Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Arriel Wilkerson . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Arriel , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Hard work. Simple. I think it takes hours of practice and putting everything you have into something you want to see grow so that the outcome can be great and bigger than you’ve imagined.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I started as a regular college student averaging “okay” grades. I would always do hair when I was in college, my dad strongly encouraged me to go to cosmetology school and was willing to pay my tuition so I took the advice and ran with it. I’m the most proud of the way I carry my business. I like to see myself as an a educator and business owner because not only do I create amazing wigs for my customers but I also educate them on their hair and how to wear the specific unit that was created just for them.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I started off on TikTok doing story time voice overs of a series of events that happened in my life while also showing how I style/ install wigs. It was something to keep the audience attention while wanting to hear more of the story and watching me work at the same time. Then I branched off and started educating more and that’s when I gained a lot more followers. My advice to those trying to grow a social media platform is to stay consistent! The videos that you think will get you no where will be the ones that go viral! And record everything! Everything is content!

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

I turned my side hustle of styling hair and making wigs into a full time 6 figure business. I started off going to college and doing hair on the side trying to make more money as a “broke college student”. When i started telling my dad what it was i was doing to make extra money he suggested that i go to cosmetology school. I decided to go to school to further my education and get the materials needed to become a licensed cosmetologist. I started my business when i was in cosmetology school and started to gain clientele. Recently I remember sitting on my bed reading the Bible praying asking God “why haven’t my business blown up yet? I’ve been putting in so much hard work and I still want more!” As i continued to read i came across James 4:2 “Ye have not, because ye ask not” i stopped and said “No way, watch this” i prayed right then and there for my business and the exposure! Less than 24 hours a random clip in video went viral on ALL of my social media platforms and sooooo many orders began to roll in (100+). My business hasnt seen a slow day yet! I say all this to say ASK God for what you want apply the work and keep the faith i promise you’ll get what it is he has for you!

Contact Info:

• Website: Golden2hairco.com
• Instagram: @golden2hairco
• Facebook: Arriel Wilkerson