“CATCH ON FIRE IF YOU MUST, SOMETIMES EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BURN TO THE GROUND SO WE MAY GROW”
-A.J LAWLESS
The art of braiding hair has been around for decades upon decades with so many mastering the craft celebrities like Snoop Dogg and athletes like Allen Iverson had taken the hairstyle and made them bigger than ever, causing mass hysteria with men and women growing their hair out to achieve the style they see on the television. It takes patience and a keen eye to master and execute the art of braiding hair, it is not the easiest of task in fact it is the most time consumed service one can give in the industry. Some have tried while others have failed, some have mastered the craft while others have wished they never began but one stands alone in the art her name Priscilla Torres (Lancaster, PA) has taken this art to a whole new level from your standard straight back cornrow Priscilla has made walking works of art in the heads of many with tight braids and crisp lines which has set Priscilla apart from the many who express themselves through braiding hair.
As a little 9 year old I would sit hours and hours and braid the hair of my Barbie dolls that my parents bought me it was something I always did “I JUST LOVED DOING HAIR” my mother taught me how to do your regular 3 strand braid but watching my aunt do cornrows on my cousins is what really intrigued me and caught my attention. I was determined to learn it and perfect it and then I finally got it! It had become 2nd nature to me I felt I could do it in my sleep, when people get their hair done by me they often ask how are you able to braid so small? My only answer is I had a lot of practice. My work has spoken for itself with my clients being those free walking billboards gaining a client or two which has been a relief for me due to being so shy I normally wouldn’t approach anyone letting them know of my skill in braiding hair.
Braiding hair has its challenges so for me it helps to kill any doubts I sometimes face in my mind, when I am put to the test with different hair textures and lengths with some hair even being damaged from products I do my very best when my back is against the wall and my skill is at full potential and on display thats when my clients take their first look at what I did and the expressions of amazement and satisfaction is shown to me that within itself is the ultimate payback for what I do. After 11yrs of doing nursing full time and just going back and forth in my head about what i was more passionate about i finally gave it up! I knew in my heart that I wanted to take braiding to a another level, my clients needed me and more importantly my talent itself needed me to be available, to learn, elevate and execute. I do part-time nursing now because it’s something I continue to love and it’s the one thing I would go back to full time if I weren’t doing hair. I am so meticulous with caring for my patients that it is truly shown when braiding hair I make sure that my patients and clients are both well taken care of I guess it’s that nursing mentality.
“GOD HEARD YOU PRISCILLA”
My children are my inspiration they are the two that drive me every day to be and do better failure is not an option and those two souls make sure of it. My grandmother Ana Figueroa is the backbone of our family her selfless heart and humbleness is what makes her so flipping phenomenal in every sense of the way. Her belief in me and continuous support has fueled me to keep braiding and pursue barbering and I will forever be grateful for that. Andre Gonzalez has been one of the most inspiring people in my life. Teaching me how to cut hair, constantly feeding me positivity and making sure I never use the words “I can’t” all the while going through obstacles that life has the pleasure of throwing our way, it has never torn him down but only kept him moving forward and to know and witness him do that is truly aspiring.
“DON’T EVER TRADE YOUR AUTHENTICTY FOR APPROVAL”
-PRISCILLA TORRES
