Meet Tecovia Stepp | Braid Specialist and Natural Hair Enthusiast

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tecovia Stepp and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tecovia, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
When I decided to start my own business it came from being a co-parenting mother who wanted to be able to provide for my son in more ways than just monetarily, For me, it meant being able to go to the school field trips and events, participate in sports activities; to just be present for my son. I was tired of having to ask for permission to be a parent. I wanted to make sure I was able to make enough to sustain a comfortable life and have a positive work-life balance in which I was able to be there when it counted.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I have been braiding hair since I was 13 years old but I always ran from my gift. Tried so many things over the years, but none of them fulfilled me in the way I felt when doing hair. Doing hair gave me a feeling of peace, creativity, and joy in knowing that when the person left my chair they felt good about not only the way they looked but how I made them feel inside, I truly believe that hairstylists are therapists too and how you make a person feel can have a far greater impact than just how you made them look. Building a business/brand is NOT for the WEAK. You have to be determined, disciplined, and open to constantly learning. Make sure you get an accountant and learn to outsource as much as you can.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well since I love food and Houston has so many hidden gems I would start off with Brunch at Kiss or Grace’s, then we would head to Post to have a mid-day snack from one of the vendors there and enjoy the rooftop vibe they offer.

Depending on the weather we can check out rollerskating at Discovery Green or one of the many outdoor festivals that pop up around the city. We can go ATV riding in Conroe. For dinner, I would take her to Thirteen by James Harden for the delicious teriyaki salmon over seafood fried rice and head to the Basement after we finish our meal to dance those delicious calories away.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost I want to give a shout-out to the Most High because without the Divine creating me and my talent I couldn’t be where I am today. I also would like to acknowledge where I got a lot of my hustle and drive from one of my dopest friends Byron., I have known this man for 20 years and I have yet to meet someone as hard-working as he is. He has taught me a lot about work ethic and how to think outside of the box so I just wanted to say Thank you.

Website: crownedbyshe.as.me

Instagram: @crownedbyshe