Meet Kristen Payne-Stikes of KSTIKESDESIGNS in Cumming

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Payne-Stikes.

Kristen, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
During my freshman year of Undergrad, I realized my hair was not at its best. My hair touched my shoulder with a very basic regimen, but I knew it had the potential to be much stronger. I researched healthy hair tips for Black women and ran across a blog by Reniece Hair. I adopted a lot of her practices and this mane has been down my back ever since. I discovered the relaxer was not to blame for the damage many were experiencing. On average, the relaxer habits we inherited were actually the guilty party. (i.e. Relaxing every six weeks or leaving a relaxer on until it burned.) I’ve grown waist length hair a few times without being natural and I’m category 4. I obtained results when a new perspective met consistency. The discipline required to maintain a regimen is a lot like a workout plan. Discipline will take you were motivation can’t.

I would casually contribute to hair discussions with friends and family through the years. I would make a post on social media here and there, but I didn’t invest a lot of time into any steady content. I was under the impression the world was anti-relaxer and didn’t think there was a space for my expertise. Relaxers still won’t be the immediate choice for most; but there is a niche for those eager for health. I feel a shift coming in Black haircare with a focus on fitness instead of chemical choice.

I became a Relaxed Hair Influencer for ORS (Organic Root Stimulator) in June 2020. The company searched through pictures under their hashtag on Instagram and found my page. You can find hair tips posted every #manemonday on my Instagram page. I’ve since launched a YouTube channel featuring step-by-step videos of my routine. As an Area Manager for an automotive brand, I engage in tough dialogue and give presentations focused on product and performance daily. Starting a YouTube channel was right up my alley.

Great, 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?
The road to healthy hair has not been simple. I’ve made plenty of mistakes. I’ve become preoccupied and completely forgotten about my hair. I’ve chopped several inches of damaged ends off numerous times. I understand the frustration of starting over and dwelling on how long your hair would be if a given scenario hadn’t happened. You name the error and I can bet I’ve achieved it. Thankfully those experiences help me to navigate others through the mistakes I made.

The adverse reaction to relaxed hair is always interesting. I frequently meet people who ask for advice. They assume the length they see must be produced by a Naturalista. Some are turned off as soon as I admit I’m relaxed and the chat transitions into a “Why do you still relax?” interrogation. I don’t mind it at all. I take it as an opening to gently correct the broad spread miseducation we’ve consumed.

We’d love to hear more about the business.
KSTIKESDESIGNS specializes in hair growth without excluding relaxed women from the conversation. In the last decade, we’ve come to equate healthy hair with natural hair. When in reality, healthy hair is healthy hair. My socials feature video, one-pagers and pictures on topics ranging from supplements, DIY products and ancient remedies to checking product expiration dates and how to grow your edges back.

I am most proud of choosing the path that was best for me. I consciously never bash natural hair but I do impart my honest observations. I celebrate contributions from the Natural Movement like the surge of black-owned hair companies and enforcing appreciation for our natural features. But I watched most people around me go natural yet continue to wrestle with health thus length. I agree that a chemical-free lifestyle can aid in attaining health but ditching the relaxer alone is not a “one-stop shop” solution. I want women to be equipped with the knowledge to make more informed decisions. I educate on regimen-based changes that are effective for many hair types. Black women have fought with our hair for centuries but in The Information Age, we don’t have to anymore.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Frequency is key to successful influencing. People are eager for insight multiple times per week. A stranger is not going to follow you if you’re not educating them on a weekly basis. I certainly have a new-found respect for established YouTube gurus and influencers. It takes more effort than I initially realized. Planning content, recording and editing video, responding to messages, investing in equipment is an ongoing task. Millennials and Gen Z can spot a fake a mile away. Authenticity is beyond important. I would be ineffective if I couldn’t yield results. There’s a level of accountability because an audience is watching my hair growth live. I also don’t touch on what I don’t know. If I’m exploring a new technique, I say so. Viewers actually enjoy learning with you so if you’re not an expert in a given area that’s okay but don’t fake the funk. Lastly, organic enthusiasm has to be included. I enjoy inspiring women to take control of a situation that has left many of us feeling hopeless. I’m constantly thinking of all the intricacies of techniques I’m implementing and how to best present them. Influencing becomes a passion that stays at the forefront of your mind when you want to see others win.

Contact Info:

• Email: kmpayn11@gmail.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/kstikesdesigns
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristen.paynestikes
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-tG0VBZ6Ju7CAWuYX8C2Rw

Image Credit:
Simeon Kelley – cover photo

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