Conversations with Renisha Wilborn

Today we’d like to introduce you to Renisha Wilborn.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
It started as a small obsession I would paint my own toes and even tried the Acrylic kits they sold in the stores but after a miserable attempt at doing my own nails with the cheap kit, I quickly decided I would leave that to the “professionals,” which I then knew to be the Asian owned nail shops that focused more on speed and quantity rather than quality nails and innovative designs, but even when going there, I loved to push the envelope and get the newest thing they had. I had no clue at that time that other races even really did nails & if they did, I didn’t know how to find them.

I continued going to the Asian shops until one day, I was getting my nails done by the same Asian woman in my favorite popular downtown Atlanta nail shop that had been doing my nails faithfully every 3-4 weeks for five years at least. When she told me the total, I realized that I was going to be $10 short due to the fact that I had to pay for parking I told my tech that I was short and that I could come back the next day since I work downtown to give her the $10 and her tip she refused and made a really big deal about it. I was a loyal client and always tipped her and was never short. It was then that I took the stance that I can do this myself, so I signed up for nail school. I always tell people that I originally only went to nail school for the money I would receive from financial aid but looking back, if I’m honest, I’ve always been obsessed with nails and really everything beauty. I’ve been doing nails for two and a half years now and recently dropped a few handmade products that I’m really proud of! My favorite new product is The Smokers Scrub which is excellent for dark lips, it’s my favorite because I literally formulated it for me and didn’t expect it to work as well as it did. I think that’s my favorite thing about the beauty industry period is that there is always something new to learn or a different way to do things.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It took a long time for me to figure out what I was being called to do so I constantly struggled with feeling behind and berating and belittling myself because I wasn’t where others said I should be. Life and age have shown me that your journey is your own for a reason so as long as you put your best foot forward and stay true to your values, what’s meant for you will come to you. The biggest obstacle I’ve faced in my journey is my battle with anxiety/depression. In the black community, there’s such a stigma about being “crazy” when we acknowledge our pitfalls that often times we miss out on being able to do the work necessary to heal. Journaling and meditation have been a big help for me, and going through these things has made me want to help others coming up like me that want to excel in this industry. I honestly believe working together and reaching down is the best way to reach our goals faster.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I consider myself a beauty mogul because I don’t just focus on one thing I love nails, waxing, skin, and all things about natural beauty products and finding remedies for your beauty dilemmas with the things that God put on this earth. I feel like I am making a name for myself and my nails and in the beauty industry to ultimately make a mark within my community and for people coming up like me.

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I’ve been writing an urban fictional novel off and on for four years now. It’s taken me so long because I only write when I have what I like to call “a wave of inspiration”. I also don’t really know how to end it and at this point, it has turned into a whole series in my head. I plan on releasing it less for monetary gain and more so that people can escape their daily reality with a little drama with no consequences.

Pricing:

• $35-$90 Short-XL Square Full Set
• $10 Fungus Stopper Pen
• $12 The Smokers Scrub
• $45 Pedicure with gel polish

Contact Info:

• Email: reniwilborn@gmail.com
• Instagram: @thenailnyurcoffin

Image Credits
@shotbyp3 – photographer