Today we’d like to introduce you to Nika Regis.
Nika, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I remember as a little girl playing “Salon” with my dolls, braiding their hair and mimicking what I saw happening at hair shops.
My stepsister first taught me how to do a box braid and from there I was self-taught. I would watch a style being done and then execute it; I was unknowingly becoming a hairstylist.
My mother who is Caribbean would always say “I sent you to school with your hair one style and you come back with a totally different style” I love experimenting so I would always want to try whatever style was trending and I was my first client. I tried everything I could on myself starting with braiding, to haircuts to chemicals and then extensions.
Growing up with two younger brothers in my home with long hair, they became my first real clients. Soon I became the girl around the neighborhood that did everyone’s hair.
In a Caribbean immigrant household, hair school after high school was not an option. My mom and I had one plan and that was for me to attend and graduate from a 4-year University. During college, I was known as the person to do anyone’s hair, it helped me earn money during that time. I graduated college with my BS in psychology, I went overseas to work in Afghanistan as a contractor; yet I still did hair over there on the side for civilians and military.
One day searching for the next step in my life, I had my Ah Ha moment! Hair was my passion; it had been the only thing consistent in my life was that I never stopped doing regardless of what country I was in or circumstance. Once I returned to the U.S, I enrolled in the Aveda cosmetology program. I wanted to invest in the best education possible in order to properly serve my future clients and offer them the best skills and product. I am also a Cosmetology Instructor for Aveda.
I have been very blessed to work for New York and Philadelphia fashion week as a stylist and several on set productions.
Now that I have relocated to Atlanta, I am on the Aveda Education team as a licensed Cosmetology Educator and building my thriving company Hair Print By DKelly as traveling stylist.
I am looking forward to growing my company and I am so excited about the industry and all the new products and skills out there and blessed that I am sitting at the forefront as an educator and stylist!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I believe nothing great comes easy. When I graduated cosmetology school, I thought I’d get a job at a salon and I’ll get so many clients this will be great! However, that was not the case. I soon realized that I wanted to own my own business start-up a brand and create a name for myself. That was harder than I thought especially with no mentor, I was figuring things out as I went along.
I would recommend anyone wanting to be a hairstylist, take some marketing and business courses. Yes, its super important to be skilled in your craft, but you will be running a business as hairstylist. Its important fact to face and get a mentor that can help guide you in the right direction, so you do not have rebuild the wheel so to speak.
Out of sheer frustration and mistakes made along the way I have grown into the person I am today. I do not have regrets, but it sure could have been easier with the knowledge I have now.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the HairPrint by D.Kelly story. Tell us more about the business.
HairPrint by D.Kelly is all about providing a luxury experience for every client. We pride ourselves in great communication, customer service and making connections with each client.
The services we provide are:
Blowouts
Silk presses
Sew-in extensions
Wig installations
Women Haircuts
Faux locs
Feeding braids
Microbladding
Eyelash Extensions
However, we are known for our beautiful bouncy blowouts and silk presses as well as long-lasting natural-looking extensions.
I’m proud that to this day, I have clients from New York, Maryland ,Washington DC., Virginia, California and now Atlanta who can say no one has done their hair like HairPrint. Where I’m Known as the “Blowout Queen” I truly treasure the relationships with my clients, I am very thankful for their trust in me knowing what the best for their hair.
What sets HairPrint apart from others is customer service and respect for our clients. I know my time is valuable, so I treat everyone else with the same respect. Being on time is important, communicating effectively, doing proper consultations to give the guest the best results, being honest and mostly educating each client on haircare and how to achieve their hair goals.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t believe “Luck” played a part in my life or business. I believe God and determination and ambition played a part in my life and business.
As we are still growing as a brand those things and being kind to people and making connections is what will take us to the next level.
Pricing:
- Blow out -$50
- Silk Press- $75
- Sew-in w/ leaveout $200
- Microbladding $475
Contact Info:
- Phone: 347-545-1336
- Email: hairprintbydkelly@gmail.com
- Instagram: hairprint_bydkelly
- Facebook: HairPrint by Dkelly
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