Today we’d like to introduce you to Raven Billberry
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?
Hi y’all! My name is Raven Billberry and I am a nail technician! I’m also a full time mom and wife. I’ve been doing nails since I was a little girl growing up in Austin, TX. I used to watch my mom doing her friends and our neighbors nails at our kitchen table and I think that’s when the seed was planted. I remember pretty definitively around the age of 15 I started wearing acrylics, and my nails have stayed done consistently since then.
I got licensed and started doing nails professionally in 2012, a few months after my older brother passed suddenly at the age of 42. We were very close and he had his own restaurant and bar in Texas not too far from where we grew up. I visited him a couple of months before his untimely departure, and that’s when the spark was lit. I ultimately decided to take the leap of faith to pursue a career in beauty because his death made me realize that life is too short to not chase your dreams.
I believe that I’m where I am today because I have integrity, I’m humble, I love what I do, and for some reason, people like me. A little bit of faith, and a lot of hard work has paid off for me in multiple ways. If someone would have told me in 2012 after graduating from beauty school that I would be working with the most well known nail care brand in the world in the next 3 years (I started freelancing for OPI in 2015) I would have laughed. I did tell my friends in school that I wanted to work for OPI though. I suppose I manifested it. Lol! One chance meeting with one of their employees when I was volunteering turned into an awesome adventure in nails.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been a bumpy and windy road to say the least. A few months after getting licensed, I found out that my day job was going to be coming to an end within months unless I wanted to move out of state, which I didn’t. I luckily had become licensed to do nails, so I didn’t stress too much because I knew I had a skill that I could monetize. I was able to get a job renting a table in a full service salon in Manhattan Beach. I learned a lot there about the beauty industry as a whole. I was there about a year, and ended up leaving because building a client base was difficult considering there were already 2 other nail salons on the same block. I then went to work for a very popular nail salon in the Valley, where I met quite a few extremely talented nail techs that taught me a lot. I also worked at a small salon close to my house in Whittier which also was a great learning experience. I learned during that time that social media can be a gift and a curse because my posting on socials about my availability at one salon ended up costing me my job at the other. I also learned that being your own boss doesn’t always equate to having a good work/life balance. Sometimes my money has been really funny and I have almost considered selling feet pics to generate income. 😂 The pandemic was absolutely hands down the craziest time in my nail journey. I went from working with OPI pretty consistently while working in a salon and with a couple of on demand beauty apps to nothing for two months straight. That was a super scary time. I was scared to do house calls initially because of coronavirus and how deadly it was, and the threat of losing my license. My husband lost both his grandmother and his mother that year(2020) back to back, and then we moved our family from OC adjacent to Compton. The pandemic craziness caused the owners of the salon I was at to shut down, which in turn caused me to pivot into full mobile service.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a licensed nail tech who offers mobile nail care services, in the LA and OC metro areas, which means I come to you. I go to my clients homes, their offices, hotels if they’re from out of town, on set, you name it, I’ve probably done it! I have worked with grammy winning musicians, top fashion houses, actors, and reality personalities.
I specialize in natural nails, meaning I don’t do any extensions or acrylic of any kind. I do regular and gel manicures and pedicures. I specialize in healthy nail care. I tell people all the time that if they want to rock their natural nails, that I can help them grow them. Consistency is key though! Regular maintenance every 3-4 weeks helps to keep your nails looking great.
I think I’m most proud of being a black woman in an industry that has been dominated by Asians for many years. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard “I’ve never seen or met a black nail tech!” I would have a nice chunk of change. Lol!
I think what sets me apart from others is my passion and my personality. I’ll admit that I am slow to warm up to folks, but once I do, it’s on, and I’m totally someone that you’ll never forget. People tell me that I have a calming energy and that I’m easy to talk to. I know a little bit about a wide variety of subjects, so I am able to adapt to almost any conversation quickly.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up I was super quiet and shy. I am the second of 4 kids and since my oldest brother was 9 years older than me, I was always in charge of helping with my younger siblings. As a child, and prior to becoming a mom, I loved to read and write. My imagination is crazy vivid, and I can totally sit and daydream for long periods of time.I love to travel. My dad made it a point to take us on road trips all the time to see new places, and I do the same with my boys. I believe that seeing how other folks live gives you a greater appreciation for what we have, and traveling just helps to expand your knowledge and understanding of the world in general. I’ve always been very comfortable in who I am, and have always been a person who walks to the beat of my own drum.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nailsbyraven
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/L8kiQOrs5s
