We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Raina Ball. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Raina below.

Raina , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

One of the scariest risks I ever took was deciding to pursue doing hair full-time. In the beginning, I played it safe by working a regular job while building my clientele on the side. I spent long days balancing both, trying to provide for my family while chasing a dream that wasn’t guaranteed to work out.

Eventually, I reached a point where I had to make a choice. I took a leap of faith, left the security of a steady paycheck, and committed to doing hair full-time while raising two kids on my own. It wasn’t easy, and there were plenty of moments when I questioned whether I was making the right decision. Being self-employed comes with a lot of freedom, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility, uncertainty, and obstacles.

Even now, as I’m dealing with an injury that has limited my ability to work, I find myself wondering if I made a mistake. There are days when the stress feels overwhelming and the challenges seem bigger than the rewards. But when I look back, I also see the strength it took to bet on myself, provide for my children, and build something from the ground up. I see the lives I’ve touched, the relationships I’ve built with my clients, and the opportunities that came from believing in my own abilities.

This season of my life has been one of the hardest, especially learning how to navigate setbacks and accept help when I’ve always been the one taking care of everything. But I truly believe God is using this chapter to teach me lessons I couldn’t learn any other way. He’s showing me that strength isn’t just about doing everything on your own—sometimes strength is found in being vulnerable enough to ask for help and trust the process.

The journey hasn’t been perfect, and I don’t know exactly what the future holds, but I do know this: taking that risk taught me courage. And even through the obstacles, I still believe greater things are coming. Sometimes God has to slow us down so we can prepare for the blessings ahead. I’m choosing to trust that this difficult season is not the end of my story—it’s just another chapter in it. ❤️

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

My name is Raina, and I am a licensed cosmetologist, cosmetology instructor, entrepreneur, and aspiring healthcare professional. My journey into the beauty industry started with a passion for helping people feel confident and beautiful. What began as a creative outlet quickly grew into a career that has allowed me to impact lives in ways I never imagined.

Like many entrepreneurs, my path wasn’t easy. I initially worked a traditional job while building my clientele on the side. I spent countless hours working, learning, and perfecting my craft while also raising two children. Eventually, I took one of the biggest risks of my life and left the security of a regular paycheck to pursue hair full-time. It was a leap of faith, but one that taught me resilience, determination, and the importance of believing in myself even when the outcome wasn’t guaranteed.

Today, I provide a variety of beauty services focused on healthy hair care, styling, education, and helping clients look and feel their best. Beyond the services themselves, I strive to create an experience where clients feel valued, heard, and empowered. I believe beauty is about much more than appearance—it’s about confidence, self-expression, and self-care.

One of the problems I help solve for my clients is restoring confidence. Whether someone is dealing with damaged hair, hair loss, a major life transition, or simply wants a fresh new look, my goal is to help them leave my chair feeling better than when they arrived. I take pride in educating my clients about maintaining healthy hair while creating styles that fit their lifestyle and personal goals.

What sets me apart is my story and my heart. I am not just a hairstylist; I am a mother, educator, business owner, and someone who understands perseverance firsthand. I’ve built my business while raising children on my own, navigating personal challenges, and continuing to push forward through difficult seasons. Those experiences have given me a level of empathy and understanding that I bring into every client interaction.

In addition to my beauty career, I am continuing my education in the medical field. As a clinical medical assistant student with aspirations of becoming a nurse, I am passionate about combining beauty, wellness, and healthcare. My vision is to create opportunities that allow me to serve people holistically—helping them feel confident on the outside while also supporting their overall health and well-being.

What I am most proud of is not just the business I’ve built, but the obstacles I’ve overcome to build it. There have been moments when the journey felt impossible, yet I continued moving forward. Every client served, every student taught, every challenge conquered, and every goal achieved represents a victory not only for me but for my children, who have watched me pursue my dreams with determination and faith.

The main thing I want people to know about me and my brand is that authenticity, excellence, and service are at the center of everything I do. I genuinely care about the people I serve. I am committed to continuous growth, lifelong learning, and creating an environment where people feel beautiful, empowered, and inspired.

