When you walk into Altovise Hair Studio on South Adams Street, there is a sign in the window that reads: The Journey to Healthy Hair Begins Here. Inside, Lakeesha Wallace can be found styling the heads of many prominent women at Florida A&M University. She focuses on educating her clients about the importance of healthy hair care.
She styles hair for Beverly Taylor, the wife of head football coach Joe Taylor and many FAMU professionals and alumni.
Nikesha Hugh, a recent nursing graduate, explains the impact Wallace’s hair care services has had on her hair.
“She completely restored my hair from what it was when my hair was damaged at the time,” Hugh said.
“I was a student and the prices were affordable and now I’m moving back to New York. If I could take her with me I would.”
Wallace said the first step to healthy hair is time management. For college students or working professionals, finding time for a quality wash and set can be a challenge.
Wallace has made coming in for a hair appointment simple.
“Time is something you can’t get back,” Wallace said. “Your time is important to you, mine is important to me. My clients are always in and out, and there is never a wait time. I schedule each person accordingly.
After working in salons in the past, I noticed people would make a day out the salon. That ends here.”
She said her reputation and quality of work has built her a solid clientele since she first came to Tallahassee in 2007.
“I’ve done no advertising, it’s just been word-of-mouth,” she said. “Quality of work is the best advertising.”
Many FAMU students struggle with the high prices that come with getting their hair done.
As an alumna of Alabama A&M University, Wallace understands what it is like to be a struggling college student.
“I am always willing to work with students,” said Wallace. “I believe everyone should have the right to beauty.”
According to the Altovise Hair Studio Web site, the salon offers a wide range of services ranging from eyebrow waxing to natural hair to relaxers.
The site also has a 16-picture slide show, which showcases the various styles that the salon specializes in.
“My goal is to get everyone out of weave and become comfortable with your own hair,” Wallace said.