We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kai Dear a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Kai thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I have been in the beauty industry for over 20 years. About 5-6 yrs ago, I decided to formulate a hair growth oil. For about 3 yrs, I went back and forth with the formula and the ingredients. I was also confused about what exactly I wanted the products to do. I often traveled with 2-3 journals that would house all the information I researched, possible names, ideas and anything else God would have me to write down. I legit was going crazy over which carrier oils to use, which essentials oils, which herbs, the dilution ratios, natural preservatives, literally doodling my thoughts for about 3 years. Then suddenly I received a revelation, I heard God say, “You’re going back and forth about the ingredients and formula, when I’m the missing ingredient and the formula”! OMG! Then He gave me specific instructions to pray over ALL my products and formula for SEVEN days before anything is bottled up to be sold. Now let us rewind, in the establishment I was renting at the time, I had 6 suites and one of them I designated as my prayer room. I even went back and forth about that because I wanted to rent all my suites out, but I told Him that room would be apart of my daily tithing to Him. Now fast forward back to the products, I would put my batches of formulas in the prayer room before I would bottle them up. God was very specific and said even when you are in a warehouse, no matter how big it gets, this is the formula and this is how you will be blessed. This is how He would put His super on my natural!
So I’m sure you’re wondering, what is the product name? I knew I would eventually have a full hair care line, so I needed a name that I could grow within. The name He gave me was Healing Addicts, addicted to helping people heal. A name that could go beyond just products when needed. I loved it!! Often told it’s an oxymoron, but hey I’m not here to argue with what God told me. LBVS! My first collection’s name was inspired by my senior pastor, pastor John F Hannah. Annually he has something called the One Conference, and in 2021 the theme was Rated “R”. All the phenomenal speakers gave presentations that were relevant to or with words that started with the letter R. Shortly after the conference, I was given the name, R3 stimulating drops and R3 soothing drops. The stimulating drops would help with alopecia, stress spots, thinning, CCA and hair growth in general. The soothing drops would help with dry/itchy scalps, inflammation, eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis and great for daily use with locs/braids/protective styles. The R3 stimulating drops would stand for revive, reactivate, rejuvenate and the scripture associated with it is Proverbs 3:8. The R3 soothing drops would be relief, restore, refresh and the scripture associated with it is Jeremiah 30:17.
Since launching Healing Addicts in 2021, things have really began to take off. I have been presented with some amazing opportunities within the last year and I can’t wait to see what God does.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Kaiisha but I go by Kai and I am certified trichologist, licensed cosmetologist and trained instructor. I have been in the beauty industry for over 20yrs. I have had the privilege of working at the BET awards, New York Fashion Week and a host of fashions shows and magazines. I am the creator of Healing Addicts which is a faith based all natural product line designed to help with total wellness. Currently offering two oils, one formulated to help with thinning, stress spots and alopecia. The other is formulated to help with dry and itchy scalps, eczema and psoriasis. As a certified trichologist, I am able to not only help my clients with their external appearance, we can have discussion that address internal issues as well. A certified trichologist is someone who studies the scientific and biological approach to how hair grows, scalp disorders and diseases, as well as possible treatments. We are able to offer blood type testing as well as meal planning that helps with hair growth, reducing inflammation and other scalp issues. We are the liaison between clients and their medical physicians (dermatologist, gynecologist, endocrinologist, nutritionist).
I am also the creative mind behind God And The Industry which is for the believer and follower of Jesus Christ whose assignment and gift is in the market place. For those that may be called to the beauty industry, the fashion industry and the entertainment world. We often limit God to the pulpit when He is indeed everywhere. Let’s not forget about the entrepreneur that wants God to be at the forefront of their business, God and The Industry was created for all those people. It will consist of literature pieces, training and social gatherings. The first piece available now is “God And The Industry, 7 days of prayer for my business and my career”, devotional and journal.
I have recently launched The Industry Safe Space, which is a space curated for creatives to have raw, fun, yet unfiltered conversations about life, the industry and our relationships with God (or lack thereof). The Industry Safe Space podcast is available now on YouTube, as well as all podcasting platforms, industry dinners coming soon.
There’s two things I love about myself, and that is being able to find the good in almost anything, while also finding ways to speak life into those around me. It’s like my super powers, in addition to being a true giver at heart. I do not play about God and I feel the most blessed when I’m serving or being a blessing to others. I know I am far from perfect, but I’m perfect for the things God has called me to do.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
The current salon space I have now, I would have never ended up here had I not pivoted. I recently had a 4,000sqf salon that consisted of 2 sides, one side had five stations, dryer area, 3 shampoo bowls, two bathrooms, a suite and waiting area. The other side had 6 suites, two full bathrooms with showers, kitchen area and a lot of storage space. The property was located in a strip mall and I was in a graduated lease. My lease term was 5yrs but I had the option to leave after 3 if things didn’t work out. Year 1 and 2, rent was easy because it was a fraction of the total rent. I was able to do some crazy negotiating being the space was secured during Covid. By the time I got to year 3, the rent was becoming a bit too much because I had no consistent staff. I am firm believer everything happens for a reason and I know for a fact God sent me to that location. Where we as believers often go wrong is being fixated on the length of time of an assignment. Assignments can be finished in 10 days, 10 months, or 10 years. I was hung up on looking like I failed instead of pivoting when God instructed me to pivot.
I finally became at peace with downsizing and broke my lease to relocate. With the smaller space I was then able to focus more on my products, my trichology as well as exploring other opportunities. I am a living witness that God will indeed reroute you or send you somewhere for one thing or one person. As long as you stay connected to Him and seek Him, He will instruct you on when and where to pivot. You never want to miss your exit by staying in something too long or leaving too soon.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
There are quite a few things that my reputation has been built on. The very first thing is professionalism. In this era of social media and going viral, many people lack simple customer service skills. Clients can be rude but these industry professionals are ridiculous. Many from my generation had a regular store or restaurant job before or while we were becoming a beauty professional, so we had some customer service training. Many from this generation are going straight from the house to dealing with customers and have no other work experience.
I am also very consistent and have great time management skills. My clientele knows that they will not spend a work shift in the salon for a 90min service. I pride myself on getting my clients in and out in a timely manner. I have had referrals come saying that their stylist is really good, they just heard I usually start on time and they’re tired of waiting. I am very considerate of their time. Even the rare times I am running behind, I inform them so that they can make a run if needed instead of just sitting around waiting. If there’s an extreme delay, I am also offering a discount. I am grateful and appreciative they spend their money with me and I want them to know that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Kaiisha.com
- Instagram: @_TheKaiExperience_ @HealingAddicts @TheIndustrySafeSpace
- Facebook: Kai Dear
- Youtube: TheIndustrySafeSpace
