By By Adam Prestridge
If you can't grow it, sew it.
If you can't achieve it, weave it.
If you can't fade it, braid it.
And if you simply can't fix your own hair, Latonya Sanders, owner of Creative Braids &Weaves in Atmore, and her assistant Donna Phillips, can help you with all artistic hairdos.
"We can braid anything," Sanders said. "We stitch and make wigs. We track hair and do extensions. We can do just about anything. God blessed my hands."
Creative Braids &Weaves celebrated its one-year anniversary on Aug. 25, but Sanders said business could be better.
"It's up and down because people normally don't know we're here," she said. "I've been here for a year by the grace of God."
Sanders, a professional braid artist, specializes in braids, micros, locks, corn rolls, quark screws, coils, silk wraps, hair wrapping and fishtails and tree braiding. She felt there was a need for a business such as hers in Atmore.
"I opened because I wanted to open my own business and manage myself," she said. "Braiding is my passion. I have four girls and that's why I know how to braid hair."
Sanders said she was inspired to own her own beauty shop after spending lots of time in her aunt Mary Jane's beauty shop in Daphne.
Sanders is a graduate of Taliah Waajid School in Atlanta, Ga. She said depending on the length of a woman's hair is and what she wants done, it can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 16 hours to fix.
With the possibility of hours of beauty work, Creative Braids &Weaves offers a "comfortable environment". Sanders said there are movies available for viewing as well as snacks and drinks.
Phillips, a graduate of RTI Cosmetology School in Pensacola, Fla., specializes in exotic hairstyles. She can fix quick weaves, sew-in weaves, ponytails and spike ponytails, braids and crimps.
"In the future we will be doing infusion," Phillips said. "I'm blessed to create."
Phillips also said the beauty shop will also be opening up a nail booth in the near future.
Creative Braids &Weaves, located at 201 South Trammell Street, also has a part-time barber, Vincent Bynum, who specializes in men's hair.
"We're here for men, women and children; white or black," Sanders said. "All you have to do is bring your head. You can also bring your own hair."
All hairdos require shampooing, which is an added charge.
"We want to pamper you," Sanders said. "We also want to work on a clean head."
The beauty shop doesn't use any chemicals or dyes.
Creative Braids &Weaves is open 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Sanders said she will take appointments as early as 5 a.m. as long as they are made in advance. The beauty shop plans to run monthly specials and also senior citizen discounts on Tuesdays beginning in October.
For more information call Sanders or Phillips at 446-9950