We were lucky to catch up with Mikayla Robinson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mikayla, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the story behind how you got your first job in field that you currently practice in.

I started doing hair when I was 16 years old. At the time I was a sophomore in high school doing high school full time and beauty school part time. This led me to be graduated from the hairstyling program at the same time as finishing high school. While attending the vocational program, I was one of the few who put in effort to make this a career. To me, it was more than just being able to leave my high school campus, it was something I was excited and passionate about doing. By the end of my time there my teacher had given my name to a salon owner who was asking for new stylists that would be ideal for her salon. She reached out to me and we scheduled an interview. I wasn’t surprised that my teacher was giving my name to salon owners. I worked hard in school, studied to pass my state board exam. I prepared questions of my own and took it serious! I’m happy to an extent that I ended up where I was but I’m also very glad I was able to get away from it and move on to open my own business. I learned a lot from my first salon. Things I would do, things I wouldn’t do. I stayed at that salon for almost two years and worked my way from assistant to manager and have had my own business now for four years now!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a hair extension specialist and barber. Though I started in high school, I ended up going to beauty school three times for three different licenses. I continue my education often, I’m honestly taking some type of class every month. That’s one of the biggest things that separate me as an artist. I’m passionate and love the art of doing hair. It’s not just hair to me and unfortunately the more barbers and stylist that join the industry, the less I’m seeing the strong passion for helping people, and caring about them more than the money. In my chair I help my clients find confidence, self love, and joy in getting their service. Like I mentioned I am an extension specialist. I focus on clients who have fine, thinning hair who are looking for a solution to help feel like themselves again. As for my barbering services, I help clients appreciate a straight razor shave, look forwards to a steamed towel and scalp massage and enjoy good conversation.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Trying to find work life balance. I firmly believe that is one of the worst pieces of advice someone can give you. Work life balance implies that you are trying to give equal amounts of time to your work life as you are your personal life – which most of us know is quite challenging. By the time we’re done working, we’re exhausted and just need food and sleep. Rather than balance, I put my focus towards work life harmony; an idea that says work and life can coexist within one another. While practicing harmony, I’ve been able to fill my time with friends and family while still be able to take care of my clients in a way they deserve.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

I believe in no regrets, I wouldn’t change a thing about the past. Even though yes, knowing what I know now I would like to do some things differently, if I did, I wouldn’t be where or who I am now. The great thing is even though I can’t go and change the past, I can adjust things now to affect my future.

Yes I am choosing the same profession, but rather than locking down into one specialty like I have in the past (extensions only), I realize continuously that I enjoy helping more people than just a specific group.

“Jack of all trades, master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one”

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: @mika.robinson8
• Facebook: Mikas Artistry Shop

Image Credits

Mya Wadsworth
MAS Photography