Meet Regina Brown of Gina’s Creative Touch Studio

Hi Regina, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Well, I started in the beauty industry as a certified professional makeup artist in 2009, and transitioned into being a licensed beautician in 2016. I was a self-taught MUA that started out just applying makeup on friends, and family until others started noticing my work. What was once my side hustle, became my full-time job. I started making appearances on TV, receiving awards for my makeup artistry, and the blessings, and opportunities, just continued to pour in.

Then came my career in hairstyling. The funny thing about that is, I wasn’t thinking about becoming a hairstylist when I enrolled in beauty school. After trying so many times to enroll after graduating high school, and it never working out, I gave up on it. So, my goal was to become a licensed esthetician due to being a makeup artist. However, after I arrived at the school the admissions counselor asked, “who styled my hair?” I answered, “that I did it.”  She said, “you may need to be in the cosmetology class instead of esthetics.”   After some convincing, I enrolled in cosmetology, graduated, and the rest is where I’m at today, as a licensed hairstylist, and salon owner of Gina’s Creative Touch Studio.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I wish I could say “yes,” but unfortunately it wasn’t a smooth road. I think one of the most difficult struggles was mentally, and then the outside noise to maneuver around.

Becoming a new stylist in an industry that’s so competitive, was already intimidating to me. I was constantly fighting my inner self-doubt. I literally kept questioning myself. Could I do this? How will I deal with the transition? Would the clients come? Was I emotionally ready to handle being a salon owner? Will I be able to afford it? Will the money come? So many questions kept crippling my mind, and causing enormous stress.

And, of course, comes the inevitable of dealing with naysayers or those who don’t think you belong. I watched as the same people that supported my makeup artistry turn when I became a hairstylist. Which resulted in me being a target, and outcasted, among some in the community. It hurt me tremendously, I didn’t understand it, and honestly I still don’t, but eventually I had to learn to stop dwelling on it, place it in God’s hands, and get back focused on building my brand and myself. I had to keep moving forward even at time when I felt alone.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Gina’s Creative Touch Studio?
Well, Gina’s Creative Touch Studio is an upscale salon centrally located near Downtown Hopkinsville, KY. I’ve been a licensed hairstylist/salon owner for six years and a professional makeup artist for 13 years. In 2021, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to become a brand ambassador of a global styling tool brand, provide hair service to ATL’s Hairstylist of the Year/and social media influencer, StylesByNuk, and have my work featured on hairstyling social media sites.

While in school, I realized that short hair precision cutting was my niche. I used what I learned in school and continued education to create my style. My specialty is in healthy hair care and short/pixie hair cutting. Most of the styles we’re known for at Gina’s Creative Touch Studio are soft styles and trendy pixie cuts with clipper designs. The most popular requested cut is “The Rheda”. It’s the short, wave curl with fringes that frame the face, sides, and neckline. This signature style was named after my client because everyone would mention her name when asking for the cut. So it automatically became “The Rheda”. Another popular one is our “Hot Girl Summer Pixie” which is a pixie cut with various line designs added to the cut. I mainly receive the requests for this style during the spring/summertime. Recently added to our list of services is “The Perfect Platinum Pixie”. After becoming certified as a Platinum Pixie Specialist in 2021, this quickly became a requested service among the clients.

I think every salon brings its own uniqueness to make it stand out from others, and that’s the same with us. We try to have a calm, and serene vibe, when a client enters the salon. It has to smell good, and have a relaxing aura. We make sure that every client can feel that they’re welcomed, and valued, whether that comes through in the greeting, and shown upon exiting. We like to provide a professional salon experience — which is the client comes to get pampered, and that’s what we try to deliver.

Being the owner of Gina’s Creative Touch Studio, I’m extremely proud of where the salon is headed, and me and my co-worker’s growth as stylist. We’ve accomplished a lot together these past five years. We’ve managed to step out of our comfort zone on so many different levels, and I hope we can continue to do so in the future.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
I would say the best advice for those starting out is definitely find a mentor. I was fortunate to have two stylists who didn’t mind answering questions, calling me to offer advice, providing tips, constantly pouring positivity into me, etc. So definitely get you someone who doesn’t mind offering support, and guidance to you.

Another offer of advice is to surround yourself around those who want to see you succeed, and add value to your life. Those who want to help you level up. Those people who will drop your name when they see an opportunity even if you’re not in the room. You will need that “cheer squad” so it’s best to be around those who genuinely want to be that to you.

My last advice would be to enjoy the journey. Trust the process. Celebrate, every milestone. Relish, in your achievement. Clap for yourself, and don’t be afraid to acknowledge your wins unapologetically. I mean, you deserve it.

I think if I had the chance to turn back time, I would’ve taken this advice, and done a better job in canceling out the noise, and soaking in the moment. I definitely robbed myself out of experiencing it.