Meet Porche Cooper | Master Cosmetologist/Barber And Certified Trichologist
We had the good fortune of connecting with Porche Cooper and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Porche, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I think risk is something that you must take in order to get to your purpose in life, I believe everyone here on earth has a life purpose and a path to help and give back to the world via your gift and or talent. I think risk is the new word for having faith I am a big believer in faith and letting God & the universe do its thing. When I started my career, I had no idea I would become a hair stylist, my husband is active duty and we were stationed in Hawaii, after being on island for a few months people started noticing my and my kid’s hair, they started asking about the stylist and a friend of mine Fallon Carter suggested I start doing hair on island for military personnel and their families. I left California leaving all my family, friends and a good paying job risking it all, but I’m very thankful I did because I literally found myself and figured out my lifelong purpose, I am now a licensed Cosmetologist/Barber, Make-Up Artist, Certified Trichologist, DK Master, Goddess Loc Master & natural hair care specialist with many other skills. I plan on giving back to foster youth and my community by offering beauty classes and eventually an all-natural beauty school/salon that educate stylist on natural hair care.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Our mission at Porches Meshaye LLC is to promote self-care and entrepreneurship by offering professional, top-quality, and reliable trichology and cosmetology services for a variety of clients, from film stars and runway models to the everyday people. We aim to elevate beauty standards for the African American community by encouraging and training them to engage in better, more effective hair and scalp care practices, creating the most attractive styling trends, and advocating for increased use of natural products for a healthier, glamorous, active, and confident lifestyle. My vision is to empower the African American community and be a force for good in the beauty industry by dedicating our skills, passion, and efforts to help people achieve healthy, stylish hair. We also aspire to build a non-profit beauty and business training school to equip those from underprivileged backgrounds with the education and know-how necessary to become successful entrepreneurs in this sector and create generational wealth.
I have been braiding since I was 12 years old it was something I picked up from my mother, I remember her braiding her own hair as a child, I mastered how to safely install and uninstall braids to help woman children and men manage their beautiful coils. I am most proud of my customer service skills and building such a great reputation off the strength of my attitude and professionalism. What sets me apart from most stylist is that 65% of cosmetologists wish they had more training with textured hair, I am trained in that area, I made sure to learn about ALL hair types and I learned how to do many popular styles, by taking paid courses to become skilled in all thing’s beauty. I would like to add that I am trained and certified under Dr. Kari a Celebrity stylist and the original creator of the goddess locs. I am a Certified Trichologist aka Hair and scalp Doctor which focus on hair loss and scalp issues, I am the go-to hair stylist rather you want braids, extensions, blow out or hair care treatments, I am ALL about the health of the REAL hair and scalp vs a lot of stylists that are only about the look and finished result. What sets me apart is that I have a passion for this industry, and I want to continue to learn and give back to my community I am concerned about the well-being of the underserved members of our communities such as foster kids and those in group homes, and pledge to dedicate my time and resources to championing for equal access to the available opportunities
As mentioned previously I was in the system I was placed into a group home where it was my first-time age 8 understanding that black hair was different from other hair, there are products we need and if we don’t have them our hair can’t thrive. I remember the group home had no staff or products that could help me fix my hair. I remember thinking I can’t wait till I make it; I am coming back & teaching the staff about natural hair care!!
I am most proud that I have gotten my Dual license, I am also proud that I won the Future Stylist Fund Scholarship 2022 with TRESemme and will be connecting with them this year to experience TRESemme x SimpleeBEAUTIFUL Texture certification Program which JUST launched April 2022! This program is created in partnership with texture hair expert and educator Diane Da Costa and shaped by celebrity stylist Lacy Redway and Nai’vasha, the new program is designed to counteract the lack of texture hair training required at cosmetology schools. I am Proud to be a part of the TRESemme Family and taking part of a program that expands on a long-term commitment to achieve equity for black women in hair styling by training and certifying licensed stylist nationwide in treating, cutting, and styling textured hair via 3 complimentary courses. The lesson is to be intentional and really think about what your life purpose is, and once you find that out everything else will fall into place. I want people to know that Porches Meshaye, LLC is a Black-owned business with a passion for promoting better hair care practices as well as higher beauty and health standards among members of the African American community. We offer professional, high-quality, and all-inclusive beauty and hair styling services for movie or film production, red carpet events, fashion models, and everyday clients. We also offer consultancy services on natural hair care and effectively dealing with any issues regarding hair and scalp care. Additionally, we train professional hair stylists on how to work with African American hair and its unique needs.
The founder is a licensed cosmetologist and barber who is a certified trichologist. Her passion for hair styling and care began at an early age watching her mother braid hair. She began developing her skills and has gained innumerable experience working with African American natural hair since then. She is also passionate about empowering her community, especially the foster youth and victims of social injustice. As such, she aspires to start a non-profit beauty school to equip these groups with skills such as styling, financial literacy and business acumen so they can create employment opportunities and build generational wealth. I want the world to know that even though life could give you lemons, there is always a way to make lemonade, don’t let your past define you, the future is yours.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would start with a nice hike in the morning to the hidden swings in la Jolla, after get Brunch at Dukes restaurant, we would then head to Mission Beach to walk the boardwalk and view the beautiful ocean, following that we would go and explore the Downtown gas lamp district and possibly go listen to some live music, we would then head to the Soul Swap Meet and pick up dinner at Louisiana Purchase a Soul Food restaurant. I would do a lot of sightseeing, there is a lot of hikes and beaches to do so I would make sure to take my best friend to all the scenic spots, we may even drive to LA and do a couple of days there to take everything in. Some of the most exciting things for me is nature, Spirituality and writing goals down on paper. I absolutely love Torrey pines, the ocean view and sound of the waves.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I will say I have to thank my mother Brenda Evans for always being here to support my dreams, I was not raised by my mother, but she never left the picture and has always been a part of my life and now she is the BEST grandmother to my children. I want to thank my grandmother Dorothy M. Evans mother of 9 and over 200 grandkids/great grandkids for raising me and taking me and my sisters in and showing us all how to be strong women, /men, thanking my Ancestors for protecting and watching over me while guiding me to break every generation curse amongst my family. I dedicate my success to my children Aaliyah & Nasir Cooper my eldest daughter Mijzee Dunbar, she was the motivation behind my life, as a teen parent I knew I wanted more for her so there was no losing for me. I would also like to shot out “Just in Time Foster Youth” in San Diego CA this non-profit organization helped me get on my feet after aging out of the foster care system, they helped me with finding an apartment they also helped with deposit, furniture and all supplies, I was able to take classes and get mentors that help shape me into the woman I am today, it really wouldn’t be possible without them. Also, my 3 older sisters Chayna & Gina Delahoussaye, Keyiona Ritchey for always listening to my ideas and pushing me toward my goals, thanking my other half Coop for his support and push in the right direction.
Website: www.porchescoop.com
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