Today we’d like to introduce you to Ravin Robinson .
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve always loved girly things, makeup, hair, fashion & as a young girl, I grew up watching my mom (Cosmetologist), and older aunts do each other’s and other people’s hair. It was just the thing to do, and when I became old enough, I joined in with my comb and brush. I realized I loved hair when I started doing my own in middle school. The older I grew, the more my hair styles changed. All of my many hair styles always allowed me to be versatile and creative. Once I reached high school and entered into college, I started to earn money braiding and doing weaves outside of the classroom.
Realizing the interest and feedback I was receiving it eventually became a full time thing. In 2010, I left UL of Lafayette due to a family crisis and moved to the Bronx, NY where I attended the American Beauty School. While attending beauty school full time, I was blessed with a salon job where I was the youngest of 4 stylists. I learned so much from properly doing sew ins and blow outs to learning better styling techniques. For 9 months, I started to gain clientele. With the hands-on knowledge, I was leaning in the salon as well as the skills I was learning in the classroom I began to grow extremely passionate about my skill. Due to some uncontrollable circumstances in New York, I decided to return to my hometown of Bogalusa, Louisiana. There, I continued my passion. I am from a small town so my clientele was pretty constant and began to reach surrounding areas as well. I was able to save and work to purchase a 10’ x 12’ mobile building made of wood. My now late grandfather, helped be to get it fully constructed, insulated, and operating as my own little workspace. It became my little business, located right in my grandparents back yard.
I worked my small business for a little over 2 and a half years before taking the move to Houston, TX. I worked full-time as a stylist in a salon for my first 8 months still making trips back home to service clients in between. The commute began to weigh heavy on me and I contemplated my next move while dealing with the sudden illness of my grandfather. I made a decision to quit the salon job to go back home and be with my family. Within 3 months of being diagnosed with 3 cancerous mass tumors, my grandfather passed away. He was my world and had helped raise me my entire life. It took me into a very sad, depressed state and I needed to be there for my grandma. During my few months back home, I worked in between, still doing hair, and was able to talk to God more. I realized I wanted to do something different when I returned to Houston, and I could not allow life’s obstacles to set me back. I contemplated for a while, whether I should stay in Louisiana or go back to Houston. Eventually, I was led back to Houston where I was lost, confused, not knowing what my next step would be.
Thankfully, my mom & uncle lived here, which gave me a place to stay but I knew I was over the salon thing. After talking to a friend of mine, he encouraged me to “go mobile”. I said, “go mobile, what do you mean by that?”, being from a small town I didn’t know what he meant. He explained, “Make house-calls. We are in a huge city, why won’t you go to the clients. People love convenience.” From there, I started advertising on social media, posting on online advertising sites, and here I am, 3 years later.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has never been a smooth road. However, without the road blocks, detours, traffic jams, accidents and traffic stops I would not be who I am today. Much of my journey, I was rerouted and I just continuously trusted God. I am a college “drop-out”, but many don’t know why I left. My father was absent from my entire life but his father also rested me along with my maternal Grandparents. In 2010, during my summer back home, he came to his hometown Bogalusa, LA from NY to say his final goodbyes to me. He was dying from cancer and had a short time to live. I was devastated, but I decided to fly to NY and not return to school that Fall. It was my junior year, but I followed my heart.
I felt that he had a short time to live, so it was only right to be there for him. I went, he passed away a few months later, on the one night I decided not to stay at the hospital. At 20 years old, I knew I had to pick up where I left off. After mending my relationship with my dad, he offered me to stay in NY and pursue my fashion and hair dreams. Little did I know, while living there, his lifestyle would land me right back in Louisiana. I accomplished a lot there, I pursued beauty school, worked in my first salon, did some modeling work and I was grateful for where I felt my life was headed. When betrayal from my father caused me to throw all of those things away, with nowhere else to go, I was forced to move back to Louisiana. I did not stop though. Although the opportunities were slim living in a small town, I was forced to created opportunities for myself. I saved enough money to do what I desired to do.
Despite the setbacks, I stayed prayerful, I believed in myself and I put my ideas to life. I never stopped regardless of how many times I was forced to start over. It was necessary for my growth and development as a striving entrepreneur. After moving to Houston, again, I was faced with an unexpected detour, my maternal grandfather, my world, my friend was taken from me, forcing me back home AGAIN. This time, I was given a fresh start. Each time I was detoured, God was aligning me so that I could be used according to His purpose. I used my time back home to inspire me to fight harder and throughout the journey, I gained two angels who are looking down on me pushing me to be all I am created to be. You have to use your delays, standstills, detours, roadblocks and traffic stops as the time to get closer to God and yourself and be willing to have faith and push yourself to the limit. I’m still fighting constant battles throughout this journey of life but I’m grateful for it all. I wouldn’t be who I am without the struggles and for that I am grateful.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Beautii-Fulfilled story. Tell us more about the business.
I am a natural hairstylist servicing natural hair clients. I specialize in Sew-Ins and Silk Press. As a brand, I am most proud of my uniqueness and professionalism. I feel that by being a mobile hairstylist, it sets me apart from so many because as women, we seek privacy. We also feel as though home, is our safe havens, so what’s better than being serviced in the comfort of your own environment? My clients tell me that my services act as a “luxury service” for them and makes them feel extremely comfortable. They feel like celebrities and it allows for a more personable client/Stylist relationship.
Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
I made a vow to myself that I would invest in at least one networking event or seminar each month. I feel that mentorship is extremely important no matter what level you are on in life. Surrounding myself with like-minded individuals and attending seminars and private classes with people who I admire has and continues to help me as I continuously aim to grow. Reading motivational books, listening to audiobooks, podcasts and watching positive/inspirational videos also help me.
Contact Info:
- Website: Styleseat.com/RavinRobinson
- Phone: 504-475-4039
- Email: beautiifulfilled@gmail.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/beautiifulfilled
- Facebook: Facebook.com/beautiifulfilled
Image Credit:
@beautiifulfilled, The Lennz Photography, L Bennett
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