Toriah Lachell: From Hairstylist to Business Owner

Toriah Lachell didn’t build The Curl Bar on her connection to the NBA. She built it on something far more personal: learning to understand and care for natural curls. What started with her own hair journey developed into professional expertise and a specialized salon business in Somerville, Massachusetts.

Although many recognize her as Jayson Tatum’s former partner and the mother of their son, Deuce, her achievements tell another story. In 2026, Boston Magazine named The Curl Bar its Best Natural Hair Salon. Today, Toriah Lachell has established herself as a hairstylist and entrepreneur, combining curly-hair expertise, personalized services, and client education to build a business of her own.

Who Is Toriah Lachell?

Toriah Lachell is an American hairstylist and entrepreneur who owns The Curl Bar, a natural hair salon in Somerville, Massachusetts. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, she is also known as Toriah Mimms, the name featured in her official salon biography.

She gained public attention through her former relationship with NBA star Jayson Tatum, with whom she shares a son, Deuce. Beyond that connection, she has established an independent career in the beauty industry.

Her professional highlights include:

• Salon ownership: Founder and owner of The Curl Bar, specializing in natural curls and textured hair.
• Professional expertise: Trained in DevaCurl, Rezo Cut, and Cut It Kinky techniques.
• Client education: Provides personalized curl coaching and professional hairstyling training.
• 2026 recognition: The Curl Bar was named Best Natural Hair Salon by Boston Magazine.

Quick Facts

How Toriah Lachell Discovered Her Passion for Hairstyling

Hair relaxers were part of her early life, but embracing her natural curls eventually changed her career direction. Toriah Lachell began exploring different ways to care for textured hair, gradually developing the skills to help others manage their curls with confidence.

What began as a personal interest became a professional ambition. After gaining hands-on experience, she pursued cosmetology education, laying the foundation for her career in natural hair care.

Developing Skills Beyond Basic Cosmetology

Toriah expanded her expertise through specialized training, becoming a DevaCurl-certified and Rezo Cut-certified stylist and a Cut It Kinky alumna.

These qualifications strengthened her knowledge of:

• Curly-hair cutting: Shaping curls while considering natural texture and shrinkage.
• Textured-hair care: Applying techniques suited to different curl patterns.
• Personalized styling: Helping clients maintain healthy-looking, defined curls.

Her commitment to specialized training eventually became a defining part of The Curl Bar’s approach to natural hair care.

From Professional Hairstylist to Salon Owner

Toriah Lachell turned her expertise in curly-hair care into a business by establishing The Curl Bar, a salon dedicated to natural curls and textured hair. Her transition into entrepreneurship involved more than hairstyling, requiring customer management, appointment scheduling, and consistent service standards.

By March 2021, she was already recognized as a Boston-area certified curl specialist and salon owner. During an appearance on The Glow Up Effect podcast, she discussed her career journey, professional confidence, and commitment to improving her hairstyling skills.

Her approach helped establish The Curl Bar as a specialized salon offering personalized care and practical guidance for clients with natural curls.

Inside The Curl Bar Boston: The Business Toriah Lachell Built

Located at 76 Cross Street, Somerville, Massachusetts, The Curl Bar specializes in curly cuts, textured-hair treatments, and personalized styling. The salon welcomes different natural hair textures and focuses on helping clients maintain their curls beyond appointments.

What Services Does The Curl Bar Offer?

The salon’s signature new-client appointment, The Curl Bar Experience, combines consultation, specialized styling, and practical hair-care education.

Its main services include:

• Personalized consultations: Assessing hair texture, condition, and styling goals.
• Dry curly cuts: Shaping curls while considering natural movement and shrinkage.
• Cleansing and treatments: Removing buildup and providing customized hair care.
• Curl styling: Defining natural curls using suitable products and techniques.
• One-on-one curl coaching: Teaching clients how to maintain their curls at home.

The salon also offers appointments for returning clients and children, with specific booking requirements. Its services focus primarily on natural curly hair rather than chemical straightening or coloring.

Why the Salon’s Educational Approach Matters

For Toriah Lachell, hairstyling extends beyond creating a finished look. The Curl Bar emphasizes teaching clients how to care for their natural hair between appointments.

Through personalized coaching, clients receive guidance on:

• Choosing products suited to their hair texture.
• Maintaining moisture and curl definition.
• Developing manageable daily styling routines.

This combination of professional styling and practical education helps clients maintain their curls while strengthening The Curl Bar’s identity as a specialized natural hair salon.

How Toriah Lachell Turned a Specialized Skill Into a Business

• Focused specialization: Toriah Lachell built The Curl Bar around natural curls and textured-hair care rather than offering every salon service.
• Clear business identity: Specialized services, personalized consultations, and consistent salon policies help distinguish the business from general hair salons.

Building Trust Through Expertise

• Professional training: Certifications in curly-hair cutting and styling demonstrate specialized knowledge.
• Personalized consultations: Understanding each client’s hair texture and goals helps create a more tailored experience.
• Consistent service: Clear communication and professional care help establish client confidence.

