Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Keynen-KJ Trice of Inglewood

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Keynen-KJ Trice. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Keynen-KJ, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me right now looks like:

Waking up and deciding what it is that I will be executing for the day. I normally like to check my schedule to see how many clients I have for that day so that I can mentally prepare for my lash clients. And ifs it an off or free day . I’d like to make sure that I am utilizing the day to business prep I.e restocking lash supplies and product. Or on boarding new clients researching different ways to on board new clients. Or coming up with new ideas for card design or service pamphlets

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello ALL! MY Name is Keynen I am also formally known by KJ or Saint Grunge. I am founder and owner of “By All The Saints Beauty & Lashes. I am a licensed cosmetologist of 10 years. I started out predominantly doing hair which I ended up stopping do to industry indifference and now I am in the Lash industry and I have been lashing for going on 7years now with the new year coming up here within a few months. I think what makes my brand and business unique is by default I am a male lash technician! So it’s almost as exciting or uniquely absurd as male nail technicians (LOL). Outside of my cosmetology license I am also a model and creative. so creating is pretty much my whole life and my means of paying the bills and making a living for myself and two Cats; Toast and Bellamy.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
Awesome Question !

The part of me I now understand that has served its purpose has to definitely be my authenticity. With great pain and suffering in the best of ways. When you living authentically in your truth in your purpose you can create something magical for yourself to thrive off of. And also if that includes 3rd parties or a 2nd party you can create depth and deeper meaning of understanding or connections. Because you can be more personable but also an individual or entity that others can relate too! They’ll feel naturally more connected to you as well as comfortable and safe being themselves with you or around you and that . I’ve learned can be such a freeing and liberating experience you can create for someone else and in times even yourself. But just the same it has also brought me much sadness and pain. Because with you’re authentically yourself you can sometimes captured the interests or the eyes of people who are intrigued by your and attracted to your light and energy.but not everyone knows how to cater to that or be equally nurturing and protective of your truth. Some will extort your good will and others will drain you and it of everything you’re willing to extend and sometimes that leaves you at rock bottom struggling to build yourself back up alone and by yourself. But throughout it all this experience has liberated me in more ways than it’s destroyed who I am. And ultimately I’ve learned hot to wield my spiritual gift or love and light.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
That it’s all about your perception of things and often how you choose to frame your circumstances. Success is truly in the eye of the beholder . You definition of success and what that looks like or what it means to you is what it will be. Don’t allow ANYONE to tell you how successful you’ll be or how successful you will be ! Frame you ideal of success and go after that ! For me ? Success looks like being creatively independent.being able to pay my bills without any trouble, having food in my home and a roof over my head. That my kitty babies are fed and have a space to roam. And being able to take vacations and spend time with my loved ones and friends! I don’t need all the lavish things and big house and fancy car! I love my little Honda and the neighborhood I live in and my neighbors. I am respected, loved and cherish by my work colleagues and peers and that’s success well lived ! And on my terms ! I think in my suffering it’s taught me how to humbles myself without putting and confines or restraints on how successful I already am or will be! So this way I’m ever-changing by way of my own wants and needs but not by what society tells me I should want and needs but.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
*SIGHS* THE HEALING JOURNEY ! (Haha)

I think that life is one big learning lesson and you’re never truly done learning ! There’s always something bigger and tougher come the next hurdle! And you learn and acquire the information or personal experience by way of going through whatever hard times you come into conflict with. And also staying open mined and teachable ! No one knows everything and I personally believe that if one did we wouldn’t have materialized here on this rock in which we reside (laughs).

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If immortality were real, what would you build?
A safe space where we all could thrive together and by our own terms. A place where no one needed to compete or feel in competition with each other because we’re all uniquely and individually created wonderfully and serve different purposes with which would only aid and keep that natural flow or creativity and way of living copacetic

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Byallthesaintsbeauty , @Saintgrunge (personal)