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

Hi Rikki, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Our mission stems from a need. A need to be heard, to be understood and listened to by others. To hold space for a person in their time of need and listen to their concerns is a privilege, one that we hold in the highest regard. Creating a holistic atmosphere within the beauty industry means treating people not just as a client, but as an individual and creating a custom experience for the mind, body & soul.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Becoming an industry professional was a serendipitous experience. Wanting to be a masseuse, I decided to attend school for Esthetics to pay my way through Massage Therapy school. Upon completion of Esthetics, I was encouraged to attend Cosmetology school to be a “triple threat” in the service industry. Entering cosmetology taught me lessons not only about people, but myself most of all. Cosmetologists hear people’s innermost desires, but something that our industry is known for besides hair, is empathy. Connecting with people is our entire job, but I decided to take it a step further. We strive to create a welcoming atmosphere where we can assist in your overall experience out in the world, not just in the salon. In our space, we provide a unique opportunity to share your experiences and customize your canvas and beauty routine to suit each individual. Each individual is unique and their experience should be just as unique. Using aromatherapy during your shampoo service, instruction & demonstration in hair styling, to providing naturally based products, we strive to treat you holistically for your whole being.

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

I think we can all agree that 2020 was the year of PIVOT and I don’t just mean the iconic Friends reference. Every industry was forced to make changes and the beauty industry was no different. After 2020, I realized that people were going to need a lot more care in their service. They need to feel that we are here for them, in more ways than just their hair. As hairdressers we are a loving bunch, but the industry had always been about servicing as many people as possible every day. We made the decision to pivot and put more time and energy into people individually, making it more about quality instead of quantity. Our clients have loved this changed approach and as a stylist, it’s more fulfilling to see each person thrive with more personalized time.

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

Risk is a part of everything, but when you put yourself out there on social media, that tends to make a bigger splash. That was my intention the day I decided as a naturally curly haired gal to brush (yes I said brush) my hair and watch the frizz filled hair ball unleash its glory for a photo. If you or someone you know have curly hair, you know just how painful brushing can be and how it amplifies frizz! I’ve had curly hair my entire life, but didn’t fully embrace it until my late 20’s. My intention that day was to showcase my frizz and how I could help tame it without having to wave a magic wand and maintain beautiful curls. Texture should be embraced, and that day I took a huge risk for a beauty professional posting my undone, wild, crazy hair for the world to see. To show others who may not embrace their texture, that they can love their hair with a customized approach… it was beyond worth it! Because of that post, I now have more texture in my salon chair than ever before and I get the privilege of teaching others to embrace their beauty.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: WildRiverStudios
• Facebook: Wild River Studios

Image Credits
Photo credit: Rikki Brockett