Hidden Gems: Meet Sabrina Raphael of Beauty by Sabrina

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sabrina Raphael

Hi Sabrina, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello, my name is Sabrina Raphael, and I am a first-generation Haitian American, the daughter of two Haitian immigrants. My parents worked tirelessly to provide me with strong values, discipline, and motivation. Their work ethic has always been a source of inspiration for me.

From a young age, I knew that hair was my passion. At around 5 or 6 years old, I began styling my Barbie dolls’ hair, and while I had other interests, hair always remained my primary focus. One memorable experience from third grade stands out: during reading circles, our teacher would let one student massage her shoulders. When it was my turn, she often allowed me to do her hair instead, reinforcing my love for the craft.

Throughout middle and high school, my parents supported my budding interest in hair by allowing me to experiment on my friends, who became my “clients.” I practiced braiding, sew-ins, quick weaves, and other styles in the game room of our home. After graduating high school, I intended to attend cosmetology school to earn my license. However, my mother expressed concerns about the physical demands and financial instability of the industry, urging me to consider a career with more consistent income. She wanted me to have a stable future, as success in cosmetology often depends on a steady clientele.

Taking her advice to heart, I enrolled in college with a major in social work. Having watched my mother work in the field for over 30 years, I found the subject interesting but soon realized my passion lay elsewhere. I made the decision to drop out and pursue my true calling, enrolling in Master Cosmetology at Southern Crescent College. Within just over two years, I earned my cosmetology license.

My first job was as a shampoo assistant at Brown Sugar Studios, a natural hair salon in Clayton County. This experience taught me the fundamentals of healthy hair care and how to work with various textures, from locs to afros. Unfortunately, after a car accident prevented me from driving to work, I had to find a job closer to home, where my parents could help with transportation.

During my college years, I juggled three jobs: Wendy’s (3 years), J.Crew (1.5 years), and Charlotte Russe (2.5 years). Although I didn’t particularly enjoy working in fast food or retail, I made it work for me. While working the drive-thru at Wendy’s, I was presented with an opportunity to work at a barbershop while still attending cosmetology school. This allowed me to build a clientele I could service outside of my home. I seized the opportunity, and my career took off from there. By the time I graduated from cosmetology school, at just 19 or 20 years old, I had already built a full clientele.

It wasn’t always easy—gaining the trust of older clients was a challenge because I looked so young, but my skills spoke for themselves. Eventually, I started letting go of my other jobs to focus entirely on hair. When I finally left those jobs behind, I felt an incredible sense of freedom and joy, knowing I had conquered my fears and fully committed to my passion.

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?
In 2017, I had my first child, Camauri “Kyrie” Kennedy. At just one year old, Kyrie showed early signs of autism, such as losing speech, repetitive movements, sensitivity to sounds and textures, and rigid patterns of behavior. After seeking answers, we confirmed he had Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how a person communicates, interacts, and processes the world.

Once diagnosed, I committed to consistent therapies and adjusted our daily routines to support Kyrie’s growth. With patience, prayer, and unwavering effort, he gradually overcame many of the challenges. Despite being told he might not speak, Kyrie now talks with ease, excels academically, and is part of his school’s gifted program. While there are still areas we work on, nothing disrupts his daily life.

In 2022, when my mother passed, Kyrie was deeply affected, as she was his closest bond after me. He regressed into old behaviors, and balancing his grief, new aggressive tendencies, my business, and home renovations was overwhelming. Kyrie had to switch schools five times in two months before finding one that could meet his needs.
Through a great support system, consistency, patience, and prayer, we overcame those struggles. Kyrie is back to his happy, thriving self. He is my greatest blessing and life’s biggest lesson, and I thank God every day for him.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I specialize in natural hair and natural hair care, providing my clients with personalized guides and routines to help them maintain their hair daily. My services include loc maintenance, weaves (sew-ins and quick weaves), ponytails, custom wigs crafted with a sewing machine, a wide range of braiding styles, a-swell as makeup and more.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.beautybysabrina.net
• Instagram: @_beautybysabrina
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SabrinaRaphael