Creating a Business That Can Extend Beyond One Stylist

• Additional expertise: The Curl Bar lists another curl specialist, Taylor, alongside its owner.
• Organized appointments: Separate stylist bookings and defined service policies support smooth operations.
• Strong brand identity: Consistent service standards help the salon maintain its reputation beyond one hairstylist.

Beyond the Salon Chair: Toriah Lachell’s Education Business

The Curl Bar has expanded beyond salon appointments by offering specialized education for hairstylists and communities. Its four-hour private training sessions, priced at $2,000, help licensed cosmetologists and students develop practical skills in textured-hair care.

The training covers:

• Curl assessment: Identifying hair textures and individual needs.
• Cleansing and conditioning: Learning techniques for tight curls.
• Styling and shaping: Applying products, drying curls, and creating customized cuts.

The salon also offers Curl Confidence Workshops for schools, organizations, and community groups, focusing on natural hair care and styling. A parent-focused workshop has been advertised as a future offering.

The 2026 Recognition That Marked a Major Career Milestone

A major achievement in Toriah Lachell’s career came in 2026 when Boston Magazine named The Curl Bar its Best Natural Hair Salon in the annual Best of Boston awards.

The publication recognized the salon’s specialized curly-hair services, personalized styling, and individual coaching. This award highlighted her achievements as a beauty entrepreneur and brought independent recognition to her business.

Toriah Lachell, Jayson Tatum, and Life as a Mother

Before establishing her independent career, Toriah Lachell gained public attention through her former relationship with Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum. The couple welcomed their son, Jayson Christopher Tatum Jr., known as Deuce, on December 6, 2017.

Although their romantic relationship ended, they have maintained a co-parenting relationship. Deuce frequently appears at Celtics games and public basketball events alongside his father.

While her family connection remains part of her public story, her hairstyling expertise and success with The Curl Bar have established her own professional identity.

What Entrepreneurs Can Learn From Toriah Lachell’s Journey

Toriah Lachell’s journey from hairstylist to salon owner offers practical lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs. Her experience highlights six principles that can help build a focused and sustainable business.

• Solve a real problem: Toriah Lachell transformed her personal experience with natural hair into a specialized salon business.
• Choose a clear specialty: The Curl Bar focuses on curly and textured hair, creating a distinct identity in the beauty industry.
• Invest in skills: Professional certifications and advanced training help strengthen expertise and credibility.
• Prioritize customer education: Personalized curl coaching helps clients care for their hair beyond salon appointments.
• Establish business systems: Clear booking policies, consultations, and service standards support organized operations.
• Expand through expertise: Hairstyling workshops and professional training create opportunities beyond traditional salon services.

What Is Toriah Lachell Doing Now in 2026?

As of October 2026, Toriah Lachell continues to focus on her hairstyling career and salon business, The Curl Bar, in Somerville, Massachusetts. The salon offers specialized curly-hair services, personalized treatments, and professional hair-care education.

Her business achieved a major milestone in 2026 when Boston Magazine named The Curl Bar its Best Natural Hair Salon. She continues to build her professional identity through salon ownership, client education, and expertise in natural hair care.

Conclusion

Toriah Lachell has turned personal experience into a focused business built on expertise in natural hair care. Through The Curl Bar, she has moved beyond hairstyling to develop a salon that combines specialized services, client education, and professional training.

The salon’s 2026 Best of Boston recognition marks an important milestone, but its business model tells the bigger story. Toriah Lachell has established a professional identity that stands apart from her celebrity connections, demonstrating how a clear market focus and specialized skills can create a distinctive position in a competitive industry.

Frequently Asked Questions About Toriah Lachell

1. How much does a first appointment with Toriah Lachell cost?

The Curl Bar’s detailed service menu lists her new-client experience at $320. Prices may change, so confirm the final booking rate.

2. Does Toriah Lachell accept walk-in appointments?

No. The Curl Bar operates by appointment only, and clients must use its online booking system.

3. How should clients prepare for a Toriah Lachell haircut?

Clients should arrive with clean, fully dry, detangled curls styled in a wash-and-go no more than two days old.

4. Does Toriah Lachell require a booking deposit?

Yes. The Curl Bar requires a 50% nonrefundable deposit, applied toward the total appointment cost.

5. What is the cancellation policy for Toriah Lachell appointments?

Clients must cancel at least 48 hours before their appointment to avoid being charged the remaining service balance.

6. Can children receive hair services at Toriah Lachell’s salon?

Yes. The Curl Bar offers specialized children’s appointments for ages six and older, with services varying by stylist.

7. Does Toriah Lachell organize community events?

Her salon organizes The Curl Bar Block Party, a free community celebration supporting local connections and minority-owned businesses.

8. How far in advance can clients book Toriah Lachell?

The Curl Bar releases appointments one month at a time. Unavailable dates generally mean that month’s appointments are fully booked.

The post Toriah Lachell: From Hairstylist to Business Owner first appeared on Tycoonstory Media.

Source: Cosmo Politian