Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nayreli Nevarez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nayreli, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I’m so blessed and fortunate to be able to live happily and comfortably doing other people’s hair for a living.

It definitely wasn’t always easy, and when first starting, I didn’t honestly think I’d stick it out. I questioned my skillset and abilities constantly, and couldn’t help but compare myself to all the other people in the competitive industry.

The first obstacle after graduation was working out of a completely different city from one I went to school out of. The demographics were quite different, and I had to start working out of a shop from ground zero, meaning I had zero clientele.

I made sure I was always there early to help open up the shop every day. I promoted myself online each day, let people know I was there and that I was accepting walk-ins. Even on the days I didn’t make money, I still always showed up. I asked questions and made every moment a learning one, especially the bad ones.

If I could go back in time and change one thing to have sped up my growth, its that I should have fought to cut as many heads as I could have back in Barber college. The best time to mess up is while you’re learning as a student in school. But I let my shyness, lack of confidence, fear, and doubt hold me back from doing more, and I wish I could have faced it all head on.

Nayreli, 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’m a licensed barber, and I specialize in men’s fades, razor shaves, line ups, beard shaping, and braiding (stitch braids, under-hand scalp braids, corn rows, etc)

Every single day in the shop is different, so its hard to get too bored. Somedays are full of haircuts, some only braids, and some are combos where clients are getting faded and braided by me.

A full service example is a client getting a haircut, beard, shave, eyebrows, nose wax, and/or a facial with braids on top. I have a variety of services I provide, and it definitely helps to set me apart from other barbers who aren’t offering more of an experience to their clients. I get told constantly how all the little things matter / count, and just overall how much more confident someone feels when all is said and done. And the service I take the most pride is definitely my freestyle braid option. I love love LOVE getting free reign to come up with a crazy intricate design custom to each client!

I take pride in my attention to detail, thorough consultations, and my cleanliness / sanitation practices. Customer service is my top priority. I’m no where near perfect, but I am open minded and open to learning new things every-time the opportunity arises.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part for me personally is just all the connections I get to make. We get to touch people’s lives and create a safe place / environment where others feel secure and confident in us to not only be in their very personal space, but trust us with styling their appearance for the next couple of weeks. People walk in one way and leave feeling confident, feeling brand-new, happy, extra peps to the steps. People have told me they look forward to their appointments, that they’re highlights in their lives. To be able to play a part in that, there isn’t a dollar value for that feeling.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

All I can really advise is consistency. Its key and crucial. Posting often. Finding the algorithm and what the peak times are for when people are posting / browsing the feeds. Post work you’re proud of, make your presence known. And also share / like/ comment on other people’s work. It goes both ways and will definitely help with networking!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: instagram.com/__thelasthairbender