Seniors run business through THRIVE

Margaret Oliphant
Video Editor

Definition of Beauty is a student run braiding and eyelashes business through THRIVE. The business is run by seniors Nadia Robinson, Tanashia Bates, Mia Knox and Teuana Logan.

The four started their business at the beginning of the 2023-2024 year and named it during the first week of school.

Robinson and Bates started by braiding for their family members and decided to start a business to help master their skills.

Knox and Robinson can now do hair for men and women alike and each has found their specialty including travel braids, knotless, twists, cornrows and braided ponytails.

Knox has been braiding hair since eighth grade, teaching herself through YouTube and practicing styles such as corn rows, twists, starter locs, design braids as well as styling natural hair. Knox charges a starting rate of $50, adding $5 for each row of braids.

THRIVE teacher Kara Siebe had helped the girls get in touch with a specialist with whom they meet once a week to learn from.

“The smaller the braid, the bigger the price,” Robinson said.

Bates got her braiding license in the beginning of December and learned after the death of her aunt.

“A few years ago my little cousins’ mom died, and I stepped up and started doing her hair because she didn’t have anyone to help her with her hair,” Bates said.

Definition of Beauty charges $200 or less for hair, compared to other braiders who charge $200-300.
Bates and Logan can both braid and do eyelashes by dipping them in a glue bond. A classic set of lashes is $100 and a hybrid set is $120 because it is more detailed. The lashes last two-three weeks.

“You have to wash your lashes like you would wash your face. You’ve got to brush your lashes to get the old out and so you don’t get termites in your lashes,” Bates said.

Logan works exclusively with eyelashes, although her interest beauty got more serious about it this year.

Definition of Beauty works during THRIVE from first to fourth hour as well as the weekends.

Feature Photo: Seniors Mia Knox, Tanashia Bates and Teuana Logan present during curriculum and preview night on Tuesday, Dec. 5, in the library (not pictured Nadia Robinson). Photo by Soledad Lee