Today we’d like to introduce you to Umeko Favor.
Hi Umeko, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I started doing hair when I was around the age of 9 years old. My aunt, the only, what they called them back in the day, beautician, in the family would let me roller set her hair every Saturday evening for church on Sundays. She had a beauty salon attached to her house that my father built. After doing her hair for a while I then started to do my own hair because my mother could not do hair and she switched jobs which took a cut in her pay. So, going to the hair salon was out of the question. At that time, I started braiding my own hair. I would practice and practice until one day I got it just right. That was the day I decided to do my hair for my 6th-grade school picture. Doing that really opened up the door for my start into the beauty culture and getting my first client. How? Well, the school Librarian (she was pregnant at the time) saw my hair and wanted to know who braided it. I proudly looked her in the face and said “Me, I Did!” She was so shocked. But she also became my first paying customer. I went on to doing her hair only charging $40 for micro braids at the time. My aunt, the “beautician” then said to me I should go to cosmetology school. Well, my high school offered a trade program and Cosmetology was one of the trades. So, in the 11th grade, I started cosmetology school. I finished in the 12th grade and graduated with my high school diploma and also passed my state board exam for cosmetology. But that wasn’t all I wanted to also pursue a higher education. I went to college (Charleston Southern University, CSU) where I used my cosmetology license to help through school, along with other retail jobs. I would do hair for some sorority members, for homecoming, as well as just for the everyday girl on campus. I ended up graduating from CSU and did a year of service with AmeriCorp VISTA at The Citadel Military College. But never did I ever forget about hair. Once completion of my service. I relocated to Atlanta, Ga where I attended Clark Atlanta University for my Master’s in Social Work. While in Atlanta I was exposed to a new hair world. Everything was flashy and fast-paced. I was able to work with some unique people and gain a lot of faithful clients that are still clients to this day (more like family.) I was in my prime in Atlanta until the tragic day of august 23. My life changed forever. I lost my first love. We met in college and dated for 7 years. After the loss of him, I went into a deep depression. My brand InFAVORofSTYLE had/have so many connections to my first love, he helped come up with the name, helped pushed me to get out there and make a name for myself. I ended up leaving Atlanta and went “ghost” for about 3 years. I deactivated all of my social media platforms, stopped talking to a lot of people and I moved across country. Where? Well, Los Angeles. I was working with my MSW degree in child protective services. I thought well if I’m not going to do hair I might as well use my degree. And I did. But I was so miserable. I gave it a good 2 years and finally, the stress of the job and the conviction of my heart to do hair took over. So, I quit my secured job and tried to get myself out there in LA. I lived off my saving for almost a year. But it was hard getting into the LA hair scene. I forgot to mention I’m somewhat of an extrovert. So, meeting people was hard. I would literally tense up and my voice would tremble while passing out cards. But I did try. I ended up landing another job working with children with autism. The job was great but the pay was not so good. So, I was still struggling. My mental health took a toll and I went back into a deep depression. I couldn’t go to work; I wasn’t eating and my bills suffered. My savings were depleting and time was not on my hand. Let’s just say I ended up losing my apartment and practically homeless. I was couch surfing along with dealing with my mental health. I expressed to my Job what was going on and they gave me a warning and said I couldn’t miss any more days. Well, one day at work I got a call from an Instagram entry I did for doing hair for a Tv celebrity. I called my best friend and asked her what should I do because if I go to the event, I would basically lose my job. She told me this is your passion live in your truth. And that I did. I ended up going to the event and from there I met some cool people but most importantly I met another makeup artist (@Artbymonet) and we clicked. She asked me if I could work on a project for her friend who has a million-dollar online boutique and I said heck yes. I ended up working for the boutique doing hair for photoshoots. I got introduced to other celebrities and ended up doing ongoing hair for Karen Civil. I worked on the set for BET. I was able to do hair for the Grammys for Nikole Hannah Jones (1619 project), the BET Image awards for Denta Amoateng (GUBA awards founder), Dani Leigh, Shop Sonya B, Boutique, Mieka Joi, and many more.
I was still couch surfing but I was happy with HAIR again. But then my father who had cancer was getting sicker. I went home (Camden, Sc) to visit him and he passed away less than 2 weeks after being home. I was devastated. Another death to deal with. So, at that moment, I made the decision to move back to the east coast. I wanted to be near family again. I still had my mother, who has a lot of medical issues, nieces and nephews that I wanted to be present in their life.
So, in September of 2020, a few months after the death of my father, and yes during a pandemic, I picked up my life in LA and moved to Raleigh, NC.
My transition was smooth to say the least. I didn’t start with doing hair. Instead, I put my degree back to use until I build clientele in NC. I ended up going back to Child protective service, what a bad idea. I can say what I have learned during this journey is that Fear is a killer. It will have you thinking your can’t when in reality you CAN. So, let’s just say, I had to get back to my passion. I ended up leaving my job and trying to focus on hair. I landed a commission job at a salon but once gain building clientele while having social anxiety is a hard one. Don’t get me wrong the salon is everything. It’s in the heart of Raleigh and they specialize in multicultural hair along with nails. Check it out when you have the chance. (Salon RG)
Well, I was getting into my craft and really getting a hold of breaking into NC hair world. Then on August 21, my middle brother was taken from this earth due to a senseless crime. Since then, I have been trying to find my way. Yet once again, for the third time, another lost.
Since then, I have been finding my way. Hair is my therapy. I have come to the conclusion that hair is life for me. The joys I get from making women feel their beauty from the inside out is the most rewarding.
Currently, I have been able to be a bicoastal hairstylist servicing ongoing clients in North Carolina, Atlanta Georgia, and Los Angeles. As well as open up a hairline (InFAVORofSTYLE Collection) selling extensions and wigs. My work is not done and I can’t wait to see what else North Carolina has to offer.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has not been smooth. But it has been worth. The process of building clientele while having social anxiety has been one of the toughest struggles along with dealing with the death of close loved ones while trying to maintain my mental health.
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?
Umeko has been in the beauty industry for 13 years. Her love for hair has allowed her to explore different sectors, such as working with the everyday women, tv/film, marketing campaigns, awards show, charitable events, and much more. Umeko’s love for hair makes for an experience with her clients that exudes through from the inside out. Her specialties are extensions, natural hair care, locs styling and maintenance, wig making, and more.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson has been to not let fear get in the way. You are capable and able to do whatever it is you out your mind and hard work into. And also, no matter what keep going even when it feels like you can’t. You have to find a way or make a way
Pricing:
- Extension services starting at $300
- Braids services starting at $250
- Natural hair services starting at $100
- Color services starting at $150
- Loc maintenance starting at $85
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: Infavorofstyle.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/infavorofstyle?utm_medium=copy_link
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/infavorofstyle/?ref=bookmarks
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/user/InFAVORofSTYLE
Image Credits:
Karen Civil
Nikole Hannah
Jones Denta
Amoateng Dani
Leigh Mieka
Joi Shop
Sonya B
Boutique Latisha Sexton
