We’re looking forward to introducing you to Renay bossy Graham . Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Renay bossy , we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Hikey- hay world… It’s like my catchphrase or it is my catchphrase.
I’m bossy I’m a licensed cosmetologist. I’m from the West Coast. The thing that brings me joy outside of cosmetology doing hair, making everything and everyone gorgeous.
I started my journey into content creating , it’s been a rollercoaster ride. I have a really slick mouth.lol
I’m a Sagittarius so, I say what everyone else is thinking and too afraid to say.
That mouth of mine has come in handy with my quote page on Instagram shameless plug ,
IG.@currentwestCoastgurl_logic
It’s a quote page for girls with a dark but funny sense of humor. I encouraged if you wish to go check it out.
I’ve started content creating on YouTube, to be an on camera creator ,which is fun new ,outside of the box for me.
My YouTube channel is
Insidehikeylife323 . This journey is new , different but it’s like second nature now. It’s definitely not for the faint of hearts.
Content creating is a challenge The editing is no joke The time spent is no joke. It can become very rewarding both financially and personally.
I’ve had to step outside of my comfort zone of being a ’80s baby a millennial no face no case lol.
I work with a very popular well-known YouTuber by the name of Storm Monroe.
If anybody is looking for a mentorship or help with YouTube or help with their social media space.
StromMonroebusiness@gmail.com
On Instagram @thecelebritydoctor DM him or on YouTube channel Storm Monroe. HE WILL AUTHENTICALLY TEACH YOU HOW TO GET TO THE BAG. IF YOU NEED HELP DEVELOPING YOUR PERSONALITY. I’VE NEVER NEEDED THAT PART BUT HE DEFINITELY WILL HELP YOU THERE THE TECHNOLOGY SIDE WHICH IS WHERE I NEEDED HELP HE GOT YOU THERE TOO.
The content creating and the hair stylist space has kind of become one in the same.
Myself owning hikey ya gorgeous LLC SALON, BEING A multicultural hair stylist.
www.hikeyyagorgeousllc.com please visit my website. I offer travel services international and across the US now.Yes I train salons and stylists different extension techniques. I SPECIALIZE IN HAIR GROWTH. I have growth products that work for cancer and alopecia, diabetic patients. I also sell wigs exclusively for cancer patients, I able ,mimic their natural look that they had before cancer. I sell lipstick, lip gloss. I have the best extensions in the game.period I worked years developing my hair texture because I’m a multicultural stylist. My extensions match every texture of hair from 3a-4c & everything in between. Now back to the services I offer for teaching.
I teach the UV extension service. I learned that in London. Some of these things I will be showing on my new YouTube page insidehikeylife323.IG.@hikeyysalon323
Life has got an extremely interesting. Me starting this new journey in content creating. This has brought me extreme joy & a new challenge.
As hair stylist sometimes we can get burned out. So don’t be afraid jump out the window and try something new.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hikey-hello everyone I’m bossy – Renay Graham -everyone who knows me and loves me calls me bossy.
I’m a licensed cosmetologist from the West Coast. I received my amazing tutelage darling… From the greats like Beverly Hills empress Elgin Charles and if you’re from Watts California T-Bird and Lois. I’m a multicultural hair stylist I’m a bit of a unicorn I’m a chocolate girl that does amazing vanilla hair.lol. I’m Paul Mitchell ,Aveda & redken ,Sebastian international trained. So I got a little education behind me lol.
I specialize in hair growth. I created my own hair growth products that have proven to work on cancer patients diabetic, high blood pressure, &alopecia patients. Please view my Instagram @hikeyysalon323.& website
www.hikeyyagorgeousllc.com
I work with the national Cancer society several times. Hair is my passion it’s art it’s walking talking advertisement.
I specialize in extensions& complete hair transformations along with color and cutting. I’m even handed is what the old school style is called it.
Meaning I’m actually good at everything connected to hair shortcuts protective styles &extensions color specialist .
I’m eternally a student. I love to learn all new methods. new ways of doing things.
