Episode 241
Celebrity Styling, Business Growth & The Power of Niche with Dr. Seven | Dr. Adrin Seven Washington | Founder of EverBen Oil | Doctor of Professional Cosmetology | International Sew-In & Hair Extensions Expert | Small Business Specialist
In this episode, Dr. Adrin Seven Washington—celebrity stylist, educator, and business strategist—shares how he built a career working with top names like Patti LaBelle and Naomi Campbell while earning a doctorate in cosmetology.
We discuss the importance of education, networking, finding your niche, and creating multiple income streams to achieve long-term success in the beauty industry.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS:
🔅Education Opens Doors: Dr. Adrin Seven earned his doctorate in cosmetology from the National Institute of Cosmetology, an institution founded by Madam C.J. Walker to provide advanced education for beauty professionals.
🔅Celebrity Styling & Industry Influence: His career has led him to work with high-profile clients like Patti LaBelle, Naomi Campbell, and major TV networks, showcasing the power of skill, reputation, and networking.
🔅The Power of Specialization: Dr. Seven emphasizes the importance of finding your niche in the beauty industry—whether it's hair extensions, color, or another specialty—to stand out and command higher rates.
🔅Multiple Streams of Income: To create long-term success, beauty professionals should explore various income streams, from salon work and education to consulting and product development.
🔅Networking is Key: Success in beauty often comes from strong relationships, mentorship, and being in the right rooms—aligning yourself with industry leaders can open doors.
🔅The Business Side of Beauty Matters: Beyond technical skills, beauty professionals must learn about business, financial literacy, and customer service to build sustainable careers.
💡Follow Dr. Seven on Instagram
📷 Follow Seven & Company on Instagram
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Transcript
Doctor Adrian seven is a doctor of cosmetology from the National Institute of Cosmetology.
Speaker A:He's the lead hair for D.C.
Speaker A:fashion Week and works on all kinds of reality shows.
Speaker A:He's Also done Patti LaBelle, Naomi Campbell, worked on BET, Good Morning America, and even the White House as a small business specialist.
Speaker A:He provides beauty consulting services and training at both McKenna Jordan Salon Bar in Maryland and RVM Salons in Los Angeles.
Speaker A:Today we're going to hear his story, how he got to where he is and everything that we need to know.
Speaker A:Welcome back to the Hair.
Speaker A:Just a strong show.
Speaker A:My name is Robert Hughes, and I am your host.
Speaker A:And Today I'm with Dr.
Speaker A:Adrian Seven.
Speaker A:How are you doing today, Dr.
Speaker A:Adrian Seven?
Speaker B:I am fine.
Speaker B:And thank you for that fantastic introduction.
Speaker B:I mean, like, I could not have asked for something better.
Speaker B:You were fantastic.
Speaker B:You just hit it spot on.
Speaker B:And I'm so happy and grateful to be here with you all today.
Speaker B:I'm fine.
Speaker B:Like good wine, you know, better with.
Speaker A:Age, you know, Man, I love that.
Speaker A:I'm like, I'm, I'm, I'm.
Speaker A:I just turned 40 this year or last year, I guess last year.
Speaker A:And I'm definitely starting to embrace that.
Speaker B:You know, welcome to 40.
Speaker B:They say 40 is the new 20, especially AI and all these new things we have supporting us.
Speaker B:So, you know what I mean?
Speaker B:Let's embrace the newness of longevity because we now have new age technology that gives us the ability to.
Speaker B:But now we live a youthful life even at this time, because our parents were different.
Speaker B:So I'm, like, grateful to be in the number at this point in, you know, history or the evolution of earthlings.
Speaker A:Well, thank you for coming on the show.
Speaker A:I want to give our listeners and viewers some context.
Speaker A:So we got a chance to do some press for D.C.
Speaker A:fashion Week, and we were standing outside of the changing room asking the people that work there, saying, hey, if there are any beauty professionals out there, we'd love to do little interviews.
Speaker A:And that's where we got to meet Dr.
Speaker A:Adrian Seven.
Speaker A:And I read your.
Speaker A:I got your bio from your.
Speaker A:From your.
Speaker A:The people that you work with that helped set this up.
Speaker A:And it is so extensive and amazing, and I just can't.
Speaker A:I just want to hear, like, how, like, there's so much to you're doing.
Speaker A:You know, you're a doctor.
