Today we’d like to introduce you to Shakia Davis.
Hi Shakia, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey started when I was a little girl. My dad taught me how to braid, and from that moment I fell in love with doing hair. Throughout middle school and high school, I was always the friend doing everyone’s hair, and I realized early on that this was more than just a hobby it was my passion.
After graduating high school, I attended beauty school and began building my career as a professional hairstylist. Over the years, I worked in salons, eventually opened my own private suite, and spent more than a decade helping women feel confident through their hair.
As my vision grew, so did my business. Today, I’m the founder of Raw by the Kiwayyy, an online beauty brand where I sell wigs, hair products, and educational classes for aspiring hairstylists and entrepreneurs. My mission is to help people not only look beautiful but also build confidence and create opportunities for themselves through beauty and education.
Looking back, it’s amazing to see how something my dad taught me as a child grew into the business and brand I’m building today.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Throughout my journey, I’ve faced homelessness, navigated the challenges of being a single mother, experienced unhealthy relationships, and endured one of the hardest losses of my life when my father passed away. There were many moments when giving up would have been easier, but every obstacle taught me resilience and strengthened my faith in what I was building.
Instead of letting those experiences define me, I allowed them to shape me. They inspired me to create a life with more freedom, purpose, and stability for myself and my children. Every challenge has become part of my story, and today they motivate me to keep building my business, help others believe in themselves, and prove that your circumstances don’t have to determine your future.
We’ve been impressed with RAW by The Kiwayyy, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
RAW by the Kiwayyy was created from over 12 years of experience as a professional hairstylist and a passion for helping people feel confident. What started behind the salon chair has grown into an online beauty brand offering premium wigs, hair products, RAW Advice, and educational classes designed to empower both clients and aspiring beauty professionals.
What sets my brand apart is that every product and every lesson comes from real experience. I don’t create products just to follow trends I create solutions that I have personally tested and believe in. My goal is to make luxury beauty products accessible while also teaching others how to build successful careers in the beauty industry.
More than anything, I’m proud that RAW by the Kiwayyy represents resilience. My journey hasn’t been easy, but every challenge has shaped the business I’m building today. I want people to know that this brand is about more than hair it’s about confidence, growth, and believing that your past doesn’t define your future. Whether someone purchases a product or learns from one of my classes, I want them to leave feeling empowered.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I’ve learned that growth almost always requires taking risks. Throughout my career, I’ve had to step outside of my comfort zone over and over again. One of the biggest risks I took was transitioning from relying solely on doing hair behind the chair to building an online business. It meant investing in myself, creating products, learning new skills, and believing in a vision before I had proof it would succeed.
I’ve also taken personal risks by choosing to start over when something no longer aligned with the life I wanted. Whether it was leaving unhealthy relationships, rebuilding after difficult seasons, or continuing to pursue my goals through uncertainty, every risk has helped me grow into a stronger person and entrepreneur.
Today, I don’t view risk as something to fear. I see it as an opportunity. Some risks don’t work out the way we hope, but they always teach valuable lessons. I believe the biggest risk is allowing fear to keep you from pursuing the life you truly want. Everything I’ve built has started with faith, consistency, and the willingness to bet on myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Rawbythekiwayyy.com
- Instagram: rawbythekiwayyy
- Youtube: thekiwayyy
- TikTok: @thekiwayyy
