Today we’d like to introduce you to Aquilah Headspeth.
Hi aquilah, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Hi, I’m Aquilah Headspeth, a 34-year-old hairstylist, entrepreneur, and owner of Lockreationz Hair Studio in Baltimore, Maryland. Originally from the DMV area, I relocated to Baltimore in 2017 to further pursue my career in the beauty industry and grow my business.
Hair has been my passion since I was 10 years old. I come from a family of hairstylists and barbers—my father was a barber, and my great-grandmother owned a salon. Being surrounded by that environment from such a young age inspired my love for hair and showed me the impact beauty professionals can have on people’s confidence and self-esteem.
In 2013, I attended the Aveda Institute in Washington, D.C., to pursue my cosmetology education. After completing my training, I spent several years assisting, learning the industry, and perfecting my skills behind the chair.
As my passion continued to grow, I knew I wanted to build something of my own. When I moved to Baltimore, I was given an opportunity by a local salon, and I worked tirelessly to build my clientele from the ground up. Through consistency, dedication, and a genuine love for what I do, I was able to establish myself in a new city and create a loyal client base.
As a mother to a six-year-old son, my motivation has only become stronger. He inspires me every day to work harder, dream bigger, and continue building a future that he can be proud of. Motherhood has strengthened my determination and reminded me why perseverance is so important.
From 2020 to 2025, I co-owned a salon through a partnership. That experience taught me invaluable lessons about business ownership, leadership, and resilience. Today, I am proud to be the sole owner of Lockreationz Hair Studio, where I continue to provide exceptional hair care services while building a brand that reflects my passion, creativity, and commitment to healthy hair.
At 34, I am proud of how far I’ve come—from a young girl who loved doing hair to a business owner who has built a career through passion, hard work, and faith. I feel incredibly blessed to make a living doing something I genuinely love.
Hairstyling is more than a profession for me—it’s a passion, a creative outlet, and an opportunity to help people feel confident and beautiful. I look forward to continuing to grow, inspire others, and leave a lasting impact in the beauty industry.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The journey hasn’t always been easy. One of my biggest challenges was relocating to Baltimore and building a clientele from the ground up. Starting over in a new city meant earning trust, networking, marketing myself, and consistently delivering quality service to grow my business. Building a clientele is one thing, but maintaining those relationships and keeping clients coming back year after year requires dedication, consistency, and genuine care for the people you serve.
Another challenge came in December when I was involved in a serious car accident. It was a difficult and unexpected setback that affected both my personal life and my business. As a self-employed entrepreneur, taking time away from work can be especially challenging because your livelihood depends on you showing up every day. The experience reminded me not to take anything for granted and strengthened my appreciation for my health, my clients, and the support system around me.
Balancing entrepreneurship with motherhood has also required perseverance. As a mother to a young son, there have been many moments when I had to push through challenges while continuing to provide for my family and pursue my goals. Those experiences have made me stronger, more focused, and even more determined to succeed.
Every obstacle I’ve faced has helped shape who I am today. They have taught me resilience, patience, and faith, and they continue to inspire me as I grow Lockreationz Hair Studio and build a lasting legacy for my son.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in healthy hair care with a strong focus on locs, natural hair, and loc reconstruction,maintaining the integrity of my clients’ hair while still giving them the style they want. Whether it’s loc maintenance, retwists, styling, or color, my priority is always the health of the hair first.
I’m known for my consistency, attention to detail, and the way I care for my clients beyond just the service. A lot of my clients come to me not just because of the style I deliver, but because they trust me with their hair journey. I build real relationships, and I take pride in making sure my clients feel comfortable, heard, and confident when they leave my chair.
What really sets me apart is my dedication to healthy hair and long-term results. I don’t believe in quick fixes or styles that compromise the integrity of the hair. I take my time, educate my clients, and make sure they understand how to maintain their hair between visits. I want my work to not only look good the day of the appointment, but to support the overall health and growth of their hair over time.
What I’m most proud of is building Lockreationz Hair Studio from the ground up in a new city where I had to start over completely. I’m proud of the clientele I’ve built, the relationships I’ve maintained, and the fact that I’ve stayed true to my passion through every season—whether things were busy or slow. I’ve grown not only as a stylist but as a business owner and a woman, and I’m proud that my brand reflects resilience, care, and excellence.
What are your plans for the future?
Looking ahead, my goal is to continue growing Lockreationz Hair Studio into a well-established brand that represents healthy hair care, education, and long-term hair care solutions. I want my studio to be more than just a salon—it’s a space where clients feel educated, confident, and cared for.
I’m also working on expanding my business beyond the chair. I already sell hair care products, and my next step is to grow that side of my brand by developing more intentional products and building an online presence where clients can access quality hair care no matter where they are.
Long term, I want to create opportunities for other stylists as well—whether that’s through mentorship, education, or eventually expanding into a larger team or multiple locations. I know what it feels like to start over and build from nothing, so being able to create opportunities for others is something I’m very passionate about.
Most importantly, my biggest motivation is my son. Everything I’m building is about creating a stable, lasting legacy for him and showing him what consistency, faith, and hard work can build over time.
Pricing:
- loc maintenance starts at 110
- loc retwist with two strand start at 135
- color starts at 100
- silk press 125
- loc retwist creative style starts at 130
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lockreationzbyqihairstudio.as.me/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lockreationzbyqi
