Today we’d like to introduce you to Niki Jackson.
Hi Niki, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m a third-generation hairstylist. My mom has been doing hair for as long as I can remember, and my grandmother was a hairstylist as well, so I pretty much grew up in the salon.
As the eldest daughter and granddaughter, I guess the lot just fell on me! Lol! But honestly, I didn’t mind. I loved being in the salon as a young girl, watching women come in for hair transformations, cuts, color, and the latest trends. I admired their fashion, their confidence, and, of course, I tried to eavesdrop on the grown-up conversations whenever I could. By the time I was 10 years old, I already knew I wanted to become a hairstylist.
After high school, I attended beauty school, earned my license, and began working full-time in my mom’s salon. I started as her assistant and, over the years, built my own clientele and established myself as an independent hairstylist. I’ve been doing hair for 22 years now, and it truly has become a lifelong career and passion.
I’ve always had a special love for fashion and the creative industry, too. For years, I dreamed about taking my career beyond the salon and working in fashion and beauty as a freelance hairstylist.
That dream started to become a reality when I met my mentor, esteemed celebrity hair stylist, Naeemah LaFond. She created a social media challenge that gave black hairstylists an opportunity to receive mentorship from her and her business coach and mentor. And after psyching myself up to share my video submission, I found out that I had been one of the stylists selected.
That opportunity was a turning point for me. Her mentorship has given me the chance to ask real questions and gain insight into how to break into the freelance world of fashion and beauty. More importantly, it’s given me the confidence and direction to stop simply dreaming about working in fashion and start pursuing it intentionally.
Today, I’m not just dreaming about working in fashion. I’m actually doing it. I’ve had opportunities to work backstage during New York Fashion Week, assist established artists at hair shows, and work on campaign shoots and other creative projects.
My freelance journey has been an incredible experience so far, and I’m excited about where it’s continuing to take me.
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?
A smooth road? Not always. Lol! Whether you’re working behind the chair in a salon or working as a freelance artist, building and maintaining a clientele can be one of the most challenging parts. It is work! It takes time, consistency, patience, and a willingness to keep showing up.
I tell you, this career is not for the weak or the impatient. You have to be willing to start where you are, learn as you go, build relationships, and put yourself out there.
And when it comes to the freelance side of things, you have to be able to move past hearing “no” and what feels like rejection. You can’t take it personally or let it discourage you. Whew! Now that part can really test you.
Another challenge I’ve had to learn to navigate is not comparing myself or my journey to anyone else’s. Your path is your path, and your growth is your growth. It shouldn’t be measured against someone else’s, or even by how quickly the opportunities come.
I remember hearing one of my mentors say, “Nobody starts where they end. There’s always a journey between the two destinations.” It’s simple, but profound. We each have our own journey, and along the way, with every opportunity we’re given, we have the chance to learn, grow, mess up, and try again.
That’s all part of the process, and I’m learning to trust it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My work has allowed me to wear different hats. I work with clients one-on-one, providing hair and scalp maintenance, styling and hair color services. I also love being part of a team on editorial, fashion, campaign and red carpet projects.
I’d say versatility is one of my biggest strengths. I love creating a beautiful, polished look, but I also enjoy getting creative and thinking out the box. I’m always paying attention to the details and the overall vision, and healthy hair is always a priority for me.
I’m also known for being someone who can come into a room and get to work. I’m easy to work with, willing to learn and I genuinely enjoy collaborating with other artists.
I’m most proud of being able to build a career that has continued to evolve. When I first started, I honestly didn’t think I’d be good at it, but I stuck with it. I took classes to continue to develop my skills, pushed myself to learn new techniques, and challenged myself to try new things. I still do that today.
My mom has also been a huge part of my growth. She believed in me, taught me so much about the business, and gave me a strong foundation by allowing me to assist her early in my career. Assisting her earlier on gave me the foundation I needed. I went from being the little girl in my mom and grandmother’s salons to building the career I dreamed about. I’m proud of myself for not giving up along the way.
And what sets me apart is the combination of experience, versatility and how I connect with people. I don’t take for granted that people trust me with their hair, whether it’s a client sitting in my chair or another artist trusting me to help bring a creative vision to life.
At the end of the day, I want people to feel like they got more than a hairstyle. I want them to feel seen, confident and good about themselves. And when working on a creative project, I want the team to know that they can count on me me to show up and do my part. And bring good energy with me.
God gave me this gift and I want to do good with it
How do you think about luck?
I’m grateful for life, the ups, the downs, the wins, and the losses. Looking back, I can see how some of the things I thought were setbacks were actually lessons I needed along the way.
I do believe favor plays a role in the good we experience in life, but I also believe we need to have faith and that requires action. There’s a saying, “Faith without works is dead,” and I believe our actions have to align with what we say we believe. Opportunities may come our way, but we still have to be prepared, willing to take the chance, and courageous enough to walk through the door.
Meeting my mentor, Naeemah LaFond, is a great example. I could have talked myself out of submitting for that mentorship opportunity, but I decided to take the chance. That one decision opened a door that helped change the direction of my career.
So, while I’m super grateful for every opportunity and every bit of favor I’ve experienced along the way, I know I have a part to play too. I just want to stay ready, keep learning, put myself out there, and trust God with the outcome.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nikijacksononhair.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikijacksononhair
