We were lucky to catch up with MiKayla Williams recently and have shared our conversation below.

MiKayla, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Alright, so we’d love to hear about how you got your first client or customer. What’s the story?

When I was in Cosmetology school, about once a month-we had designated Saturdays where we would attend school for about 7-8 hours. This time allowed us to catch up on missed assignments, gain hours that we needed for our license, practice on mannequins, and my personal favorite-book clients! I remember my first day behind the chair as a student like it was yesterday because that partictular day changed everything. It brought me where I am today! My first client was an old friend of mine from high school, her name was Taylor and she booked a roller set. I was so excited to have a client and be doing something I loved but anxious at the same time because you’re in a classroom with like 20 other people so if this doesn’t go as planned, everyone sees..Not to mention, roller sets were not really my thing and still isn’t lol. However, Taylor was very patient with me and her hair looked pretty good for my first time. She loved it and continued to come back, this sparked a sense of pride, drive, ignited a fire inside me to continue with my dream..She was very supportive and still supports me til this day. Doing her hair and others while I was in school allowed me to get comfortable behind the chair, make mistakes in order to grow, and most importantly, learn how to build long lasting relationships with clients. Aside from hair, that’s what keep people coming back to your chair.

MiKayla, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Of course! First and foremost, my name is MiKayla Williams. I am a Licensed Natural Hair Care Specialist and Colorist. I have always had a passion for the beauty industry so when I got the opportunity to join the Cosmetology program in high school, I did not hesitate! During my senior year, I began working at Great Clips as a receptionist. After graduation, I obtained my Cosmetology license and began working in a full service salon as an assistant to a Platform Stylist. Once God told me to elevate, I took a leap of faith and began to booth rent which surprisingly increased my clientele significantly allowing me to dive deeper into color. Today, I officially have my own salon suite and I couldn’t be happier with where I am. My career consists of building long lasting relationships with my clients, helping people restore their natural hair, and achieve the color of their dreams. This past year, I branched out and began public speaking to Cosmetology students as well as members of natural hair organizations at local colleges which I really enjoy! I showcased my talents on two news segments and was featured in two other magazines besides this one. By the grace of God, I was also able to launch my natural hair care line, Kay Ali Hair Care this past Summer. What I absolutely admire about my brand is that my products truly leave impressionable results, helping people solve their issues with hair thinning/loss, dryness, and lack of curl definition. I take pride in all of my products and my work ethic. Everyone who knows me knows that I’m always on the move, I am always working and trying to put myself out there and I truly love that people see the work I put in. That’s what I would say sets me apart from others.. my passion and drive for what I do which in return creates such a strong work ethic.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Most recently, I had an experience where I had to pivot in my personal life and career. I was involved in a accident where I was not able to work behind the chair as a stylist for a few weeks which was very disappointing. However, during this time- I utilized every opportunity to push my product line and give it exposure I felt it had never gotten before. I presented my brand ambassadors on social media-encouraging them to make content, sold products from my home, and even began working on a virtual natural hair class to keep my brand alive. Even though, I wasn’t working in the salon, I posted almost everyday. You never want to let people forget about you.People always say how important it is to have more than one stream of income and I realized how necessary it was during this time in my life that I wasn’t prepared for. It taught me how to stay strong and patient mentally even when you’re unsure of what’s next. I thank God for instilling this vision of my product line to me and allowing me to bring it to life. At the time, I just saw my name on products and how it could help those around me. Several months ago, I didn’t realize how God was setting me up for the future.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I definitely believe my professionalism has helped build my reputation in this industry along with the respect I have for myself and my brand. I’ve learned that there will be problems that occur, there will be times where you and your client are not on the same page – it’s inevitable..but how you handle those uncomfortable times and how you come back from it is where your professionalism comes in. There have been times where I’ve performed a service on a client and they were not satisfied. Most stylists are quick to issue a refund but what I’ve learned is 9 times out of 10, the client is not looking for a refund- they want their problem solved. Whether that be their style, color, cut, etc.. they just want that fixed. With me being the stylist, if I have a client express that they’re not happy, I try my best to fix their problem and usually I am able to do that. Doing so does a few different things.. helps build client rapport (they know they can count on you), keeps them happy (so they will return) and they more than likely will refer you to others for your great work and willingness to work with them. A lot of stylists now have started bashing their clients on social media when something goes wrong and that’s never been me. I mentioned respect also because it’s important to stand on your policies. Doing so will make your clients respect them as well and help your business to flow smoothly.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://klassbykxouture-haircare.square.site/?fbclid=PAAaaKtq-zqPJGS9kkdIxo1UdS4GKlwos6-lct0olJZDSnKis88y5NqtW_APA
• Instagram: @klassbykxouture.llc @kayali.haircare
• Facebook: MiKayla Williams
• Yelp: Klass By Kxouture LLC

Image Credits
Ala’na Miller, Spirtually Gifted Photography Trinity Morton, Divine Vision