Mental Wellness Meets Beauty: The Story of Diamond Smiles Beauty Bar

Can you imagine turning your lifelong passion into a thriving business that not only enhances physical beauty but also supports mental well-being? Meet Desire Francois, the inspiring founder of Diamond Smiles Beauty Bar, who transformed her hairstyling career, which began at the age of 19, into a multifaceted beauty enterprise. Discover how Desire's journey evolved from cutting and styling hair to incorporating body sculpting and teeth whitening into her repertoire, all while leveraging her background in psychology to offer her clients unparalleled holistic care. Her story is not just about beauty; it's about resilience, adaptation, and the power of human connection.

In this heartwarming episode, Desire opens up about her experiences transitioning to a home-based business during the COVID-19 pandemic and how this shift has redefined her approach to client care. She passionately shares her future aspirations, including her exciting plans to add new dimensions to her services. With her infectious energy and engaging presence, it's no wonder that Desire has built a loyal clientele who not only trust her expertise but also cherish the positive vibes she radiates. Tune in to get a dose of inspiration and practical tips from someone who truly understands the art and science of making people feel their best, inside and out.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

I met a young lady that was one of the first black women in the Shreveport Bojah area to start doing body sculpting, teeth whitening. I was one of her victims, laid me on the table, ironed me out. It worked. She started training. I got my certification in that.

Speaker 2: 0:19

Just take tell it all, just take, tell it all. Hey everybody, we are here at St Vincent Mall doing a pop-up shop and I have Miss Desiree here with me and she's going to tell us about her company and what inspired her. Hey guys, hey.

Speaker 1: 1:10

So tell us the name of your business. So my name of business is diamond smiles beauty bar. Um, the the reason behind it. It's just like my gold chain collection you asked me. It's really one of those things where it started with me doing one thing and I just kept layering up on top of it. Um, when I was 19, I became a hairstylist. I became licensed at 19. I've been licensed.

Speaker 1: 1:32

I'm 34 now, so I've been doing hair my whole life. I've been doing hair since I was 11, hands down. So by me doing hair, meeting a lot of people, being young, engaging all different walks of life I like to talk, I like to smile it just became natural. So from hair I actually became a counselor. So I went to school and got my degree in psychology, so I'm a mental health specialist outside of that. So now I do hair. Y'all already was in my chair telling me everything. Now I ain't got license to do it. You understand that. So I'm to go secure that bag. So now here we are with hair styling. Now I'm a counselor and then from that, just being in the industry, connecting, like I met you lovely ladies here today, meeting people growing.

Speaker 1: 2:16

I met a young lady that was one of the first black women in the street promotion area to start doing body sculpting, teeth whitening. I street promotion area to start doing body sculpting, teeth whitening. I was one of her victims laid me on the table, iron me out. It worked. She started training. I got my certification in that, so that's how I started doing body sculpting. Same thing, same girl introduced me to teeth whitening. So now here I am and I've just added all of these things under my belt since I started at 11. And I'm just blessed to be here and I'm a child of God. So you know Period, so I love that. So that's just kind of the gist to me. I'm layered like an onion but I'm open like a boot. Oh my.

Speaker 2: 2:56

God, that's enough, right there, that'll freak y'all. Oh my God, I love that. Thank you.

Speaker 1: 3:09

So when you're not here, uh, where can people find you? Um, well, you can always look me up on social media under my name, desiree francois um. Instagram is diamond smiles beauty bar, which is the name of my business. Um, but I work from home for most of it. When covid hit, I was working with a lady and she shut down maybe a month before COVID hit, and then, when COVID hit, it got expensive. When it was time to come back outside, my clients were comfortable at home. I'm comfortable with my clientele. So my next goal is to get Desiree Shisha in the back and that's going to be my boo. I'm not going nowhere else. I am comfortable If I'm not going nowhere else, but I am comfortable. So, yeah, if I'm not working, I'm traveling. So working and traveling it's kind of my two things to do. Yes, ma'am.

Speaker 2: 3:52

Awesome. Oh my God, you are so awesome.

Speaker 1: 3:55

Oh, thank you.

Speaker 2: 3:57

I'm so glad y'all chose me to be with you. I've never been on a podcast. We gonna go viral.

Speaker 1: 4:06

Like real talk. Today is the day we go viral. Yes, ma'am, thank you so much. You're welcome.

Speaker 2: 4:14

Thank y'all for having me. So y'all come out and y'all shop. Y'all come shop and just come see and feel her beautiful vibe and energy. It is off the charts. It's none like I've felt in a long time. So y'all come on out here and spend some time with Ms Desiree. Y'all Okay, y'all Okay, y'all Bye.