Meet Valeen Cooper | Loctician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Valeen Cooper and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Valeen, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My journey into entrepreneurship was driven by a desire for independence. I never envisioned myself as a business owner, let alone achieving success in it. In my hometown, entrepreneurship wasn’t a common topic of conversation. The business that I’m in is a help to the community helping young girls and women look beautiful rocking their own hair and loving it. I really enjoy providing my clients with the history, the process and what products to use on their beautiful locs. Today, I’m filled with pride and joy to demonstrate to my children the fulfilling reality of owning a business and making a difference.

Absolutely, it’s a powerful story. I’m proud to say that I’m the CEO of Virtuous Crowns, nestled in the beautiful West Palm Beach, Florida. Our journey began in 2021 amid the challenges of the COVID pandemic, a time filled with layers of complexity and change.

To give you the complete backdrop, my personal loc journey started in 2016. Watching my hair transform was an empowering and beautiful experience, one that significantly boosted my confidence. Inspired by this transformation, I began styling my daughter’s locs. My sons shared this on social media, and from this passion and family sharing, Virtuous Crowns was born.

Starting out was quite the challenge. I started with just a handful of clients, and there was a period when I had none. Despite these challenges, I stayed committed to my craft, continuing to style for my remaining clients and my family while consistently sharing our loc journey on social media. Word of mouth organically helped grow my business.

Taking steps toward true ownership, I tackled setting up the fundamentals: acquiring an LLC. It was a learning curve, certainly, but each step was a powerful affirmation of my dream.

What I truly want to share with the world is this: Don’t hesitate to believe in your capabilities. Step out in faith, share your passion, and just watch where it takes you.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Well, I am the CEO of Virtuous Crowns located in West Palm Beach, Florida. I started my business back in 2021 during the COVID epidemic. There are so many layers to what was taking place around that time. Just to give you the logistics of the story behind my business: I started my own loc journey back in 2016. Throughout that process, my hair transformed into something so beautiful, and it made me feel even more beautiful. So, I started my daughter’s locs, and my sons posted it on social media — and that’s how Virtuous Crowns was created.
When I first got started, it was a struggle. I had a couple of clients at first, but then I went through a phase of not having any clients. However, I remained consistent with the clients I did have, on top of doing my children’s hair and my own, and I would still post on social media. So basically, my business grew by word of mouth. Then I started the process of ownership by getting the LLC and sorting out the basics of starting a business, such as a phone number and emails. That was a process for me, but you know, you learn as you go.

I want the world to know: don’t be afraid to believe that you’re capable. Put yourself out there and watch what happens.

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?
Some exciting places to explore, in West Palm Beach, are Norton Museum of Art: A fantastic spot for art lovers, featuring an impressive collection of American, European, and Chinese art.
Clematis Street: The heart of downtown, filled with boutiques, nightclubs, live music, and some fabulous restaurants and bars. Norton Sculpture Gardens: Nestled along the Intracoastal Waterway, this is a hidden gem with breathtaking sculptures and serene gardens.
The Society of the Four Arts: Offers a cultural feast with its exhibitions, concerts, films, and educational programs. Antique Row Art & Design District: Filled with a charming collection of antique shops, specialty stores, and fine dining. Mounts Botanical Garden: Perfect for a tranquil stroll through beautifully landscaped gardens showcasing exotic plants from all over the world.
These spots are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the vibrant and diverse offerings of West Palm Beach. Just to name a few.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Firstly, I want to give a heartfelt shoutout to my remarkable husband. His business acumen and unwavering support have been instrumental, encouraging me to take that bold leap of faith and pursue my vision with confidence.

Next, I owe a huge thank you to my children. They are my driving force and everything I do is centered around them. Not only do they inspire me to chase my dreams, but they also graciously let me use them as my models. Watching their incredible journey embracing their natural locs has, in turn, bolstered my confidence and reinforced my belief in my skills.

And finally, I’d like to acknowledge myself. Reflecting on my journey, there was a little girl with dreams of becoming a hairdresser, unaware that she would one day realize her passion, creating beauty and joy in others. She dreamt big, and the universe conspired to turn those dreams into reality.

Website: https://virtuouscrowns.my.canva.site/

Image Credits
Valeen Cooper has the right to these images.