tagging you and filling your pages with their items? When you start tagging it becomes a two-way street. Will you be happy, jealous, or angry when your friends start liking and buying from those who tag you and link on your pages? You have your pages so link them from your blog or website, cross-feed twitter and facebook, and suggest your fan page to friends. Also, if you want to get an item noticed by others, then share a post/link from your business page and tag yourself. That way whoever is following you will see it in their feed. It's just that simple.

4. Give, interact, and be thankful! Try to interact with other companies and your customers while giving them something useful. If you have a little advice or a product you like, share it. Be sure to check your pages and tweets for comments to answer questions and give thanks for compliments and retweets. And when all else fails and you think you have nothing to give, give your services or your product. A give-away is a quick way to get everyone excited, including yourself!

What this all boils down to, is don't be lazy. If you really think about it, all it takes is time and a little effort to reply, say thank you, post a link, and network. That little effort really does pay off if you are consistent. When you take short-cuts you will come up short.

This is a post from tomokastwists.blogspot.com

What advice do you have for promoting your business on social media outlets?

No Comments - It's Ok.

A few times I've read blogs about people not getting comments and how they feel nobody supports them. Or that AfroMyNaturalHairIsHotFireAndI'veBeenBloggingForManyYears has a clique and they comment on everything she posts. When I first saw these 'comment on my blog posts' I felt pity for the blogger. Then it sort of looks desperate, demanding, and ungrateful. So, I offer a little advice on blogging.

1. Don't start the blog just to get comments, become popular, or make money. If your heart is not in it, you will be easily discouraged when things are moving slowly.

2. Give it time. It takes a while time to build a blog following.

3. Show yourself. If you have a make-up blog, don't just copy/paste the make-up all the time. Show yourself in it. Do a slideshow or video with you putting on the make-up. Sharing a recipe? Have somebody snap a photo of you or you take one of somebody eating it.

4. Ask questions or opinions! Folks love to talk, but sometimes need to be given the mic to speak up.

5. Bring people to your blog. If you have facebook & twitter and the rest of them, tell people that you have a new blog post.

6. Don't look pitiful, ungrateful, or desperate. Always, be welcoming, humble, and helpful.

Tumblr Anyone? Did I Make That Right?

I forgot who to told me about tumblr. I remember it was a message on facebook. I just looked and it was @MelzieC on facebook who is also on twitter. Mmmhmm. I signed up for tumblr when it first started out and just now posting to it. What is it like? It's like a really thoughtful twitter app with photos and videos showing up in the time line, meaning no clicking on links. It's like facebook without the games and junk? It's like blogs but with more interaction. It's the bomb!

Catch me on there! tomokastwists.tumblr.com

If you don't catch me, then here is my first post. 'Did I Make That Right?'

When I haven’t made something in a while, I forget how to make it. This used to bother me because I designed the item. But when I pick up the supplies, more than likely if I forget, I’ll come up with something different. It is better or worse than the first design? I would say the designs are interchangeable. In my faqs I do state that I am an artist and sometimes my creativity comes out differently. Yet, in order to keep customers happy with the item they see on the website, I do refer back to the photo. I’d rather play it safe, than mix up the beads in an order that the buyer may not like. So, I’m looking to see if I made this hair tie the right way. For those of you curious, I did make it the right way, but these beads are flat compared to being oval puffs.

North Carolina Natural Hair Care Expo

The Natural Hair Care Expo is returning to Raleigh, June 11th and 12th. If you were there last year, it's in the same place. I will be there vending! Come stop by my booth! http://northcarolinanaturalhaircareexpo.com/