This is how you stay sharp and you stay ahead of the trends.
My baby is my business. my salon is everything that is me. hikey ya gorgeous LLC SALON. I’ve been doing hair since I was 12 years old. I’m a shop baby I had to be babysat, A lot of my aunties were hair stylist.
Hair came to me easy.
I love hair because it can change a woman’s whole outlook on life. A new hairstyle can make a woman feel better. make her have confidence again you know.
It’s pretty much me in a nutshell the unicorn that I am.bossy.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
This is a really good question very introspective.
There are two relationships that shape my life the most.
One my auntie my dad’s sister. She’s my sunshine. The light in my life. She’s the person that saw me before anybody else did my Auntie Joyce.
She saw my talent my ability. My big personality she never wanted me to hide it. She’s the most amazing person I know. She’s definitely who I want to be like when I grow up.lol
She taught me patience and kindness.
She believed in me before I believed in myself.
As far as me running my business me being successful with my business.
My personality as a whole being a strength not a hindrance.
The second relationship that shaped my life and my world. Definitely shaped the way that I see myself as powerful.
My father #I’ve been had a girl DAD 💗
MY DAD HIS NICKNAME IS FATTS
I HAVE A WEST COAST GIRL DAD.
My father has been extremely instrumental in myself belief system.
My self-esteem myself reliance definitely my independence.
My dad is the strongest dad I know very present. Some people are just born to be girl dads. I think my dad is one.
He definitely shaped my dating life.lol
for the most part or the lack there of I’m so career-driven and focused right now.
I’m grateful to him that I didn’t fall into the normal pitfalls of West Coast living. When it comes to growing up in an inner city setting something.sometimes girls can fall victim to a lot of different negative life altering things.
I never did I never experienced any of that . I’m grateful to my dad for that.
My dad along with my aunt are two of the closest people to me. they know everything about me.
I can share anything with my dad, I do mean anything.
My father saw my talent for doing hair early. I’m talking 9 years old.
when I turn 12 he built my 1st salon in our second garage. He turned his man cave air quotes into my salon and it was beautiful. He created my obsession for pink and blue and rose gold.lol
I definitely was a young entrepreneur. I had cousins and friends working for me. My mother did not know.
My mother was more critical more hard on me but it helped shape me to who I am today. My mother knew the world would be hard on me simply because of my complexion being a black woman. Me being an outspoken strong black woman. The world would definitely be harsh, so my mother was tough early.
This is why I’m so STRONG in the business space&LIFE IM UNBREAKABLE THANK YOU MAMA RIP, no one can play with me, especially when it comes to my money.
My father is the nurturing understanding, extremely supportive type. He saw my name in lights early That’s why he put it in lights, inside of my first salon at 12 years old.
I’m definitely grateful for my upbringing. West Coast upbringing it’s like a playing field for a entrepreneur.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There’s only been one time in my life. That I’ve ever thought about giving up on my dream of hair. I came across a terrible lawyer. Who almost ruined my life and my business. You Have to be careful who you trust , who you get into business relationships with.
He definitely tried to ruin my business. After lockdown his personality change he became a totally different person. I don’t know if it was mental health or what.
But the business of my hair salon was all messed up just to say the lease.
There was no help for me there was no loans no nothing everything that I’ve done.
I’ve always done everything like most black stylists from our own pockets. !!!!
We do not get the opportunities of loans grants like a lot of people who don’t look like us that’s a fact.
I had to pivot start all over again. I had to start offering my travel services. I will say what was meant to harm me ,by that horrible disgusting lawyer he knows who he is. Your spineless sucker and my ancestors will never be kind to you.
The situation actually made me pivot forward. I started traveling doing hair.
Not just doing hair but offering to teach my expertise to other stylist and hair salons. The situation showed me my own strength and resilience. Again my own power and toughness , from the very critical harsh at times but always from a loving place mother rip “her”.
My upbringing prepared me for these type of situations. You run across scandalous lowdown rotten people. When it comes to the hair industry you have to be careful.
