Meet Nelia Span | Master Braider | Celebrity Braider

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

Hi Nelia, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Naturally, I’m not the biggest risk taker. That said, I’ve learned it’s essential to growth and development in business. So whenever there is a project or an idea, and there’s a level of risk that makes me nervous, I remind myself that something will come of this that helps me grow. It can be a small thing or a big thing, but something will come of it that I can use to elevate my growth.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve always had a strong eye for detail and working with my hands is always fun. I was making complex key chains with the different colored plastic strings as a young girl, so braiding came quite easy and fun for me. My passion for hair in general grew strong, so I earned my cosmetology license in Indiana in 2005, just before graduation high school. I then worked in a Paul Mitchell Salon as a cut and color specialist, but I always kept braids as a service offered.

In 2015 I left Indiana and moved to Texas with the intent to grow into one of the best hair braiders in the world. It sounds like a crazy goal, but I just had a sure feeling that I was capable of doing it. Every year I laid out a goal to hit, getting closer and closer to what I wanted. My first high profile client was a radio personality from 97.9 The Beat. From there, rapper Mike Jones asked for my braid services. Once he was in the chair, the requests from professional athletes like Julius Randle, Frank Martin, Derrick Jones, Jr., Aqib Talib and some reality tv personalities came in.

Now that those type of high profile clients are regular, I’ve gone in to high level competitions and high level content creating. In 2023, I was name a Top 25 braider in the world in the largest online hair competition.

Nothing about getting these wins was easy! In fact, I’ve cried more than most and lost a ton of sleep. I think the easiest way to overcome the mini challenges that come with being an entrepreneur is to break it down into attainable goals and steps. Take small steps, taking your time to enjoy those moments and wins while learning from your mistakes. Ultimately you hit your goal.

The best way to continue to stay successful, is every time that you hit a goal, set a new one. This always keeps you going after something. It always keeps you competing with yourself to always aim to be better. Never become complacent unless you’re OK with someone else surpassing you.

I want to the world to know that my brand is all about being true to yourself while being the best and most beautiful version of yourself. My work and business says luxury in every way from the style to the salon setting to the experience. And I never want to change that, only continue to elevate it!

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?
Do you know what’s funny? I never go out. I enjoy free time at home, in peace and quiet and just in the comfort of my own space. That said, one of my favorite restaurants to sit down at is Lolo’s chicken and waffles. And then I’m a cheesecake junkie, so Val’s cheesecake is my ultimate and most favorite dessert spot in Dallas.

I’m also a Basketball Mom, so often times I’m found in a basketball gym at one of the large high school basketball tournaments held in Dallas.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would have to say my Mother. Sounds cliche’, but it’s true! I followed her footsteps into the cosmetology world in high school, my educators being her past classmates as well as her formal educators. But I also saw her build a childcare business from the ground up, learning and taking risks on her own without help. She ultimately became one of (and still is) the city’s most well known childcare educators and leaders in the industry. She would show me different types of expenses and how she managed business finances, let me listen to calls she made and watch how she implemented her ideas. She helped me prepare to embrace business ownership and I know it’s why I’m so confident in my business model today.

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