Today we’d like to introduce you to Katresse Hines.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Katresse. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
As a child, I’ve always been fascinated with hair and manipulating it into braids, and updos. Back in 2000, I started working in a braiding salon, called Braids for Days, at the age of 14. I quickly learned that the faster the beats the more money I can make, and even now to this day, I still braid very fast! I continued to do hair throughout college as well. I graduated from Bethune Cookman University in 2009 (in Daytona Beach, Fl) with my degree in Business Management, and at the time, the US was going through a recession that wasn’t helpful for a college grad with no experience. So, I moved back home enrolled in cosmetology school in March 2010, I fast-tracked and finished the program in February of 2011.
Upon graduating, I started working with several photographers and models by connecting with people on Model Mayhem. After about six months of networking, I decided to focus more on my career behind the chair, because the was the major source of income for me, and still is! I’ve owned four different locations, and have had employees, booth renters and so much more going on, so about two years ago, I shut it all down to focus on my family, and to create a more specific clientele. So, I started specializing in extensions and wigs, and so many things have changed for me as an artist. I service fewer clients, with a higher profit margin, which allows me the time to travel as a hairstylist as well. Being a traveling hairstylist has always been a dream of mine, and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to travel doing what I love. Places I travel to for hair services: Seattle, Las Vegas, Miami, soon New York and more opportunities overseas such as Dubai and Paris.
Great, 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?
My biggest struggle has been trying to figure out my work and family life balance. I’m a mother of three sons (Dominick 8, Amir 4, and Nasir 2). I separated from my husband in December 2018, got an apartment a week before Christmas, and decided to move on with my life. Our divorce was finalized on April 1, 2019. It has not been an easy road being a mother, wife and entrepreneur all at once, but when you throw a life-changing experience such as divorce into the mix, it completely rocked my world. In January, along with doing hair, I decided to start modeling, as well as pursue my dream of being a traveling hairstylist. With so much going on in my personal life, I had to focus my energy on positive projects, that would propel my career forward. There were many days I didn’t want to go to work or even leave my house, but I still had bills to pay and my children were counting on me. I’m grateful to say it hasn’t been a whole year yet since last December, and I’ve grown and healed so much as a person, mother, hairstylist, and entrepreneur.
Celebrity Clientele – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The name Celebrity clientele came about as I was thinking about my clients at the tie and my prospective clients. I said to myself, “Every woman that sits in my chair should feel like a celebrity when they leave, or I haven’t done my job!”… from that point on, I’ve started reaching out to mua’s to fulfill my duty of creating a celebrity status of each and every client that comes through my salon. It just makes so much sense! Especially working in LA where everyone needs and wants to look their best. I do the hair, the mua does the hair, and we create magic together!
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment of my career so far has been conquering the fear of doing hair in different several states. In the beginning, I was intimidated by the different cultures of people in these other cities and worried if I would perform to their liking, as well as them recommending me to other people. I’m happy to say that I have overcome that fear, and now, I have some great experiences under my belt!
Contact Info:
- Address: Rvm salon
5356 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036 - Phone: 2068546904
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @celebrityclientele
Image Credit:
Photographer @bvnkes
Photographer @__lemonate1
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