Hey Nia! Can you introduce yourself to our readers and tell us a bit about yourself?

I have a hard time introducing myself as I still see myself as the girl from North London, but when I am in work mode I am the CEO of The Curl Bar London, content creator and soon to be published author.

Congratulations on launching The Curl Bar - how did this come about?

Embarking on my natural hair journey and learning how to do my own hair was the start of the process. I then started teaching others how to look after their hair and doing people’s hair at home, building my clientele through recommendations and word of mouth. I got to empower people which was fulfilling, and opening a salon was the next step.

The Curl Bar specifically caters for people with curly hair, why is this important to you?

You see salons for European hair or Afro-Caribbean hair, but you hardly see salons specifically for curly hair. I wanted to create a safe space and a community for girls with curly hair.

A lot of people struggle to achieve their goals, how did you manifest your goal of opening a salon into reality?

You can't bring a dream to life if you don't work on it. You have to start somewhere, whether it’s making an IG page or setting up company names on HMRC. It's important to take your first step, if it doesn't go how you expected use it as a lesson for the next challenge.

What advice do you have for people who want to open up their own businesses?

Save as much as you can and gain experience! It took me 6 years of learning how to do hair, learning about different hair types and saving most of my income - it didn't happen overnight but the journey is so important. From my journey I’ve learned how to be a boss and articulate it in a way that doesn't make others uncomfortable, and it’s taught me I can achieve anything if I believe in myself.

Do you have any tips for staying on budget when opening a business?

I definitely went over my budget. Things always creep up that you don't expect (like changing the fuse box that was 40 years old!). You have to be prepared for surprises, and be prepared to hussle and find the cheapest option or DIY.

How do you balance your busy work schedule and make sure you have time for yourself?

It’s not easy running a 9-5 business, coming home to create content and working on book deadlines simultaneously, but I have learned there's productivity in stillness. It's ok to do nothing and be ok with being still.

What can we expect from your book ‘The Book of Light’ which launches in June?

The Book of Light is an interactive book that can be personalised. It’s your book as much as it is mine. I’m able to share my story but also inspire you to share yours. I'm only 22 but I have a great story that can resonate with a lot of people. There’s illustrations to tackle different stereotypes society has put on us, and I think it's important to use my platform to highlight these issues.

What’s the next step for Nia The Light:

I think people are always fixated on the next steps. I’m happy where I am on my journey and want to embrace this moment.

Find Nia the Light online at @NiatheLight and @TheCurlBarLondon