We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Renay bossy Graham a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Renay bossy , so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
We’ll….. Here we go. I am Renay AKA bossy I’m a licensed cosmetologist &brand owner. which covers my salon &products that all fall underneath the same name Hikey ya gorgeous LLC SALON ™. This is an interesting question. I am a unicorn meaning I’m a brown girl, that does amazing vanilla hair. I know you probably looked at my website www.hikeyyagorgeousllc.com plug 🔌 and you would think that it was a vanilla salon. Most people think that . then when they show up & see me. It’s always a shocker that I’m a brown girl.lol … Almost every space that I’ve gotten myself & my business into I’m the only brown girl in the room. Ive worked with the national organizations surrounding cancer . where I was able to showcase my wigs , my products it was a great opportunity but there in that space .I was the only Brown business there . If you are a door opener like I will call myself. You make sure that it don’t get closed behind you. I find myself in these different scenarios where I am the only brown girl ,it’s nothing but vanilla hair to be done. This is where I supersede any of their preconceived notions that I’m not able or I don’t have the talent. in that very space is where I thrive. I show and prove my melanin rich excellence. I’ve had the most disrespectful questions ask to me in these different hair settings. I’m a brown woman we do what we got to do. I prove myself to not only belong there but to prove that I should have been here in that space. I’m honest and authentic about my talent. I’m great I pass good in my teens lol 🤣 🤣 the best part of it is my self-confidence and attitude towards my talent . My talent, professionalism & intellect is what got me there not my complexion. my talent is what keeps me in these different spaces. My self respect my professionalism and keeping my dignity at all times. Will keep me in these rolodexes getting these different opportunities for myself and for my community. My grandmother’s Brenda, Louise &ANN told me your talent will get you into spaces but your attitude can get you kicked out even quicker. So make sure your attitude and your talent match. NEVER LET SOMEONE IGNORANT PULL YOU OUT OF CHARACTER NEVER ALLOW THEM TO DIMINISH YOU CUZ OF YOUR BEAUTIFUL COMPLEXION.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
For me hair is art. It’s art in motion. I love everything about doing hair. You can change a woman’s whole outlook on life. it’s true I’ve seen women pivot completely changed the trajectory of their life after getting their hair done. I created hikey ya gorgeous LLC SALON for all women to have a place to feel comfortable& seen. Most importantly understood.. at this moment in my career I’m actually pivoting myself. I am forcibly going into the social media side of hair. which is something that I never really wanted to do. I’m kind of a no face no case kind of girl. I love my art. I know my talent I believe in my talent. But I’ve had some disheartening things happen since our industry is changing for the worst and not necessarily for the better. Because there are so many women like me who are authentically talented. who because we choose not to play the social media game. Certain opportunities miss us .OR the price point OF THE OPPORTUNITY is DISRESPECTFULLY adjusted shall we say. THEY TRY TO PAY US DIRT PEANUTS BECAUSE WE MAY NOT HAVE THE SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE BUT HAVE ALL THE TALENT. Well I’ve been told by large brands more than a couple that my talent is outstanding and I just need to get to 2000 followers on I.G.social media. REMIND YOU THEY CAME ACROSS ME BECAUSE I WORKED WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS CANCER ALOPECIA, DIABETIC MY ADVERTISEMENT IS IN DIFFERENT COMPANIES THIS IS HOW THESE OTHER HAIR COMPANIES EVEN HEARD OF ME KEEP THAT IN MIND–WITHOUT A LARGE SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWING BECAUSE I’M A HUSTLER AND I’M SERIOUS ABOUT MY BUSINESS KEEP THAT IN MIND….. I’ve even been told several times over oh you could just buy the followers and then we could work which is very disheartening. Because it’s like my talent isn’t good enough my authentic talent isn’t good enough I have to play the social media game too. So now we’re in the day and age where social media is more important than your actual talent.lol…. so with that I’ve embarked on my journey into YouTube where I’ll be a personality basically a talking head about everything Salon life. The authenticity about Salon life cuz people lie. Movie reviews TV reviews a little bit of politics. A small section of Pop culture not too much of that cuz I can really care less about other people’s LIVES …lol I’m really doing this just so once I go back to those same bargaining tables. I will have the social cache shall we say to match my outstanding talent .yup sometimes you got to beat THEM with a bat at their own game. Lol So yes go subscribe to my YouTube channel all caps @INSIDEHIKEYLIFE323. I’M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT DOING THAT I HAVE EVERYTHING PRETTY MUCH PLANNED OUT. I reached out to an incredible mentor shall we say by the name of storm Monroe he does the pop culture gossip type channel but he’s really amazing at interviewing. He’s been extremely helpful with the technical side of everything because that was my struggle but not anymore. He’s really great about helping women make their way in a YouTube space so I definitely will recommend him to any woman going into that space.. to contact storm go to his YouTube page in his description box his email is there and subscribe while you add it tell him bossy sent you..I’ll be advertising and being able to show live demos of all of my products my eyelashes 100% vegan with individual lash technology might I add. Available online my hair collection which includes wigs and medical wigs for women who suffer from cancer etc. my hairline is incredible because it matches every hair texture I worked really hard on that my line of extensions. I will be expanding more into the makeup side with like eyeshadow palettes and blush palettes. Foundation takes the longest cuz you want to make sure that that consistency is right and that there is a plethora of colors.
