We were lucky to catch up with Mandisa Duperval recently and have shared our conversation below.
Mandisa, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?
This is my first memorable and impactful bookings
When I started off as an artist, I worked soley as a Makeup artist. I was living in Connecticut and working a lot in NYC. I would do makeup for the lookbooks for a local designer. One day a journalist was doing an article about the designer; they interview me to see how it was working on their team. The journalist and I clicked, and she asked me if i would do the makeup for her close friend’s wedding. From that wedding I made really close lifelong friends. Later on, I booked almost 5 or 6 other weddings and events within that family. I think this experience so early on in my career made me see that work is and can be fun.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m a very proud Afro- Carribean. My mom is from the small island of Montserrat and my father is from Haiti. Being raised in a Carribean household, you are raised knowing education is the key to success. I graduated 2004, from the University of Bridgeport with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and human services. While working to word my degree, I had a paid internship as a teacher’s assistant in a Montessori school. I started selling cosmetics, which lead me into being a makeup artist. One day I was talking to a mentor of mine; he told me that becoming a licensed hair stylist would be life changing. So, I did just that. as a hairstylist I’ve traveled all over the world. I am so thankful for every opportunity.
I would like to bridge the gap in textured hair education, I created a foundations hands on class called Beyond The Coil. my goal is to empower hairstylist to be advocates for people with textured hair. At the salon Ill be hosting these classes, along with providing services like curly cuts, silk presses, and twist outs. I have a really diverse clientele so it’s important to have a really diverse staff. Our blowouts are just as phenomenal as our curl diffusing. If so important to get people from all walks of life together. The salon used to be a social event, where you’d catch up with friends, I want to bring that back, community and customer service is everything.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Sometimes when we try a new venture, we fail to realize how powerful our circle of influence is. The people we already know should be our first point of contact. “Hi, I’m starting a new venture, and I’d love for you to try it out”. contact people you already know, conversations will spark. you never know who they know.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
1. The Highest Calling Lawrence Janesky years ago I was at a networking event, I must have been 21 and Lawrence Janesky was speaker at the event. he spoke about believing you can take on bigger goals and projects and shared evidence on how it worked in his life. At the time I honestly couldn’t afford to buy the book. I spoke to him for a few minutes, and he said something along the lines of “I think you’ll take away a few things from this book”. The amount of big belief this book inspired was wild.
2. The Richest Man in Babylon George Clason such an easy read. Check your spending. is it fueling the life you want? this is a basic, easy way to take charge of your finances.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://RafahLuxuryHair.com
- Instagram: Rafahluxuryhair
- Facebook: Rafahluxuryhair
- Linkedin: Mandisa Duperval
Image Credits
(asian model)
Hair by Noushin Faraji
Makeup Mandisa Duperval
Model Malika Kanatova
Photographer Malik Daniels
My Headshot Malik Daniels
African decent model
Hair Mandisa Duperval
Makeup Asari Duke
Model Janine Tondu