Speaker A:I feel like normally I start with, how'd you get started in the industry?
Speaker A:But I kind of want to just get this part out of the way because I'm sure there's Plenty of viewers and listeners wanting to know.
Speaker A:Dr.
Speaker A:Adrian Seven, would you tell us a little bit about what that means?
Speaker A:Like, how did you become a doctor?
Speaker A:What is your doctorate in?
Speaker A:Tell us.
Speaker A:You know, anything that you can share on that topic.
Speaker B:Awesome.
Speaker B:Thank you all so much for asking.
Speaker B:And I got my doctorate through the National Beauty Cultures League Institute of Cosmetology, which was Created by Madam C.J.
Speaker B:walker, which she instituted, if you've seen the movie, that convention still goes on today.
Speaker B:And they created the National Beauty Cultures League.
Speaker B:Out of that, created the National Institute of Cosmetology, which has a degree program where beauty professionals can matriculate and get professional degrees in the beauty industry.
Speaker B:I was a guest instructor with KVL products teaching because manufacturers teach at their conventions.
Speaker B:They have every year.
Speaker B:I found out about the program and started teaching in the institute.
Speaker B:And because I was teaching, I was able to start taking classes.
Speaker B:Well, I have a bachelor's degree in mass communications.
Speaker B:I went to college first.
Speaker B:My parents told me to go to college.
Speaker B:I got a degree, but I've always loved doing hair.
Speaker B:So when I got into the Beauty Institute, because I had a degree already, a bachelor's degree, plus other experiences and classes I took, I was able to graduate with my master's.
Speaker B:Madam C.J.
Speaker B:walker's granddaughter spoke at that graduation.
Speaker B:And then I was able to take the doctoral classes online because when Covid happened, you can take the classes online.
Speaker B:And it just so happened I got it.
Speaker B:So it was almost like fell in my lap kind of thing, you know, I wasn't looking for it.
Speaker B:It just happened to me, you know, So I just embraced it.
Speaker A:Well, congratulations.
Speaker A:That's awesome.
Speaker A:Because, like, that is a legitimate and legitimate accolade right there.
Speaker A:So I don't.
Speaker A:Can't I.
Speaker A:You know, it's.
Speaker A:It's crazy.
Speaker A:I had a friend who's a salon owner, and he said.
Speaker A:He said he's always surprised at how much I know and how much I don't know.
Speaker A:And something that I didn't know about was that you could get advanced degrees in cosmetology.
Speaker A:And I think that that is fascinating.
Speaker A:So, like, in your.
Speaker A:In your studies, when if you're.
Speaker A:If someone wanted to, even if they weren't going for a doctorate, maybe they were just going for a lower level degree, but in cosmetology, because they wanted to enhance themselves and what, for whatever reason, like, are you learning things like business and money and stuff like that?
Speaker A:Because, like, what I'm seeing the cosmetology students learn, they're, you know, they're learning the state board stuff, which the state board really only is there for safety.
Speaker A:I mean, the schools try to teach more, but like at the end of the day, students don't graduate with the some of the foundational like concepts of business, customer service, financial literacy.
Speaker A:Is that something that you're learning at this institute?
Speaker B:It's so funny you asked that.
Speaker B:And yes it is.
Speaker B:And I know how you feel because I felt that way when I came on as a guest instructor.
Speaker B:I saw all these people with white lab coats going to classes and getting their degrees.
Speaker B:And I'm like, how come I never knew about this?
Speaker B:And they would be at the Bronner Brothers show with the booth set up.
Speaker B:But they were a very prestigious organization.
Speaker B:Most of the people that have degrees from this place are like the people that do the state board testing, people that are over the national education of, you know, they're on education boards.
Speaker B:So most of them are in the academia space and they own the buildings that we work in.
Speaker B:Like a lot of them who have their doctorate own buildings in D.C.
Speaker B:that other hairdressers work out of.
Speaker B:And a lot of them are like 70, 80 years old.
Speaker B:So it's an older organization who kind of, it's still around, but they're not as modernized as we are today.
Speaker B:And so when I found out about it, I just started getting in.
Speaker B:And you're taking classes like professional development.
Speaker B:You're also taking like six figure salary formula.
Speaker B:You're also taking haircutting.
Speaker B:You're also taking like scalp hair and scalp disorders.
Speaker B:You're also taking classes like on how to build a business.
