Today we’d like to introduce you to Hailey Robinson.
Hi Hailey, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
After doing the “big chop” in July 2012, right before my freshman year of college, I started blogging/vlogging my natural hair journey in 2014. Since there were no natural hairstylists there at the time (and I was broke) I knew I had to learn to do and care for my natural hair. This is when my fascination for Black haircare began. Over the next few years, I would start my YouTube channel, formerly known as “As Told by HER” and doing hair on campus. I knew then I wanted to be in the [beauty] industry and influencing the status quo of “beauty standards.” I wanted to creative and tell stories through hair care. Over the years I’ve fallen in love with hairstyling, the culture of Black hair, products, and the science behind it all. Thus far, I’ve accumulated near 17,000 “naturalistas,” or followers, who’ve embarked on this journey alongside me.
In 2019, I decided to follow my passions and enroll in cosmetology school at Paul Mitchell the School – Tulsa. I had just finished graduate school a year prior. I quit my career in education and took a chance on myself. This was a stressful time for me as I was navigating a new career in tech/sales and going to cosmetology school full-time. I finally finished and received my cosmetology license in the state of Texas in February of 2022. It was a long-time coming.
Today, I am back on YouTube as “Naturally HER” after taking a 2-year hiatus to complete school, get my license and navigate the pandemic. I’m now thriving in my career as a tech recruiter, doing hair on the side, creating natural hair content, and working at a Black-owned beauty supply store. I’m starting off small and a little slower than I expected, but my goals remain the same. I hope to always educate and help people with their natural hair journeys and try my hand at product development in the beauty industry.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely, not. It took longer than the scheduled 18 months to get my cosmetology license, instead, it took about 2 years and 3 months. While in school, the pandemic started, I had to relocate to another state for work, prepare myself for licensing in Texas (although I was trained in Oklahoma). Additionally, I failed my practical exam the first time. I was devastated and cried, of course. There were many times I wanted to quit and just walk away. Working full-time and going to school was no small feat. Furthermore, a lot of people thought I was crazy for leaving my career after just receiving a master’s degree only to start cosmetology school. My plan didn’t make sense to a lot of people, and I had to sacrifice a lot along the way.
Once I got my license another challenge came – finding a salon. I tried for the first six months to get into a salon and training programs, but it never worked with my work schedule. So, I did what I’ve always done – I pivoted once again. I started working at a Black-owned beauty supply store to learn more about products and ingredients, started doing hair from home and returned to my YouTube channel.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I create natural hair tutorials, review products, and share haircare tips on social media (i.e. Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube). I also do natural hair as a stylist: Locs, twists, braids, color, silk presses and crochet styles. Lastly, I work at a beauty supply store, “Hive Beauty”, where I consult with people on hair products and regimens.
I’m the proudest of the community I’ve created, we’re about 17,000 strong!
What sets me apart is my emphasis on healthy hair care tips, natural hair, and my professional viewpoints and advice.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc.?
“Becoming” & “Feeding the Soul”.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Naturally__HER
- Facebook: Naturally HER
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NaturallyHER
