V Braids: Investing in a side hustle

Varlina Jackson went from helping mom to hairstylist. 

The owner of V Braids in Terry Court, Jackson never envisioned braiding to be more than a side hustle.

And before it was a side hustle, it was a hobby. 

Before it was a hobby, it was a chore. 

“My mom started doing our hair when she was little,” Jackson said. “Then she got tired of it. She said, ‘It’s three of y’all girls. Y’all should be able to do each other’s hair. She kind of just showed us what to do, and from there, my sisters and I took it on. My sisters know how to braid, but they want to braid like I do. I was like, ‘Sure, I can do it.’” 

Jackson grew up in Chicago until she was 7 years old.

She started taking braiding more in Virginia. 

“Coming from Illinois, it was a little rough for us,” Jackson said. “I noticed that I started doing hair around 12 years old. That’s when I really got into it. I started doing my own hair. I started doing my friend’s hair, like ‘Can you put two braids in my hair? Can you do this to my hair?’ My mom had me doing her hair, my sisters, and stuff like that. I just picked up on it.” 

Even with the amount of hair she was braiding, Jackson never saw it as a career path. 

She had another vocation in mind. 

“Straight up side hustle,” Jackson said. “I didn’t know if it was something I wanted to do. I was invested, but just not as invested. I really like it, and I wanted to learn more. I was kind of up and down. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with myself. It’s crazy, because yesterday I was like, ‘I can’t believe I braid hair. This is crazy!’ Because I didn’t think this was something I wanted to do. I wanted to become a dentist.” 

Eventually, someone convinced Jackson to invest in her braiding side hustle. 

That led to her enrolling in Staunton School of Cosmetology. 

“After going to school, I realized I wanted to cater more to my clients,” Jackson said. “They’re mostly just coming to me for braids, and I had already built up a clientele being here. Just my side hustle alone, I’m like, ‘Hey, people are consistent. They must like what I’m doing.” 

Word is getting out. 

“I just kept showing up,” Jackson said. “I feel like the school did help, with people just coming through and asking questions. I got myself on Google. Facebook helped. Instagram helped. Plus, I know some people around here. There was a time when I didn’t have business cards, and people would still contact me.”

Story and photos by Chris Lassiter. Chris Lassiter is the director of engagement and inclusion at the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge. He highlights businesses for the Staunton Black Business Collective.