Meet Nikkita Swain

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nikkita Swain a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Nikkita, thank you for joining us today and sharing your experiences and acquired wisdom with us. Burnout is a huge topic these days and so we’d love to kick things off by discussing your thoughts on overcoming or avoiding burnout

I overcame burnout by learning to listen to myself and prioritize balance. I started recognizing the early signs — constant fatigue, stress, and lack of motivation — and instead of pushing through, I gave myself permission to pause. I set clear boundaries with my time, making sure to separate work from rest and allow myself guilt-free breaks. I focused on healthy habits like eating well, moving my body, and getting enough sleep, which helped me feel recharged. Most importantly, I reconnected with my purpose and made time for things that bring me joy, which reminded me why I do what I do and kept me motivated.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

My love for doing hair started at home, growing up in a single-parent household with my father raising me and my younger siblings. I learned to do our hair out of necessity, not realizing it would one day become my calling. After graduating from North Carolina Central University with a business degree, I initially planned to climb the corporate ladder, but I quickly realized my heart wasn’t in it. Stepping out on faith, I enrolled in Empire Beauty School to earn my cosmetology license while still working full-time at Wells Fargo — a challenging two-year journey that taught me discipline and perseverance. That leap of faith gave birth to my brand, Freemind Beauty, which represents freedom, creativity, and confidence. Over the years, my clientele has grown, my skills have sharpened, and I’ve built a career I truly love. My faith in God has been my anchor, and I know this is only the beginning of what He has planned for me.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, three qualities that impacted my journey the most were discipline, resilience, and faith. Discipline was key because balancing a full-time job at Wells Fargo while attending beauty school required focus and time management — I had to stay committed even on the hard days. Resilience kept me moving forward when I felt overwhelmed or doubted myself. And faith gave me the courage to take risks and trust that my hard work would pay off.

For anyone early in their journey, I’d say start by building small habits of discipline — show up consistently, even when it’s not easy. Practice resilience by giving yourself grace and learning from your setbacks instead of letting them stop you. And nurture your faith, whether that’s through prayer, journaling, or surrounding yourself with supportive people who believe in you. Growth takes time, but staying consistent and grounded will always take you further than talent alone.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Yes! I’m always open to partnering and collaborating with people who share a passion for beauty, creativity, and empowering others. I’d love to work with fellow hairstylists, beauty brands, photographers, and content creators who are committed to quality, growth, and inspiring confidence in others. Whether it’s for creative projects, education, or community events, I believe collaboration helps us all grow. If you’re interested in connecting, you can reach me through my business page @Freemind_Beauty on Instagram or by email [email protected]— I’d love to chat and see how we can bring value to each other’s work.

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