My focus now is definitely matching my social presence with my actual talent. That’s something that we never had to do before I consider myself like a OG stylist cuz I’m a millennial and I was raised by og hair stylist. So I have the ’90s professionalism with the talent to match I actually grow your hair back lol . I actually shampoo hair included with your service lol… That’s really a thing a lot of salons don’t do wash hair I’m definitely focused on my social media presence. my specialty areas in the hair community is being even handed meaning I’m able & have the talent level to do everything from braiding to extensions.I literally do everything. Extensions color cut braids ponytails silk outs natural hair . And I’ve been really enjoying this ’90s swing around. French roll updos I’ve been having so much fun. With the ’90s looks we had the best hairstyles.
June 1st I added traveling services back to my business I’m in the process of moving into a new salon ownership is definitely key in this business. Because Salon suites are definitely a ripoff they are taking more from us cosmetologist then they are giving. These spaces are literally office spaces that were $400 a month at best. And now because it’s a cosmetologist in that space they’re charging thousands like two to three thousand dollars per month. And it’s putting hair stylist under pressure and I know so many people that have went back to doing hair from their home. This is definitely a plague on our industry. And I blame greedy suite owners-along with flashy cosmetology showing money all the time it irritates me you think they’re not going to want some of that money..lol … So my next step is ownership and to have a space so women will not feel taken advantage of in their business. Suite location ownership is my next step 🪜🪜 . So this is where the real work begins and everything on the social side will help me get to where I need to be . I’m a planner that’s why everything I set out to do I’m always successful at it you have to plan your way through life. learn how to take leaps where the plan has gaps lol… Translation trust your gut!!!!
I’m still offering the same gorgeous hair amazing services I’m just traveling right now . Please view my website and my ig for any questions or information about my business
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
This is for life or the person that just finished cosmetology school ,that’s reading this. Make sure you know your niche. Make sure you are confident and you believe in your talent and your abilities. Make sure no one’s voice is louder in your head then your own. Make sure you believe in yourself. For me the three things that kept me going at all times UP’S downs good bad or indifferent . 1. I know that I’m better than good at hair.2 I understand that people make a choice to come to me , get their hair done because it’s not just my talent it’s my personality , my hospitality I know my niche. 3.Make sure that you are living your dream and you’re walking in your purpose. Make sure you’re not a passenger in your own life. Make sure that you are the designer of your life. Period!!! Never forget there is room for you in any industry because you are one of one there is not another one of you out there right in front of your dreams not behind them 💓 bossy I hope this helps
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
I grew up with a village of parents shall we say my mother was extremely tough on me like an island parent lol… My father was extremely soft and gentle. My aunts played an extreme role in my life and my grandparents ,aunties uncles. I understand why my mother was so tough on me now that I’m a full adult. Because she knew I was a brown woman who was ambitious intelligent and talented. she knows how cruel this world is when it comes to Brown women melanin rich women black women… She made sure that I was tough so anything that was thrown at me I would be able to handle. yes the world is extremely different for black women. We work a million times harder with all due respect. We deal with more disrespect than any other community of women. But then again at the same conversation we are the fixers of the world there’s not a group of women like us. now while this interview is going in November we will see you in that white house trust me lol . Getting everything handled as we always do black women melanin rich women. I have to be tough and be strong have really thick skin to be in the cosmetology community. To show up in the world the way that I do a brown girl that does vanilla hair. It ain’t easy and it ain’t for the faint of hearts . So I’m grateful to my deceased mother for what she left me with the best part of her , her survival skills her intellect to be able to do any & everything Im grateful to her. My dad is the reason that I have so much self-confidence. I’m grateful to him for that. My aunt on my dad’s side she’s the reason that I have a soft heart. She’s the reason that I have trust in certain people she’s the kindest person I know I love her with everything that I am Joyce . I’m grateful for my village they created this resilient strong woman that sits in front of you. Successful might I add..lol. unapologetically successful. I was raised to stand in front of who I am and never be ashamed of any part of me I’m grateful for my village. Both sides lol because it’s one side that feel like I don’t like them but it’s not true it’s just we’re different people.lol
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hikeyyagorgeousllc.com
- Instagram: @hikeyysalon314
- Facebook: renayHIKEY
- Youtube: @INSIDEHIKEYLIFE323
- Yelp: Hikey ya gorgeous LLC SALON
- Other: Email [email protected] For collaborations business opportunities are any questions about hikey ya gorgeous LLC SALON
Image Credits
All photos and products owned by Hikey ya gorgeous LLC SALON ™ Makeup by makeupmakiyan
