Lina Franklin - Hairscaping — Business Stories Mag

Hey! So nice to speak with you! Can you tell our readers a little bit more about yourself? Where are you originally from and where do you live now?

Hello world I'm Lina Franklin, from Kansas City, Ks. This is where I discovered my passion for hair cutting and styling.I am from Kansas but I relocated to Atlanta, Ga in my early 20's to pursue my life's mission and I've been a Georgian ever since.

Tell us one thing you love about the place you live now?

I love my city. I've lived in Metro Atlanta for almost a decade. One thing I love about Atlanta is the opportunity. Atlantans have created an atmosphere of support from the start. You don't need to be complete or fancy for the locals and your community to recognize your effort. The openness for opportunity has created a great place for some of your best food & entertainment experiences - "F.I.L.A forever I love Atlanta!"

Tell us a little bit more about what your company does and how it started? How does it help your customers?

I am the founder of Hairscaping. Hairscaping is a trendy hair cuttery. It is our mission to create quality cuts and give hair advice to all wanting to maintain healthy hair and the latest hair looks. I started in a salon suite located in Decatur, Ga August 2019. Hairscaping has served as a solution for thick wavy to coily haired individuals. We not only create a stylish haircut that is manageable but we also coach home hair care routines to maintain the look. Hairscaping customers are confident!

What was one feedback from a happy customer/client that you won’t forget about?

One of the best compliments I received from a guest was news that her hair was getting longer. This particular client had frequent barbershops due to length of her hair and the desired finished looked. Once I took her on as a client we talked about her goals beyond the haircut we were doing that day. I was able to recommend a routine, and she is now able to retain the length of her hair. Most times our hair growing but the secret is in how to keep the length.

What has been your biggest struggle so far and how do you deal with it?

My biggest struggle with building my business was outsourcing tasks. Business is humbling. Humbling in the way that you recognize you cannot do everything. Then, to recognizing your resources, communication skills, and insecurities. I dealt with this emotional roller-coaster by sharing my thoughts with others and selecting a co-founder. My co-founder started as business bestie, volunteering some marketing and a listening ear before we discovered our commitment to grow. I was also fortunate to be a stylist and having a few contacts that are entrepreneurs. I let others know what I was trying to accomplish. They would come back with how they interpreted my crisis and perspective on execution. I listened to them, followed some, and YouTube'd the rest.

Where do you see your company in the future?

In the future I see Hairscaping as a national brand. We will have a diverse clientele and staff. We will be the coolest hair cuttery to patronize and one of the best haircut brands to stand for.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

I think there is a big misconception of who likes to commercialized hair salons. For so long there has been an unspoken rule of textured hair needing to go see a specialist. My experience has taught me that we are more alike than we are different, even when it comes to our hair and how to maintain it.

Any shout outs you want to make?

We would definitely like to make a shoutout to Top Dogs Pet Boutique in Georgia who helps us tremendously and supports us 100 percent. We are very grateful for their support.

What’s one mistake you made in the beginning and what did you learn from it?

I naively thought bringing people onboard would be a cakewalk: I am offering great job opportunities and a pool of vetted professionals at no cost. What's not to like? I very quickly learned that in asking people to join our community, we were asking for their trust and their time. And that is no small ask!

If someone wants to start a business, what's advice that will help them?

My advice for any aspiring business owner would be to answer three questions. How much to you wish to earn from this venture? Based on the desired revenue, will you need employees or contractors with the operation of your business? Why are you in business? These 3 questions lead to more questions and that is the key to clarity. In the age of social media, I think its easy to have desires that do not match your reality. For example: I want to sell spiritual crystal gems and I desire to make a six figure salary doing so. Based on the industry is that attainable? How much will you need to budget for experienced talent to ensure that goal is reached? Is your why strong enough to follow through on the goal? Building anything takes energy, resources, and discipline. You do not have to marry every business you start but you should have a good idea of what you expect from the start. Keep away the insanity. The two questions I was able to answer at the start of my idea was why am I in business and will I need employees. I know I am going to change commercialized hair salons and I definitely need an amazing team for that.

What was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?

My favorite music artist growing up was female rap star Trina. Trina was so pretty and edgy. She was breaking the "rules" so to speak. If I am honest, my favorite singalong artist is Beyonce. I am a fair weather sports fan but growing up I was always inspired most by Tiger Woods. I don't know much about golf but I knew he was breaking barriers. I am not a radical fan of anything but there are some people that have been unforgettable and that's those are my favorites.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

This journey has been awesome thanks to some key women. I'd like to shout out my co-founder Marquita Mitchell, working with me all the way from Kansas City. I'd also like to shout out barber stylist Galentina for assisting with our one of kind stylist training. Thanks to all who share the smallest thoughts to attribute to the growth of others.