Dior Davenport of BMA: Creating Change Through Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Hey everyone! I'm Dior Davenport of the Black Micropigmentation Association. I'm taking over Vagaro's blog for Vagaro Promo Days and sharing my story to inspire other business owners!

Like a lot of people, I was laid off in 2008 during the recession. I called my sister, Shalon, and went over to see her. We realized that she was laid off exactly a year prior, to the day. We knew that had to be a sign of something, but we weren't sure what it was yet. At the time, I wanted to go get my lashes done since it was one of my forms of self-care and I figured it would be an expense I might have to cut out, so I needed it! While we were there, I noticed how many people were in the waiting room. I did some quick math in my head and figured out how much my lash lady was making just from this room of people. After Shalon and I left, I looked at her and said, “We could do this.”

After we learned that, to do lashes, you need an esthetician license, we went back to school. Since we had time after being laid off, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to learn something new. I started with eyelash extensions but quickly found that I was interested in other services and wanted to challenge myself. I’m always attracted to services that go beyond learning the basics and are often new & unexplored territory. I love learning and want to learn everything I can! As an artist, I strive to be innovative, incorporating new services & techniques into my work. I’m constantly pushing myself to grow and stay at the forefront of different trends.

Shortly after discovering eyebrow extensions, I learned about microblading. I couldn't believe how realistic they looked! It was a cutting-edge service (so right up my alley), and I was ready to learn more about it. My sister and I hosted Irina Levchuk, one of the industry leaders in microblading, to teach a class in the states. After that, we started performing microblading services on our clients, many with eumelanin-rich skin. We decided to take other courses to continue improving our skills and were told the service was impossible for Black skin. It was offensive. We were literally performing the service on our clients, many of whom are Black women.

It was so frustrating to be told by other industry professionals that, basically, this space was not for Black people. So, my sister and I decided to open our school. Not only did we want to show others that it is possible to perform microblading on all skin tones, textures and colors, but we also wanted to give other women the opportunity we had. Instead of just learning, we had the chance to share this innovation with others in an accessible and equitable way. My background in education helped ensure that I was consistently designing lessons for all types of learners.

Even though I have a strong background in education and teaching, my passion lies in entrepreneurship. I want to teach my students skills. But I also want to teach them how to own & operate a business so their dreams, once they become a reality, can stay that way and become a vessel to create generational wealth & success. I want to see more women-owned businesses, especially those owned by women of color, which can help close existing pay gaps. The beauty industry is a perfect place to close those gaps, empower others and increase diversity. I know so many of you feel the same way and hear me when I say that.

Of course, to show others how to set up successful businesses, I needed the right tools to ensure my own business was thriving. For a while, I was using a software system that I downloaded from a CD, whose initial price was $1,200 and promised I would own the software and not have to pay again. But once that system went online, it became a monthly subscription. I found myself paying $250 a month after adding staff member—it was ridiculous. So, I started searching for new software that would be user-friendly while still having all the features I needed.

When I first came to Vagaro, I saw that they had a page where customers could request features and saw how many they had created based on customer feedback. I knew they actually listened to their customers, so I switched. Since then, they’ve added all the features I needed & more! I talk about Vagaro so much, I should be an honorary employee!

I use so many of Vagaro’s features. For $30 a month, I got the necessary business-amplifying tools. Here are some of my favorite ones:

• Reports: I use Reports to set benchmarks for me & my team. We can look at the salon's performance to adjust our course of action. It allows us to see what’s working and what could be improved. And generating a report is super easy!
• Payroll: Instead of spending hours on my Friday afternoons doing payroll, it’s totally automated. The money goes straight into my staff members’ accounts, streamlining the process. I’m able to set different commission tiers for stylists too.
• Appointment notifications & reminders: I won't use software that doesn't let me send appointment reminders or take deposits. We’re all forgetful from time to time. Sending reminders to my clients almost guarantees they’ll show up. I can set when the reminders are sent, like 72 hours before an appointment. This is one of the most important features that help maintain positive client relationships for me.
• Client notes: With permanent makeup, each client has a specific formula designed for their skin’s needs. It’s essential that I can track this and easily reference this during appointments.

Vagaro has made my life easier by streamlining processes and making organization so much easier. I don’t have to use multiple systems; everything is in one place. I have older clients who are sometimes hesitant to use more technology and they’ve never complained about Vagaro. I can communicate with clients more effectively this way. Because I'm so organized & efficient now, it's bolstered my credibility and upholds my professionalism. It’s given me time back, so I can focus on my goals for Shador Studio London.

Even though Vagaro is still new in the UK, I’m excited to see how it grows. I’ve been telling my connections and friends in the industry to switch over. And once Pay Later is available in the UK? Game over for other booking services.

I love starting from scratch and building something from the ground up. That challenge of taking something new and figuring out how I can create from it is exciting for me. I want to share my passion with other artists. With Vagaro in the UK, I know I can continue to bring the art of microblading to other artists, especially those who are often underrepresented in this industry. Being told, “NO” can deter a lot of people. But if you can push through and believe in yourself & your dreams, you can build the life you want. And there are tools out there to help you do just that.

Next week, my sister, Shalon Burruss of the Black Micropigmentation Association will be taking over Vagaro’s blog! If you’re interested in reading our entire group interview to learn more about who we are, check out this group interview!