Owner, Locs of Glory SalonSpa

Owner, Black Beauty Supply

Co-Founder Beauty Bootcamp for Girls STL

While pursuing her MPH at Saint Louis University and styling hair on the side, Tameka Stigers learned of a breakthrough styling technology called “Sisterlocks” for people with textured hair. Further research revealed there was an emerging market for the technology and expertise in St. Louis. She pursued extensive training in the styling technique and sought help in creating a business plan from the Grace Hill Women’s Business Center. In 2009, Tameka brought Sisterlocks™ to St. Louis with the launch of Locs of Glory. Starting with a 400 square foot salon inside her home, she quickly outgrew the space. With the help of an SBA loan, she built a custom 3,000 sf building to house her hair salon and spa service business. Today, Tameka provides jobs for 15+ people and has enjoyed steady growth in sales in the last four years. She gives back to the community by providing hair care services to underprivileged children at local elementary schools and started a youth training program at her salon to provide job training skills to middle/high school students. She also provides a safe environment for interracial families seeking advice and services for their adopted/foster children.

Tameka has worked tirelessly to bring legislative justice for hair-braiders in Missouri. She fought and won; creating a separate registration license for hair-braiders that no longer requires them to complete cosmetology school. With this same tenacity, Tameka is challenging the status quo of owning a thriving beauty supply store. Historically, these types of businesses are owned by Asian or Middle Eastern men whose target market is black women. Black communities in St. Louis deserve better than this…being pigeon-holed as only a consumer, not an owner. She is speaking out through action to invite her community to join her in breaking cycles of oppressive business practices. Her action of gathering capital, opening a beauty supply store and fighting through the challenges of building a following and growing revenues shows the community that she’s willing to go the distance. 

She is doing the work to make this reality of financial freedom for her family and community come to pass. She also invites you to join her and the coalition of black beauty supply store owners in the St. Louis metropolitan area to be intentional in their commitment and patronage.

Striving to provide the absolute best experience for her customers, Tameka remains active in her community as she works & lives in the same neighborhood.