Today we’d like to introduce you to Monique Kai.
Hi Monique, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started learning how to braid and do hair as a little girl. My mom got me a giant bratz doll as a gift one year and told me to use it and to practice my braiding skills, from there it was game on. My mom was my main hairstylist growing up from childhood to the end of middle school, so she was always experimenting different colors and hairstyles on me. It instilled a certain type of confidence in me at a young age. By the time I was in high school I was able to do my hair, her hair, and a couple of friends, I also had two girls in my high school who would pay to get their hair braided. I had always been in love with hair, I grew up with it, I was fascinated by the variety of textures and styles you could either create or manipulate. It was like art in my eyes, constantly having room to explore, discover and create something new each and every time.
When I got to college it was like a whole new wave, loads of people, with loads of hair. I still had homegirls who I would experiment styles on their heads, but then I had guys who desperately needed their hair done and who had no problem paying. Mind you, we’re all some broke college students so it’s not like I was charging and arm and a leg, and it all still felt like a bunch of practice to me but they still saw my work and thought it was of value then. Then my sophomore year I started my locs and that brought me on a completely new journey and aspect of life. It transformed my mind and my outlook on hair, I fell in love with the natural way of hair, it was a slow transition but eventually I began exiting out of the hair extension wave.
After college I was working full time and just doing hair on the side still, until the job decided to fire me, I took it as a sign, to stop playing small about my passioned hobby and go legit. Within a months time of me getting fired I made my business legal and registered and I have been full time as a natural hairstylist since then. So far we’ve legally in business for the last 3 1/2 years with over a decades worth of experience. Till this day I still feel as though I am creating art and just have a much wider scale to work and practice with. As much as I am a teacher of the game I will forever be a student of the art, hair has and will always be apart of my life. It has taught me, shaped me, and made me in so many ways much more than a career.
It has been a unique experience for me just as much as the experience that is catered to each one of my clients. There’s still way more and much more to unpack here but that’s just a little insight to Unique by Monique.
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?
I don’t think any road is completely smooth, they all have their curves and bumps and cracks along the way. Luckily for me, I grew up with an entrepreneur/business owner mom. She and my dad have ran an operated a beauty supply store called Monroe’s Beauty Supply for the last 15 years. So not only have I seen and worked firsthand in the shop for the same amount of time but I’ve also got insight on how to own, manage, and operate a business. My experience in the military as a culinary specialist also gave great insight on how to service people as well, it has become one of the greatest transferable skills I have to date.
There have been many of times where I had no idea what I was doing, sometimes even till this day, but being in the world of business I have learned a lot from mentors, advisors, Youtube, and other people who are in business as well. For example, when I was in the beginning process of registering my business, I had a lot of doubt and confusion about whether or not I was doing it the right way and when I sought advice from my parents it was little difficult because of their business structure as well as the time difference and how things have changed over the years. I have learned to take my time with things, not rush the process but to actually fall in love with it, and have seriously strong faith because it is very much required in this field of business and entrepreneurship.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Unique By Monique is a single-member limited liability company composed of a single stylist that specializes in natural hair care, with the overall practice of hygiene, cleanliness, styling and grooming, as well as maintenance, protection, and appearance of human hair. Also, combined with the personal belief and practiced systems of health, biology, psychology and spirituality. My love for hair is reflected as a the business venture but bits and pieces of my personal life also cross paths with this life as well. I believe that hair is a spiritual practice and not just anyone should be allowed in peoples hair. So the conversation of spirituality is at play during some appointments, as well as the understanding between hair and psychology, and finally the direct correlation between health, biology and hair.
What sets my business apart from other business’ is the fact that each appointment is a tailored unique experience for every individual client. I don’t just do hair for another hobby. This is a true passion turned into a profession. I truly love what I do and internalize that into my work, in return my clients can feel that. I tell my clients that you are only with me about 12 times out of the entire year on average and each time you come back I’m usually just rejuvenating, maintaining, or restoring life back into your hair. So the remainder of the year is left onto you and how you would like to go about your hair care. So I love educating my clients about their own hair and teaching them what they can do on their own time to achieve the results they would like to see when they are not with me. I think it’s very important to know about the hair the you wake up with everyday and create a beautiful loving routine with your hair and your hair stylist.
So far in my career, I think the thing that I am most proud of thus far is producing and selling my very first product. As mentioned earlier, this is a true love for hair and especially making sure that each client walks away feeling not just proud of the desired outcome of said hair but also more educated on next steps when it comes to hair care in their own hands. Just about one year ago I officially launched my very own Unique by Monique Rose Water which is a light, floral, gentle and subtle hydrating mist for both hair and skin. Made with just two simple ingredients and free from alcohols, preservatives, parabens, and synthetic fragrances. It contains vitamins and minerals, it is anti-inflammatory/antioxidant, it balances pH, and can improve moods and reduces stress. As of current, I have two kinds, a plain rose water and a clove and rose water mix. It was a long and trusted process of testing the product out on myself and family first, then having trial runs with storage and shelf life, the effects of different types of waters/roses, and many more things before it was finally approved to come out and be sold for consumption.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
The best way truly to work, collaborate or support me is by booking an appointment with me and having your own unique tailored experience that will be divinely led to happen. Once that experience has occurred, both you and I will know how we can move forward in our next steps in life and share our impact with the people around us. I believe we are creating a community or network of different kinds of people. Every time someone new comes in I’m storing and collecting data on who they are as a person and what skills they have to offer; and in turn I add it to the community resources page I have stored in my brain to share with the community who are either interested or looking for whatever skills or service they may have to offer. We are constantly speaking up for one another, sharing the experience that we’ve had from one another, and telling a friend to tell a friend about how we can support the next person.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uniquebymoniquee?stkn=bzY2amNocWdmdGFz
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@uniquebymoniquellc
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@uniquebymoniquee?_r=1&_t=ZT-9AJIjbkDjws
