Today we’d like to introduce you to Takashi Haynes.
Hi Takashi, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
As a child, I’ve always had an affinity for makeup! I would repeatedly get in trouble for playing in makeup since I had a very conservative family. Fast forward to my young adult years, while in the club scene, I connected with quite a few drag queens who also shared a passion for makeup. They taught me soooo many tips and tricks! As my life transitioned, I fell on hard times. Makeup was my go-to as a stress reliever. I then started to do makeup on social media as a makeup enthusiast since I love to share my talent while talking about inspiration and positivity! This is when I decided to start a makeup line for women who love natural-looking makeup.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
This road has been anything but smooth, but that’s the nature of the beast! In a market heavily saturated with up-and-coming cosmetic brands, finding a way to stay relevant is quite the task. What has helped is being my authentic self, and sticking to my lane which is giving tips to women, like me, who love makeup and have sensitive skin, and love a natural look. I also tap into the creative side to keep my experiences makeup artists and enthusiasts engaged as well!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
In my professional career, I am a licensed pharmacy tech and capability analyst. I specialize in testing out software upgrades and new code deployment. I love this work because beside makeup, data analytics has always been another passion of mine. What sets me apart and makes me a successful analyst is that I’m an analyst and overthinker by nature! Going down the rabbit hole is actually what keeps me successful! Lastly, I’m one of the few African American Capability Analysts, so that definitely makes me stand out!
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Being patient and consistent, and tenacious is what keeps me successful. Though I have a growing cosmetic brand, I’ve been able to build a growing community of like-minded women who patronize my business on a regular basis. Another key to success is not falling for the comparison trap! With there being so many makeup brands and content creators, it’s so easy to get discouraged and want to give up. The key is remembering what makes you YOU and stick to your demographic.
Remaining teachable and getting a coach and/or mentor who has already made it to where you’re trying to go! And no matter what, keep God first!
Pricing:
- Lip gloss is $7
- Liquid Matte Lipstick is $10
- Brow pencils are $10
Contact Info:
- Website: kashikosmetics-105647.square.site
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/kashikosmetics?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TBeautybay?mibextid=LQQJ4d
