Today we’d like to introduce you to Lelene Valentin
Hi Lelene, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve never been much of a verbal person. A blessing and a curse all in one. My work speaks for itself but this is how it all started… I actually didn’t even start silk pressing hair. YUP! That’s right! It all started when I was experiencing life; no one told me adulting would be so ghetto. I knew I had an immaculate talent in braiding hair so I seen a vision and turned it into my reality. Starting from the living room to alone in a shop that flourished into the luxurious Silkpress Express! I dibbled and dabbled in styling and installing for years, maybe about 8, before Silk pressing natural hair became something I fell in love with. Braiding lasted almost 4 years before I became an assistant in a hair salon. I would move around from salon to salon, focusing on what they did most; protective styles, sew ins, quick weaves, and braiding.
I was focusing on expanding myself by this time. I was trying to find myself in the beauty industry and allowed myself to venture through a lot. There was too much time spent on researching and opportunities. It paid off wonderfully though because I found a class in Atlanta that changed it all for me forever! This class was when I experienced true natural hair being done and left out, not under any protective styles! Don’t get me wrong, I was always doing natural hair. I would only press here and there but during, and after, this class… I was silk pressing and embracing natural hair. When I started silk pressing in 2017 I noticed the gap in beauty that didn’t allow textured hair women (and men! I don’t discriminate! lol) to really accept and embrace their hair in its natural state. Now my focus was strictly to fill the gap for individuals to be serviced by someone who would treat their head like a work of art!
BOOM! Covid happened! There was no work for a lot of people. No one had money which was when chemical free natural hair started to take over. This is when the seed, planted as Lelene’s Beauty Bar, really started to grow and blossom into Silkpress Express! I restructured my business into a press bar and made a way to service textured hair women. I also had a knack for teaching so I gave upcoming stylists coming straight out of school a chance to work in their profession. I love to employ people, to give them tips and pointers. I love to give people a chance and allow them to flourish in doing what they love as well. This is all thanks to how I started off, as an assistant, with someone else helping and giving me a chance. Present day… Silkpress Express is the one and only Silk blowout Salon in South Florida!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Is anything ever a smooth road?! I didn’t have the knowledge to build the business I wanted. I didn’t have any working experience in a corporate setting or any working capitol. Everything was done during the growth process. I knew how I wanted my business to be structured and knew I wanted to stick to my vision but I didn’t have any resources or knowledge to build a corporate company. I didn’t have the proper finances, which is the obstacle I had to overcome and currently still overcoming. Having a structured plan and the finances are the biggest challenges when starting a business.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The #1 Silk blowout salon specializing in temporarily straightening textured hair WITHOUT the use of chemicals. We leave no strand left unpressed! The salons’ main focus and what we are known for is silk pressing but we also provide wash and blow dry’s, traditional sew ins, clip in installs, take downs, braid downs, etc. We have a proven press technique that guarantees any texture of hair to be straight and blowing in the wind. One thing that sets us apart from others is that we stand by the “express” in Silkpress Express. Clients are serviced in a timely manner, moving from station to station until they’re checking out and on their way!
I am most proud of my product line! We don’t only silk press hair, we also provide clients with aftercare products created to promote healthy hair and great maintenance. Our products line covers everything from washing and conditioning to treatments to protectants. We have those in between products like wax sticks, oil, and edge control too! On top of it all, our stylists are knowledgable in textured hair allowing them to get you in and out. Packages are also offered in store and online and including everything needed for a press. Some of our packages include discounts and a complimentary birthday Silkpress!
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
The most important lesson learned due to the Covid-19 Crisis was that structure and systems work! Having finances and paperwork in order at all times allow you to be ready for the unexpected things in life that may arise.
Pricing:
- $105 Silkpresses
- $90 Silkpresses
- $35 Wash and blowdry’s
- $550 Microlinks
- $40 & UP Clip in installations
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.silkpressexpress.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silkpressexpressmiami
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/silkpressexpressmiami
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/silkpressexpressmiami
