Loving Locks Builds a Path from Hair Care to Business Ownership
A new Chronicle News rack now stands inside Loving Locks in Plymouth, but the partnership opens the door to a story much larger than newspaper distribution. Loving Locks has grown into a natural-hair business, training center, classroom and entrepreneurial community where beauty, education, mentorship and business ownership meet.
“Loving Locks started with my love for natural hair, but it has grown into something much bigger. It has become a place where beauty, education, entrepreneurship and community intersect.”
Founder Janelle Wilson began her own Sisterlocks® journey in 2007 and became a Certified Sisterlocks Consultant in 2008. As her work expanded, she says the mission shifted from simply providing a hair service to creating opportunities for education, professional growth and entrepreneurship. Wilson later became a Sisterlocks® Brand Ambassador and R-Certified trainer for self-retightening classes in 2018, a Sisterlocks® Trainer in 2019 and a Senior Trainer in 2022. Those milestones helped shape a business model centered on skill-building as much as styling.
“I learned that education creates confidence, and confidence creates opportunity.”
Today, Loving Locks offers Sisterlocks® services, natural-hair and loc education, classes, mentorship, business education, professional development, and space-sharing opportunities for beauty professionals. Wilson also created the Loving Locks Business Collective to give independent professionals room to grow their own businesses in a supportive environment. That pathway can begin with a client relationship or a class and continue into mentorship, chair or suite rental and ultimately independent business ownership. Wilson says watching people move through those stages is one of the parts of the business she values most.
“One of the things I am most proud of is seeing people progress through different stages—from becoming a client, to taking a class, to becoming a mentee, renting a chair or suite, and eventually operating as an independent business owner.”
From Government Work to Full-Time Entrepreneurship
Wilson spent 18 years working in Wayne County's Department of Environmental Health before leaving government employment in 2020 to pursue Sisterlocks® and entrepreneurship full time. She describes the transition as a leap of faith that required learning not only the technical side of her craft but also marketing, financial management, leadership, systems and business development.
“One of the biggest lessons I have learned is that growth requires you to be willing to evolve.”
Her entrepreneurial development has included the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, SBA and other small-business development programs, and recognition as a 2024 Michigan SBDC Best Small Business award winner. Still, Wilson says some of the most meaningful milestones are not awards.
“They are the moments when I see someone I have mentored become more confident, start their own business, complete a training, rent their own space, or take the next step toward independence.”
A Business Collective, Not Just a Salon
Through the Loving Locks Business Collective, beauty professionals can access workspace while also being surrounded by mentorship, networking, education and community. The concept is designed to reduce the isolation that often comes with starting a small business and to give emerging entrepreneurs a place to learn from one another while building clientele and systems. “I want people to understand that they don't have to build a business completely by themselves.”
Space-sharing is one practical part of that model. Rather than immediately committing to the overhead of a traditional salon suite or independent location, professionals can use shared space while developing their customer base and business operations. Wilson sees the model as a bridge between learning a skill and building something sustainable. The company is also continuing to develop the Loving Learning Lab, an educational and collaborative space for beauty professionals, educators and entrepreneurs. Wilson says the Lab can support workshops, small-group classes, business education, roundtables, podcasts, recurring training and other learning experiences.
Beauty, Education and Community
Community service is another part of the company’s identity. Loving Locks participates in projects and initiatives supporting families, youth and underserved communities. Wilson describes the business as a bridge between beauty and entrepreneurship—some clients may arrive for hair services and leave with education, confidence, business knowledge, a mentor or even a new career direction.
“Success means more when you can use what you have learned to help someone else move forward.”
The company’s tagline—“Empowering Natural Beauty Through Education, Innovation, and Community”, captures the broader mission Wilson describes. Her goal is to create opportunities that help people turn their skills and passion into something sustainable while building a legacy of education, empowerment and community.
Connecting with Loving Locks
Loving Locks LLC is located at 9325 N. Haggerty Road in Plymouth, Michigan. The company offers Sisterlocks® services, education, classes, mentorship, professional development and business opportunities. More information is available at lovinglocks.net or by calling 734-795-0177.
The Chronicle News is now available at Loving Locks as part of The Chronicle’s growing Michigan distribution network. The partnership reflects The Chronicle’s goal of connecting communities through trusted local businesses while highlighting the entrepreneurs and organizations helping those communities grow.
Comments