We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cedrayah Graves a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Cedrayah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Alright, so one thing we think people don’t talk about nearly enough is investments – either time or money. What’s one of the best or worst investments you’ve made and what did you learned from the experience?
My best investment was my brand shoot and rebranding myself over the summer of 2024. The rebrand and photoshoot allowed me to be more intentional and take my business more seriously. I was 17 and had just graduated high school. I knew I wanted to do hair in college and I was about to turn 18, which was something big to me. I felt that I needed to take that next step in my business to compliment all the change that was happening on in my life. Doing hair is also a common side hustle in college. I wanted to make sure that I stood out because doing hair was more than a side hustle for me.
Typically for my birthdays, I do something big and spend a lot of the money I earned. However, as I was learning to be smarter with my money, I wanted to spend it on something that would last longer than just one day.
In high school, I was in an extensive arts program. During my junior year, we had to create a mock entrepreneurial business plan in an arts field we were interested in. That’s when I learned about the importance of a mission statement, brand identity, target audience, logo design, pricing strategies, and overall brand consistency. I knew I wanted to implement all of that into my business.
My brand colors are blue and gold, with black and white as accent colors. Although blue is my favorite color, it also represents trust and reliability in a business. I chose gold because people have a glow about them after they get their hair done. I wanted to capture that energy and make it a part of the HairByDrayah experience. Initially for my logo I had scissors instead of a comb. My mom stressed the importance of your logo needing to represent exactly what you do. I don’t typically use scissors, I use a comb. I’m also specialized in braiding, which is why the comb and braid in my logo are gold and strategically chosen.
When I got to college and started gaining clients, a lot of people told me they chose me because of how professional my page and website looked compared to others. That’s when I knew all the work was worth it. Designing the logo, building the site, strategically setting my prices, and planning a whole photoshoot took a lot of time, money, and energy, but in the end, it brought me a great number of clients. This is an investment that I couldn’t be happier of.
Cedrayah, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Cedrayah Graves, and I am the founder of HairByDrayah, a brand created and dedicated to the art of braiding and natural hair care. I’ve been a professional braider for over four years. However, my passion for doing hair began long before I had my first client. I started experimenting with hair since I was 5 after my mom taught me how to do a braid. I would then practice on my dolls, my mom, and even my friends on my school bus. Hairstyling became a creative outlet for me and brought me true happiness seeing all that was possible.
Early on I also discovered my entrepreneurial spirit. I knew that I wanted to be my own boss after learning about Madam CJ Walker in the first grade. While I explored different small business over the years such as selling handmade bracelets to selling crochet garments, nothing has brought me the fulfillment that hairstyling does.
To me, doing hair isn’t just a way of making money. It’s a power you have to make others feel beautiful, confident, and empowered. A gift to create something bigger than myself. Being privileged to educate others about their hair health as well. It’s a way for me to express my creativity. My favorite styles consist of bright colors or intricate designs. HairByDrayah is more than just a business, it’s my purpose. I am dedicated to not only enhancing the beauty of my clients but also empowering them through their personal transformation. As I continue to grow in this craft, I look forward to expanding my artistry and leaving a lasting impact on the hair care industry.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
As a full-time college student, I would say the best source of new clients is promoting my business face-to-face. Around campus, there are countless flyers on the walls promoting various services. While I wouldn’t say flyers aren’t effective, people tend to walk past them after seeing them once. One of the biggest things emphasized in college, apart from education, is networking. Connecting with people has the potential to create a bigger impact. This definitely applies to gaining clientele as well. People want to go to someone they feel comfortable with, someone confident in their work, and someone who is personable. When I give someone a business card or share my hair page after having a conversation with them, they’re more likely to book with me because they’ve formed a relationship with me first. It doesn’t require much either. I’m already an extremely social person and enjoy meeting people everywhere I go. Slipping in a, “Oh! By the way, I do hair. Here’s a business card” or “Here’s my hair page,” at the end of a conversation goes such a long way.
In today’s society, having a strong social media presence is extremely important. People often make inferences based on how someone’s page looks. Whether it’s the quality of their work, how organized their content is, or the overall vibe it gives off. That’s why I’ve been very intentional about how I present myself online. From my logo to my color scheme, to the way I showcase my braiding and styling skills, I want potential clients to immediately see professionalism, consistency, and care. Those have been the best sources of new clients for me.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
A lesson I had to unlearn was that offering sales or lower prices would bring in more clientele.
The summer of my junior year in high school, my arts program required us to complete an internship before senior year. That’s when I was placed at Red Lotus Spa. At first, I didn’t understand how it connected to business, especially since I owned a hair business and thought I’d be doing something more directly related. But it ended up being one of the most valuable learning experiences I’ve had.
The owner, Marie Bittinger, who was a successful female entrepreneur, sat me down and shared her mindset when it came to running a business. “You have to decide what kind of customers you want. Do you want the Target or Walmart customers who are always looking for a sale, or do you want the Louis Vuitton customers who know they aren’t getting a discount and are paying for quality?”
That completely shifted my mindset. I used to think that offering sales would help me stand out, especially in high school and college where money is tight. But I learned that the right clients will pay for quality and professionalism. From that moment on, I became more confident in my pricing because I knew the value of my work and the experience I provide. There’s many times where people would criticize my pricing for being too high, but I know that I’m not only giving reasonable pricing for what I provide, I’m also charging my worth. That lesson helped me reframe how I approach my brand and the clients I want to attract.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hairbydrayahjolee.as.me
- Instagram: @hairbydrayah
- Facebook: HairByDrayah
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cedrayah-graves-2b7437268/