My story is still being written, but if there is one thing I hope people take away from it, it’s that success doesn’t require a perfect journey. It requires courage, consistency, faith, and the willingness to keep going even when the road gets difficult. I believe the best chapters are still ahead, and I am excited to continue growing, serving others, and making a positive impact through both beauty and healthcare.

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

One of the biggest pivots I have had to make happened recently after suffering an ankle injury. For years, I built my career around being physically present behind the chair as a hairstylist and salon professional. My business depended on my ability to stand for long hours, work with clients, and maintain a busy schedule. Like many entrepreneurs, I was used to pushing through challenges and handling everything on my own.

When my injury occurred, everything changed almost overnight. Suddenly, I was forced to slow down and face a reality I had never really prepared for. Not being able to work at full capacity affected not only my income but also my sense of independence. As a single mother and business owner, that was incredibly difficult. There were moments of frustration, fear, and uncertainty as I questioned what the future would look like.

Instead of allowing the setback to define me, I chose to pivot. I focused on the things I could control rather than the things I couldn’t. I leaned into my education, continued pursuing my goals in the medical field, and began looking at my future through a broader lens. The experience challenged me to think beyond working behind the chair and explore ways to create multiple streams of income, expand my knowledge, and build a career that combines beauty, education, and healthcare.

This season has also taught me one of the hardest lessons of my life: learning to ask for help. I’ve always been someone who prides herself on being strong and self-sufficient, but this experience reminded me that strength also means accepting support when you need it. It has deepened my faith, strengthened my resilience, and given me a new appreciation for community and perseverance.

While I would never have chosen this challenge, I believe it is helping prepare me for the next chapter of my journey. The pivot wasn’t just about adjusting my business—it was about adjusting my mindset. It taught me that setbacks don’t always mean you’re being redirected away from your purpose; sometimes they’re guiding you toward a bigger one. Today, I am more determined than ever to continue growing, serving others, and creating opportunities that allow me to make an impact both in beauty and healthcare.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Unlike many businesses that start with large investments or outside funding, my business was built through determination, sacrifice, and a willingness to start small. When I first decided to pursue a career in the beauty industry, I didn’t have a large amount of startup capital or investors backing me. Instead, I relied on my regular job while building my clientele on the side.

In the beginning, every dollar mattered. I used income from my job to pay for the tools, products, equipment, and education I needed to grow my skills and establish myself as a professional. I reinvested as much as possible back into my business, often choosing growth opportunities over personal luxuries. There were many late nights, long workdays, and moments when I questioned whether all the sacrifices would be worth it.

As my client base grew, so did my confidence. What started as a side hustle gradually became a viable business. I continued reinvesting my earnings into better products, additional training, marketing, and creating an experience that would keep clients coming back. Rather than taking on significant debt or seeking outside investors, I focused on growing organically through hard work, consistency, and word-of-mouth referrals.

One of the biggest investments I made wasn’t financial—it was betting on myself. Eventually, I made the difficult decision to leave the security of a traditional job and commit fully to my business. As a single mother raising two children, that decision came with a tremendous amount of risk. There were no guarantees, but I believed in my vision and trusted that my work ethic would carry me through the challenges.

Looking back, I’m proud that my business was built from the ground up. Every client served, every skill learned, and every milestone achieved represents years of dedication and persistence. The journey taught me that you don’t always need a large amount of capital to start a business. Sometimes the most valuable assets are faith, consistency, resilience, and the willingness to keep going even when the path forward isn’t clear.

Today, those lessons continue to shape how I approach business. My story is proof that growth doesn’t have to happen all at once. By starting where I was, using what I had, and staying committed to my goals, I was able to turn a passion into a profession and a dream into a business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rainasdvinecrown.as.me/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rainas_dvine_crown?igsh=M20xeXd0d3g3bWJs&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1JP3LnHtcC/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Image Credits

Kamera Girl