I definitely experienced people who have been through what I’ve been through when it come to lawyers especially black women.
I won’t go into great detail about what happened.
But it was not good and it was meant to break me and it didn’t.
Now instead of a salon suite situation.
I will now have ownership for my own salon suite location. That will never overcharge stylists like myself. The salon suite location will be affordable for all of us. Stay tuned coming soon!
I learned that everything in life happens for a reason . I learned from every situation I’ve been through.
The fact is I got through it I pivoted. I still have my business 100% ownership. He got nothing and he has no clients as a lawyer.. so in the end I won because I’m God& ancestors-archangel Michael protected. !!!
My father taught me you never give up on yourself and you never let somebody put you in THE SMALL position of fear.!!!
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
You guys have amazing questions.
The biggest lie that my cosmetology hair industry tells itself.
This is for the 706 the hair union.
I really hope they read this.
My industry tells itself that it’s fair and just for all. That’s a complete lie.
The industry is biased. Against women who look like me black women ,black hairstyles ,black talent across the board. I’m bold enough and fearless enough to say it. The 706 allowed women who don’t look like me and men to have letters written from A LIST clients .they got full credentials with the 706 they didn’t have to jump through no hoops that’s a fact!!! But a black stylist could never do the same thing!!!!…
Brands and companies do not pay us (BLACK HAIR STYLIST)the way that they pay people who don’t look like us. With half ,a fourth of our talent. YEAH I SAID IT BLACK HAIR STYLISTS ARE OVERQUALIFIED FOR EVERY POSITION. THEY WANT US TO ASSIST PEOPLE WHO DON’T LOOK LIKE US SO THEY CAN PUT THEIR NAME ON OUR TALENT ON OUR WORK. IT HAPPENS IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN IN OUR INDUSTRY.
That’s a fact The hair Union 706 is a problem. IS 706 IS ARCHAIC IT NEEDS TO BE OVERHAULED THE WHOLE BOARD NEEDS TO STEP DOWN AND WE NEED TO CHOOSE NEW PEOPLE NOW ASAP!!!.
They are biased. they’re one goal is to make sure ,that there are not a plethora of multicultural STYLIST meaning black stylist that make it into the 706. I SAID IT AND I’M NOT THE ONLY STYLIST WHO FEELS THIS WAY THERE ARE SEVERAL STYLISTS WITH LARGE NAMES LARGE FOLLOWINGS THAT ARE NOT A PART OF THE 706 FOR THIS VERY REASON IT’S NOT A WELCOMING PLACE FOR BLACK HAIR STYLIST ESPECIALLY YOUNG!!!!!.
The opportunities that definitely belong to Black stylists are not given to us .We earn them We are bypassed and overlooked and definitely underpaid.
The cosmetology industry will have you believe that we’re all in it together. The furthest thing from the truth the biggest lie. I said what I said I meant what I said because I’ve experienced it several times over from the 706 it’s a joke.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace..when I am traveling. My favorite place in the world to go to was Africa I really enjoy Tanzania a couple other places there too but I don’t want them to be a tourist spot.lol.
There’s just something about traveling I believe it’s me being a Sagittarius. Traveling just brings me peace. I love learning new things and seeing new places. Most interesting place I’ve been is Bali. The people are beautiful so calm slow pace living.
I believe that’s what my retirement will be the motherland home Africa.
Really slow pace by the water nature beautiful gorgeous home.
Yes my peaceful place is traveling.
And I absolutely love my nephews all of them I’m a boy auntie .💗💗 I have new nieces but I’m a boy auntie 😂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hikeyyagorgeousllc.com
- Instagram: @hikeyysalon323
- Yelp: hikeyyagorgeousllcSALON
- Youtube: Insidehikeylife323
- Other: For brand deals collaborations are for salon teaching courses
Email hikeyyagorgeous@gmail.com
Image Credits
All photos and products are owned by what’s exclusive permission to use by hikey ya gorgeous LLC SALON
All hairstyles and hair performed in each photo done by bossy license cosmetologist for hikey ya gorgeous LLC SALON
