We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful D Rachelle. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with D below.
Hi D, thanks for joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
I’ve been a successful entrepreneur for the past 11 years. I have been able to support myself using my creative work by monetizing my strengths. Beauty Services. Not limiting myself to just one sector but making sure I am a well rounded artist. My journey started when I was a young girl watching my Granny press and curl in her den. Smelling biscuits and pressing oil every summer morning was normal. I didn’t really realize the strong female entrepreneurial type women in my lineage until more recently. My grandmothers, both of them, were cosmetologist. One had a restaurant, a grocery store. She was also a nurse,fought for civil rights . (Named my mother Civil Right, so you know its real!) She also had a salon in her home and I always got to watch her work and sometimes even got to help her out.
My other grandmother came into play when I was a full time hair student with two children and she did everything to make sure I stayed in school and kept my head on straight. Al of this is why believe I was innately given the gift to be able to do hair and all I did was monetize it.
I wasn’t going to follow my dreams to be a hairstylist because I honestly was scared to go to school because I felt like I wasn’t smart enough.
Crazy, right? How can you not be good enough for school!
The actual catalyst for me even starting cosmetology school was having my son. I realized that I needed to do something that could provide him with the financial stability. It needed it to be something that I didn’t mind doing. I had already had a clientele that was coming to my house . So, when I become pregnant with him I just said all right it’s time to start. So, I took that leap and went ahead and went to school. Halfway through I actually got pregnant again with my daughter and I got married. So, you know it kind of put a kind of put school in an interesting position and I had to still make sure it was priority while all these things are going on in my life.
From day one ,I can say that it wasn’t that difficult to get a large clientele. I believe that the way that I treat my clients and how I make sure that I instill trust in our relationship. It’s a give-and-take. Also, just making sure that I make it known that I’m not just doing your hair. I have to know a little bit more about you, what you do from day today, etc. Some people just come in and they talk about their whole lives and I love to talk, so from day one I really didn’t have too many issues getting a clientele and getting started. My issue was charging my worth it took me a long time to charge more because you know I didn’t want to make any of my clients uncomfortable because I was having to raise my prices. I had to learn and put into practice raising my prices. Although difficult; it was very very necessary.
Because I have such a appreciation for my journey, I wouldn’t say that I would want to change much about it. If I have to choose something, that I could have having more business knowledge understanding the way numbers work. Trusting my talents is another. You have to put doubt in your pocket and just move with intelligence. If you fall, dont fall the same way twice. LEARN from your missteps. Those probably would’ve been the things that I could’ve changed. It probably would’ve made things a bit easier but learning those hard lessons sometimes creates a beautiful outcome. If you’re giving an easy way to do anything, how are you gonna have appreciation? Having a little resistance, a bit hard work will definitely build tenacity. It will definitely build patience..
D, 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?
I am “D Rachelle” .A third generation hairstylist located in Memphis, Tn. My professional career began in 2011. The day I graduated from hair school I began working professionally as a cosmetologist. My next job was at Fantastic Sams. I must say that was a pivotal point in my career, I was able to be a part of a team that was so supportive. It honed my basic skills. I learned in school I also met my best friend and we ended up opening our first salon together, but don’t let me get ahead of myself.
When I finally was ready to “leave the nest”, I worked for one of the top salons in Bartlett. The owner not only showed me wonderful kindness, she was also a gracious business owner. a lot of times you meet women in business and they feel like they have to be hard and aggressive. She was firm in her stance but didn’t have to step on or over people to be successful. I took all of that knowledge, and as I said before I opened my first salon. We stayed open for three years, as time went on, we all realized we out grew each other and went on our own paths.
The next leg of my journey starts in January 2020, I decided to open another salon but I knew I wanted something different. Something that supported all the facets of what I love about production. Not knowing that an entire pandemic was going to come and shake up everything before we even let the paint dry. Now three years after, we are stronger than ever. Servicing brides, brands, and everyday people. We strive to support black women in the production world, where they aren’t handled with care mostly. The amazing thing about our space is its ambiguity, We offer hair, makeup and photo all in the same space.
I love my clientle and my goal is to always promote growth in all ways. I strive to educate my clients as much as I can. That way even when they cant come to me, they have a foundation to stand on to be able to care for their hair without me, That makes me the most proud. My clients knowing that I am humbled by them trusting me with their crown and I don’t take it lightly. Over the years I have learned that I love to serve people and hair is my vehicle in which I can serve.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
SHARE!!! They is enough out here for everyone and if we share and support we can strengthen our platform. I feel as though a lot of people don’t want to share because someone will take from them and I understand. Exercising intuition and trust should curb a lot of those issues. Give a hand to those around you and let’s make our community strong.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
I feel as though a lot of creative don’t realize it takes time. We can negate the fact that there are instances of “popcorn fame’ but those are few and far between. You have to take the time to build weight behind your name. My father always told me ” A good name is worth its weight in gold”. Make sure you move with intelligence and integrity. Build your name and it will come to passI Be patient with yourself and stay consistent.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.drachelle.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/_d_rachelle
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/drachellehair
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/d-rachelle-509758152/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9qH32pnoCrcSPW9fCir1ZA
Image Credits
Asya Daniels (Miss USA 2020) Ashley Garrison of GRF Financials (the woman with twists and a blazer) Kia Johnson (green blazer)