S3. EP.45 - Braiding Hair safe for sensitive scalps, with SLAYYY Founder, Diann Valentine

In this episode of It Takes A Village, we are joined by Diann Valentine, President and Creative Director of Glow + Flow Beauty and founder of SLAYYY Hair. Diann is revolutionizing the shopping experience for black women and creating environments where they feel at home as valued customers.

Diann shares with us how she started her illustrious career from wedding and event planning to becoming an author, international public speaker, television host, and founder. She takes us with her as we feel all the emotions while telling her story of how she is always led by love and how it has inspired and moved her. Even starting Glow + Flow Beauty and developing the SLAYYY Secret Sauce was for her love of her neighborhood and self. Her love of personal touch and human interaction allows her to excite audiences and mesmerize them with her years of production and life experiences wrapped in an electrifying smile.

Whether you are in it to hear the amazing works of Diann or learn a thing or two about marketing and pitching to retailers, this episode is for you. Just like Diann and her inspiration for SLAYYY, this episode’s a little bit classy with just the right amount of hood to keep it black.

Learn more about Diann:

Diann Valentine founded SLAYYY Hair in 2021 after years of wearing braids and experiencing increased itching, scalp irritation, scabbing, and breakage regularly. Determined to find a healthier and non-toxic solution, she developed what has become known as the SLAYYY Secret Sauce. After two years of intense research, trial and error, and invaluable feedback from the strong community of braiders around the country, SLAYYY was born. “Women deserve more care and respect for our contribution to the hair and beauty industry, and I’m so proud to champion this movement on behalf of my sisters and now able to offer black women a superior product while wearing protective styles.," says Diann.

Diann is also the President and Creative Director of Glow + Flow Beauty, a beauty retail concept store in Inglewood and Hawthorne, California. Glow + Flow Beauty reimagines the shopping experience for black women, creating an environment in urban neighborhoods where they feel at home as valued customers. The expansion plan for Glow + Flow Beauty involves a franchise model of land and business ownership through collaborating with black women, financiers, and organizations. Diann believes that the best way to change the trajectory of a community is for the residents to own it, and every urban community needs a Glow + Flow.

Before entering the beauty space, Diann enjoyed an illustrious career as an internationally acclaimed wedding and event designer, producing celebrations for celebrities, high-net-worth individuals, and Fortune 500 companies across the globe. Her achievements include being a two-time author, international public speaker, and television host turning dreams into reality for women in love and those looking for love. With a flourishing business and career, Diann has inspired many during domestic and international speaking engagements. Her love of personal touch and human interaction allow her to excite audiences and mesmerize them with her years of production and life experiences wrapped in an electrifying smile.

As a proud black woman, Valentine is a pioneer. With many titles above her head, Diann is just getting started.

Connect with Diann:

@slayyy_hair_ and @diannvalentine

Remember to post your SLAYYY experiences on SLAYYY Day, July 1.

We are also happy to share that master braider, Pearl the Stylist, a trusted expert in the community, is now a SLAYYY Certified Braider!

Listen to more episodes of It Takes A Village podcast:

⁠It Takes A Village with Delina Medhin⁠