Zakiya, a Los Angeles native, arrived in Baltimore in 2000 to pursue her education at Morgan State University as a student-athlete. Her fascination with hairstyling began in her early years, as she frequently experimented with diverse hairstyles on dolls, family members, and friends. Even as a teenager, she worked in salons, offering her hairstyling skills without expecting payment, driven purely by her love for hair. By the age of 21, Zakiya earned certification as a freelance makeup artist, participating in fashion shows, countless weddings, and teaching makeup application along the way. However, her true passion remained in the realm of hair. In 2001, she boldly embraced her natural hair journey through the big chop, leading her to discover the beauty of natural hair. Despite growing up in California, where societal norms often suggested that natural beauty was neither celebrated nor accepted, Zakiya was determined to champion natural beauty and inspire change, one person at a time. For six years, Zakiya honed her craft at Natural Images Hair Studio and spent an additional year at The Sanctuary before she established her basement-based business in 2009. In 2013, Hair Temple Baltimore was born, marking a significant milestone in Zakiya's journey. Today, she continues to serve clients in Essex, Houston, and Southern California, sharing her passion for beauty and natural hair with the world.