Today we’d like to introduce you to Genai Wilson.
Hi Genai, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
As a little girl, I remember watching my mom style her hair and put on her makeup, and all I could think about was how excited I was to grow older and be able to do the same. I even remember one Christmas receiving a makeup kit and saying how I KNEW Santa was real because there was no way my mom would buy me a makeup kit with red lipstick in it, lol.
As I got older, I not only styled my own hair and did my own makeup, but I also did my family’s and close friends’ hair and makeup.
Fast-forward to my 20s: I entered into an abusive marriage and a cult-like church that stripped all of that away from me. I wasn’t allowed to wear makeup, cut my hair (and, at one point, I wasn’t even allowed to wear it down), wear pants, and the list goes on.
I was shamed for simply wanting to look and feel beautiful, and after four years of abuse, I no longer believed I was.
Two years of healing later, I’m graduating from cosmetology school, where I get to put on my makeup, put on my pants, and cut hair for a living.
I love the irony!
Every rainy day I’ve had has made the rainbow I see today that much brighter, and I wouldn’t change a thing!
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?
My purpose for becoming a cosmetologist became apparent while I was in the process of my divorce. I was living in Arizona, where the cost of cosmetology school was over $20,000 and required 1,600 hours to complete. Not to mention, I had no one to watch my children while I attended school.
My mom lived in California, so I started looking at beauty schools near where she lived and found SABA. I almost didn’t believe them when they told me it was only $1,800 for supplies and required 1,000 hours. Without hesitation, I moved to California, found reliable childcare, and started my cosmetology journey!
I started going to school part-time while also working two jobs, and let me just say, I was exhausted! There were even days when I had no one to watch my children, so I brought them to school to be my clients just so I wouldn’t have an absence, lol.
None of these challenges compare to the ones I faced a couple of years prior, and I’d do it all again 100 times over if it got me to where I am today.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in curly hair, and it’s truly my passion to serve a community that has historically been underserved in the hair industry. I know this experience not only as a professional, but also as a consumer.
Hearing my clients tell me that I’ve helped them feel confident in the hair God gave them is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.
I want everyone who leaves my chair to not only look good, but FEEL good!
What are your plans for the future?
There is still so much for me to learn and grow in, so my first step is to surround myself with talented stylists who I can learn from, be inspired by, and continue to grow alongside. I’m excited to continue developing my skills, building meaningful relationships within the industry, and seeing where this journey takes me. I have some exciting goals for my future, and I’m looking forward to allowing those opportunities to unfold naturally as I continue to learn and grow.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Genaiwilsonhair
