Happy 25th Anniversary: The Road From Braider to Boss

Have you ever happened upon something that you weren’t even trying to do? That’s what Yolanda Johnson’s (owner and founder of Integrated Roots International®) did when she set out on her journey to become a hair braider. What began as a desire to understand herself became a tool to connect with kids, individuals, families and communities. She describes her journey to becoming a braider as “the adventure of a lifetime”. She explains how the adventure was not exclusive to learning and perfecting an ancient technique shared by her ancestors but rather the adventure was in gaining the trust of a community. “Out of all of the braiders in the world my clients chose me,” says Johnson, whose story is not one of an overnight success but rather a product of her lifelong commitment as a braider. 

Help Integrated Roots International® celebrate Johnson’s 25 years of braiding. Tag us on Instagram hashtag #25yearsofbraiding or click below to email us your favorite pictures with Yolanda over the years.