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

Ruth, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear how you think where to draw the line in terms of asking friends and family to support your business – what’s okay and what’s over the line?

When it comes to asking friends and family to support my business, I feel incredibly fortunate. From the beginning, they were my biggest supporters, allowing me to practice hairstyling on them and helping me build my portfolio when clients were scarce. Their willingness to model for me laid the foundation for my career, and I truly believe I wouldn’t be where I am today without their support.

While many people have stories of friends and family not backing their ventures, that’s not my experience. My loved ones not only model for me, but they also genuinely appreciate my work and often compensate me well, sometimes even more than my regular clients. This reinforces a crucial point: if you want support from family and friends, your work needs to be exceptional. I wouldn’t expect them to invest in something that isn’t of high quality, and I believe that goes both ways.

However, I’ve also learned that if you’re producing quality work and your family and friends still choose not to book your services or purchase your products, that’s perfectly okay. It’s a sign that the universe is guiding you away from becoming a “local business” limited to your immediate circle. It’s essential to have a broader audience that appreciates what you do. Ultimately, while I cherish the support of my family and friends, I know that a thriving business relies on attracting a diverse clientele who value what I offer. It’s about creating quality work and continually expanding my reach, and for that, I remain committed to honing my craft.

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.

I never expected to be where I am today, but sometimes the most unexpected opportunities are the ones that shape our journey. My path into bridal hairstyling began with a simple, yet life-changing request from a friend who felt like a big sister. She asked me to style the hair for her bridesmaids. At the time, I had been focused on traditional hairstyles things like sew-ins, weaves, and crochet, and even selling hair bundles. Bridal hair felt like a whole different world to me, but I took the leap.

Though I had already been doing basic curls for a few brides, I had never truly explored the artistry of bridal hairstyling—this was the moment that unlocked a deeper creative gift I didn’t even know I had. From that point forward, I realized that every small step and every job, no matter how small it seemed at the time, was pushing me to discover new levels of my craft.

What I’ve learned along the way is this: don’t underestimate the power of persistence. Whether you think you’re simply sketching or doing something mundane, you may be laying the groundwork for something much bigger. I often tell people, “If you love something, keep going—because through that passion, a whole new world may open up for you.”

My mission now is to create timeless, elegant hairstyles for brides, along with stunning content that helps them relive the beauty of their wedding day for years to come. I’m proud to create looks that make my clients feel like their best selves, while also delivering high-quality, shareable content that they can cherish forever.

What sets me apart is not just the final hairstyle, but the experience bridging creativity with content that lasts. I believe in hard work and the importance of seizing opportunities, even if they don’t come with immediate rewards. By consistently tapping into your creative skills and producing content, you never know when the next big opportunity will come present itself.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

One of the most defining moments of my journey, and a true testament to my resilience, occurred when I was pregnant with my child. I had a bride scheduled for a wedding a week of my due date. I could have easily arranged for another stylist to take over, but I felt an unwavering commitment to my bride.

Not only did I attend to that wedding, but I also had a destination wedding in Mexico around the same time. Despite being in some pain and still healing from a c-section, I flew out four weeks after my surgery to ensure my clients received the experience they deserved. It wasn’t easy, but my dedication to my craft and to never disappointing my brides kept me going. I understood that, unlike regular hairstyling appointments, a wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event. The memories made on that day are irreplaceable, and I wanted to ensure I was there for my clients, no matter the challenge.

Commitment in this industry is everything. When you’re working with brides, you know that the experience you create is something they’ll carry with them forever. That level of responsibility drives me to always show up, even when it’s tough. It’s this resilience and dedication that I believe sets me apart.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Building my audience on social media was a gradual process, but it all began with a commitment to creating high-quality, engaging content for my followers. For years, I didn’t fully grasp the power of consistency until I began to take it seriously. I had my business page for about 12 years, but I didn’t see significant growth until 2024. That year, I made a conscious decision to invest more time and effort into content creation, and the results were remarkable.

In just a few months, I went from a stagnant 4,000 followers to 11,000. This dramatic growth proved to me that consistently showing up with valuable, visually appealing content can push your business far beyond your own reach. The key is to stay dedicated and keep refining your content to resonate with your audience.

My advice to anyone just starting to build their social media presence is this: Be consistent. Focus on creating content that speaks to your ideal clients, and don’t get discouraged if growth feels slow at first. It’s about showing up consistently, sharing what makes your brand unique, and always adding value. The results won’t come overnight, but if you’re persistent and authentic, you’ll see the impact over time.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://ruthieshaircafe.com/
• Instagram: https://Www.instagram.com/ruthieshaircafe
• Youtube: https://Www.youtube.com/ruthieshaircafe

Image Credits

Adeos Yeboah
Jema photography