In the 1890s, Sarah Breedlove suffered from a scalp disease that caused her to lose much of her hair. With the help of his brother, Breedlove began experimenting with home remedies and store-bought products.
After marrying correspondent Charles Joseph Walker, she took the name Madame CJ Walker and founded a hair care line. Selling Madame Walker's magical hair treatments made her one of the first black millionaires.
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Walker used his wealth to give back and empower those around him, contributing to organizations such as the NAACP and the YMCA.
natural gift
Celebrity fashion designer Latisha "Tish" Summers, a Fayetteville native, follows Ms. Walker and realized his goals. Like Walker, Summers came from a difficult background and overcame obstacles in her personal and professional growth.
Summers, or Pure Diva, hails from Jasper Street, located on Murchison Street, just one block from EE Smith High School. As a student, Summers excelled academically and served as student council president.
His dream is to become a doctor, lawyer or judge. However, life had other plans.
While attending Florida State University, he discovered that certain past decisions could hinder his growth in certain areas. Despite her college education, Summers decided to rely on her natural talent – hair care.
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If the client's hair is broken
Summer has three sisters, so hair care is essential in her home. At Florida State University, she started hairdressing to earn extra money. Although her services are in great demand, she feels she is not patient enough to continue her cosmetology education.
However, in 2013, she decided to enroll in the cosmetology program at Fayetteville Technical College. At Fayetteville Tech, she received the Scholar Ambassador Award and was inducted into the Honor Society. Apart from being a student, he works two jobs.
As a student and stylist, Summers noticed her clients' hair breaking. He began researching possible causes and discovered that factors such as medications, diet and underlying health conditions could significantly contribute to hair breakage and damage.
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Always up for a challenge, Summers began studying cranial prosthetics: the use of fake implants, wigs and/or natural hair growth processes on the scalp.
Overcoming car accidents and creating new products
Through hard work and passion to help others, his customer base grew. I began my journey to the black hair mecca of Atlanta, where the Broner Brothers Design and Product Conference was being held.
While traveling to Atlanta with fellow cosmetologist Charlize Curtis Summers, she was involved in a car accident that changed her life. I still have limitations in movement and functioning.
He began to doubt his career. But he persevered and prevailed. Currently, the world is in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many designers, Summers decided to innovate and expand her brand.
As an esthetician specializing in natural hair care and hair loss restoration, she understands that chemicals can damage hair.
He used the time during the pandemic to develop the MoGrow Hair Enrichment System, a natural hair care system that includes a hair follicle stimulator and growth points.
Repeat
Like Mrs. CJ Walker, Summers uses funds raised through her work to give back to organizations throughout Fayetteville and Cumberland County. Diva's Delights and Cordials, Summer's Food Service, sponsors various community organizations and prepares hot meals for those less fortunate.
This service is not a new idea for summer. His parents, Theophilus and Pedalia Ferguson, were married for 48 years and instilled in their children the importance of giving back.
Somers' granddaughter, Nia, shares the same dedication and love for food. Nia died tragically at the age of 4. The specific goal is to own a Nia restaurant. In Nia's memory, Summers and her family continue to serve the community.
Summers works as a maid and her brand Shear Diva is based on the same approach as she never forgets her Jasper Street roots. However, he did not let this hinder his development, instead he used it as a means of empowerment.
Her work has been featured in publications such as Universal Salon and Hype Hair. To book Summer, call her at (910) 882-1579 or follow her on Instagram @Iamseardiva26.
Shout out to Taisha and all the activists out there. Greetings.
Rakim "Kim" Jones is a community activist and father of three in the Shaw Road/Bonny Doon area of Fayetteville. He can be contacted at keemj45@gmail.com.
This article first appeared in The Fayetteville Observer: A Fayetteville beautician overcame accident and pandemic to build a business.