Meet Myriam

We recently connected with Myriam and have shared our conversation below.

Myriam, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

My passion for beauty began at just 10 years old. From an early age, I was fascinated by hair and beauty not only how to enhance it on myself, but how to help others feel confident and beautiful as well.

I started by spending time at the neighborhood hair stylist’s home, showing up whenever she had clients and eagerly asking if I could assist. I helped with micro braids and box braids, then practiced on myself until I mastered cornrowing. Hair quickly became more than a hobby it became a calling.

When I moved to America at 12 years old, I quickly realized there was no “neighborhood hair lady” ( someone’s aunt or relative who knew how to do hair so just did everyone ‘s hair from home) to help us look and feel our best. Thankfully, I already knew how to braid my own hair. Throughout middle school and the first half of high school, I began experimenting with weave and protective styles. Living in Northern Kentucky, I struggled to find Black stylists, let alone ones experienced with textured hair.

After trusting my hair to strangers whose styles looked good but whose knowledge fell short, I experienced more than a few disappointments. I remember coming home in tears, staring in the mirror, then turning to YouTube to figure out how to fix the style, or at least make myself feel better about it. Eventually, I decided to learn how to do my own weave. That journey opened my eyes to the fact that most people sharing hair knowledge online were not professionals, but simply sharing what worked for them.

One day, after failing to find a proper “how-to” tutorial, it clicked: Why not become a professional hairstylist myself? I Googled How to become a professional hairstylist. researched the required education and licensing, found the nearest beauty school, and enrolled the following week.

Once in beauty school, I quickly realized that none of my instructors knew how to work with my natural hair. This led me to transfer from Northern Kentucky to Cincinnati, Ohio, where there were more African American students and instructors with real experience in textured hair. After attending four beauty schools and working as a licensed cosmetologist for over 10 years, I learned an invaluable truth: over 90% of the Black community has not been taught how to properly care for their hair.

I decided I wanted to change that by becoming a trusted authority in Black hair care.

I am incredibly excited about the knowledge I’ve gained through years of hands-on experience and countless continuing education classes. My purpose has always been to learn everything I can about our natural hair so I can share that knowledge with African Americans and anyone with ethnic textured hair who wants to care for their hair properly and confidently.

I’m starting with locs and will eventually expand into teaching natural hair care as a whole. I am currently developing my own Skool community called Locs by Myko. Within this community I will teach everything about locs ,hair ,scalp health, proper maintenance, and even how to turn a passion for locs into a profitable business.

I truly enjoy teaching and sharing my knowledge with my current clients, and I’m excited to make this information accessible to anyone who is genuinely interested in learning the art of dreadlocks from a professional who has been in the hair industry for over 23 years.

Looking back, I now see that God was preparing me for this purpose all along. I am deeply grateful to be living out my dream doing what I love while helping countless people around the world feel confident, educated, and empowered in their hair journey.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

My name is Myriam Konate, and I am a licensed cosmetologist and loctician. I have been in the beauty industry for over 23 years. I am also the owner of Allure Myko Salon and Locs by Myko. The name Allure Myko was inspired by the word “Allure,” meaning attraction, fascination, and beauty. I chose this name as a constant reminder of how deeply caring for ourselves rewards us inside and out.

I am passionate about enhancing my clients’ best features through high-quality products and personalized services. Making people look and feel amazing is my favorite part of what I do, because when we feel great, we are more confident, energized, and ready to take on anything life brings our way. As I’ve grown, I’ve realized that at the core, we all want the same thing to enjoy life. Allure Myko exists to make sure we’re doing just that, while looking and feeling like the rockstars we truly are.

My current specialty is locs. My services include starter locs, loc maintenance, loc extensions, loc repairs, wicks, starter wicks, loc-to-wick combinations, wick repairs, and wick extensions. I absolutely love transforming my clients’ hair into a unique work of art through the many maintenance and styling options available. There’s nothing more rewarding than bringing a hairstyle to life from a “dream hair” inspiration photo or video and seeing my clients light up when they see the final result.

In addition to serving clients in the salon, I share free tutorials, tips, and tricks through Locs by Myko on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and my Facebook group. Education and empowerment are a huge part of my mission.

I am where I am today thanks to the incredible support and belief from the city of Cincinnati, which inspired me to expand my work to Las Vegas, Nevada. I am beyond grateful for how my talents have allowed me to serve others and share my craft with the world.

I am especially excited about helping aspiring beauty professionals particularly those just starting out feel encouraged, supported, and guided through a journey I once had to navigate on my own. My goal is to mentor and empower the next generation of locticians, helping them build successful, six-figure loc businesses while understanding that with dedication and hard work, their goals are absolutely attainable.

As an immigrant from Africa, my family has been my greatest support system throughout my journey. Their trust in me helped me learn makeup, extensions, weaves, and wig-making, and showed me that there is nothing I can’t accomplish when I set my mind to it. I look forward to contributing to a more self-sufficient world by pouring my knowledge, experience, and passion into future locticians no matter what state , City, or country they are in.
I invite any and everyone interest in learning all about the art of Locs and how to create a successful loc business to find and join me on all social media platforms including my community on the Skool under the user name Locs by Myko.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

One of the most important qualities that has truly set me apart in the beauty industry is self-confidence. You must believe that you have what it takes to achieve anything you set your mind to. With this mindset, there is very nothing that cannot be accomplished. This level of self-belief has guided my entire journey, and it’s something I truly wish for everyone.

The second essential skill for success as a beauty professional, Service provider, and a small business owner is exceptional customer service. This comes naturally to me, as I am genuinely caring and have worked in customer service since the age of 14. I’ve learned that great customer service leaves people feeling better when they leave your space than when they arrived and creating that experience is one of the most rewarding parts of my work.

The third and equally important factor is knowing your craft. Mastering your skills, understanding your work inside and out, and committing to continuous education especially staying current with trends will always set you apart, no matter the city or market you’re in. Clients recognize expertise quickly, and that confidence builds trust, loyalty, and long-term relationships. A high client retention rate is one of my biggest accomplishments, and I always encourage new professionals to spend as much time as possible learning, practicing, and sharpening their skills.

One of the best ways to build confidence and experience early on is by offering free or discounted services to friends and family. This allows you to practice, refine your craft, and showcase your work to the world. Your clients become your walking billboards. The more you practice, the more confident you become. The more confident you feel, the more you want to learn and the more your business grows.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

Whenever I find myself feeling overwhelmed, I recognize it as my energy center’s way of signaling that I’m depleted and need to refill my own cup. I begin with a gentle self check-in, taking a moment to honor and acknowledge how I’m feeling in that moment.

Once I’ve identified my emotions, I reflect on what may be contributing to the overwhelm. I then pause for a few deep, intentional breaths while considering the most effective and aligned way to navigate the situation at hand.

If the issue isn’t urgent or if my energy feels especially overloaded- I turn to nature for balance. Hiking and spending time outdoors help me reset and reconnect. I also find that working out, practicing yoga, or meditating are powerful ways to calm my mind and restore my energy.

When time isn’t on my side, I rely on uplifting music to soothe my nervous system until I’m able to slow down and fully check in with myself again.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Image credits :
Smile4Lexx photography
Give me face photography
Dillinham Photography
Lv action images

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