Hi, I'm Sia Nancy, Founder of ZUHRA.

Thank you for your visit here; it's truly appreciated. And if I may, I'd like to tell you a little bit about me. To cut a long story short, I was born and raised in Hackney, London, to Sierra Leonean parents, and I am the eldest of four girls…

Need I say more?

Just kidding! Being the oldest daughter in an African household means you ARE the assistant parent, the extra set of hands, the example, the one that somehow gets blamed even when you’re not involved, the one getting called from across our two bedroom flat to “come and help,” (with absolutely anything, mind you), the one transcribing, the one setting the standard (whether I liked it or not). And at the time, it felt like pressure - but looking back, it shaped so much of who I am today.

So hair, for me, didn’t start as a passion. It started as… a chore. One of many.

My mum used to braid and style hair from our home to bring in a bit of extra money, and somehow, I always got roped in. I remember being made to sit there finishing the ends of braids, sighing, counting how many were left, wishing I was doing literally anything else. It felt long, it felt tedious, and I definitely didn’t think this was anything a young girl should be doing with her spare time.

But slowly, something shifted...

I started watching more closely. Listening more. Paying attention to the way my mum worked, the way all of these ladies trusted her, the way they would come in one way and leave just a little lighter, a little more confident (and even tipping me in CapriSun for my assistance). Before I knew it, I went from reluctantly helping… to actually looking forward to it. I wanted to be involved.

I moved from braid ends to helping with traditional sew-ins, and eventually, I started doing my own. Then came doing my friends’ hair, after school, on weekends, whenever they needed me. It didn’t feel like work. It felt natural. Like something I was meant to be doing.

Of course, it wasn’t all perfect. Mistakes were definitely made.

Some styles didn’t quite come out how I imagined, installs took way longer than they should have, and there were moments where I had to figure things out the hard way. But every mistake taught me something. It made me more patient, more precise, and more serious about getting it right. I didn’t want to just be someone who does hair; I wanted to be someone people could trust with it.

My passion really grew when I had the opportunity to work with major brands through a hair company that, although no longer exists, played a huge role in shaping my journey. That experience exposed me to a different level of standards, creativity, and pressure. I soaked it all in. I genuinely owe a lot of my foundation to that time, and though it ceased to exist, my passion did not.

At the same time, I had become “the hair girl” in my circle. And that title meant something to me. It came with responsibility. I wanted every woman who sat in front of me to feel taken care of and feel confident, to feel like she was in good hands. That pushed me to keep learning, to stay curious, and to never get too comfortable.

Then there came a time when Black women completely shifted the hair space, and honestly, the world. The level went up. The looks became more elevated, more intentional, more expressive… and I remember feeling like I had to catch up, quickly.

So I did what I’ve always done - I learned.

When virgin hair started booming, I learned it and mastered it.
When lace front wigs took over the UK scene, I learned it and mastered it.
And as trends continue to evolve, I’ve made it my duty to stay ahead of them - not just to follow, but to understand, refine, and perfect.

Because for me, this has never just been about hair.

It’s about how a woman feels when she looks in the mirror.
It’s about confidence. Softness. Power. Identity.

From a simple sew-in to bridal moments to helping a woman feel like herself again during one of the hardest times in her life… every single appointment means something to me.

What started in a Hackney living room, being called to come and help finish braid ends, has grown into something so much bigger than I could have imagined.

And now, I get to be that hair girl… for you 🤍