The beauty business was my world. At the tender age of 15 years old, I had to learn how to take care of myself. My mother was a drug addict and my father was ambivalent and too busy with his other family and was never interested in partaking in a fatherly role in my life. I was about 14 years old at the time when we resided with my aunt, who is my mother's oldest sister. She had this wild idea that we should all move in together and save money like the Hispanics and Asians and help one another buy property and homes. The idea was marvelous, but the execution was all the way off.There were no solid plans put into action. Therefore, no one made any power moves to help themselves. I will never forget the day when my aunt came home from the grocery store. She had bags and bags full of groceries. She said, "NOBODY AND I MEAN NOBODY bet'not eat none of this food. I bought this for my daughter and my daughter only." Not only was my mother a drug addict, so was my stepfather. They'd lost their jobs. I was attending Western High School in Anaheim, California. I went to school hungry on most days. I didn't have money. I wore my cousin's hand-me-downs, which I didn't mind because her clothes were cute. In October 1985, my friends from high school called me over to their house. They wanted to make sure that I had something to eat. I felt as though I needed to return the favor. I offered to braid their hair. I learned how to do extensions when I was 10 years old after my gran'daddy passed away. My dad's wife learned how to do it from her friend. She then showed me. I did my little cousin's hair that same year. It looked an atrocious mess, but it was my work.I practiced on my dolls for years before doing my friend's hair. My other granddaddy passed away earlier in 1985. My mother, somehow, got my hair braided by a lady who took 17 hours to do my hair for his funeral. We were flying to Georgia. In the process, I had to wear a hat because my braids were falling out. HOW EMBARRASSING RIGHT!!! I asked my mother to buy me some hair. I have no clue where she was getting her money from. All I know is that I wanted to give this a try on my own head. And there it was. I did it. I did my own hair for the very first time. It was individuals. They were gorgeous. Nonetheless, paying my friends back was the least I could do. It was the start of something beautiful. I made money and I was able to eat. I was able to buy myself clothes and shoes. This talent carried me for over 30 years. I took care of my children, paid my bills, and had a huge clientele before I left California to reside in Georgia.The only regret that I have is that I didn't build my clientele when I moved to Georgia. Hair was and will always be my first love. It was my employer when I didn't work for anyone. It helped me to build some of the best relationships that I still have today. These people have become my family. They are my unbiologics and I love them dearly. Hair and beauty will always be in my DNA.The message conveyed here is targeted towards anyone in the hair, beauty, and glam business. It includes makeup artists as well. However, it also includes anyone in the service and retail industry. Client retention is mandatory for the life of your business.