Speaker B:You're also taking classes on boundaries.
Speaker B:You're also taking classes on critical thinking.
Speaker B:So there's a lot that goes, we read a lot of personal development.
Speaker B:Like if you come and get to know these people and know me and everybody know like we definitely study and earn these degrees.
Speaker B:And these aren't no hereby fly.
Speaker B:You're taking great courses.
Speaker B:And it happens once a year.
Speaker B:So you go from freshmen.
Speaker B:Freshman classes aren't like sophomore classes, senior classes.
Speaker B:And it's usually most people you go through four years.
Speaker B:Now I was fortunate enough because when I came in they accepted my degrees.
Speaker B:But there was a time before where if you already had a degree, you still had to matriculate back from freshman all the way.
Speaker B:So you would have to wait 8 to 12 years to get your degree.
Speaker B:But you are taking business classes, English classes, math classes, different things.
Speaker B:And now that we're online, they're making it there.
Speaker B:But it is a very Prestigious older organization.
Speaker B:So think of something your great grandmother would do or your grandparents did, and now their grandkids can kind of have it.
Speaker B:But, you know, people today are in a different space.
Speaker B:A client wouldn't really care if you have a doctorate or not.
Speaker B:They just want a great haircut.
Speaker B:However, when you're working for product companies and when you do, like, I've trained for many hair companies, I've trained all of around the world with them.
Speaker B:And so these companies honor that because they know you can speak the language, you can go in and be a professional, you can be on time, you can be good attendance, you can have great attire, you can have a great attitude.
Speaker B:Those are the things that matter.
Speaker B:And when you get the big bucks, you can say, oh, it's easy to say $3,000 a day or $5,000 a day, because you bring in the heat.
Speaker B:Nice.
Speaker A:I love that.
Speaker A:Thank you so much for that.
Speaker A:You know, we talked to a lot of students and in cosmetology school, and this is total I message that I.
Speaker A:I'm so happy that I asked you about this.
Speaker A:Okay, so I'm gonna do some research and look into that, and I'm very.
Speaker B:And I'll send you information for that and everything.
Speaker B:And the good thing about it is you maybe can shed light on it because it's an older organization, so they're still on paper and pencil and, you know, they're getting up to times because a lot of people who.
Speaker B:Who are young, like myself, see the value in the organization, and we're here to preserve it and do those kind of things because it's so good.
Speaker B:But if you look at D.C.
Speaker B:board, a lot of those people are on there.
Speaker B:If you look at national boards in the States, these are the people you're communicating with, you know.
Speaker A:Nice.
Speaker A:That's very, very good information to know.
Speaker A:Okay, so thank you for that.
Speaker A:Let's jump into.
Speaker A:How did you get started in the industry?
Speaker A:Did you, like, fall into it?
Speaker A:Did you.
Speaker A:Were you.
Speaker A:Did you always know you wanted to be work in the beauty industry?
Speaker B:I always knew since I was three years old.
Speaker B:I used to color girls hair in the coloring books.
Speaker B:My cousins gave me a mannequin that I practice on.
Speaker B:I would hide it because I grew up in the south and I'm a girlish boy.
Speaker B:And my parents, they loved me unconditionally.
Speaker B:They never, you know, I never got in trouble for being.
Speaker B:But they would always try to make me be more manly, you know, hey, play with this.
Speaker B:Get this.
Speaker B:You know, and so I would always try to get with the girl things.
Speaker B:And I always just loved the hair part of it.
Speaker B:I never was a put the clothes on the doll baby.
Speaker B:I just wanted to play with the hair.
Speaker B:That's what's fascinating.
Speaker B:I would call a horse's hair.
Speaker B:And I always did hair.
Speaker B:I even.
Speaker B:I started charging people to do hair when I was 14.
Speaker B:My parents say by the time I was 16, I made more money than both of them together because I would have a house full of people.
Speaker B:Let me tell you, it was nothing.
Speaker B: llege homecoming, and I made $: Speaker A:What?
Speaker B:Blown away?
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:Doing hair.
Speaker B:And so I was like, at that time, it was a lot of work.
Speaker B:Oh, my God.
Speaker B:Because I was charging $40 to do weaves and all of that, but so I've always loved it.
Speaker B:But my parents were big on go to college, get a degree, do that kind of stuff.
Speaker B:And I did that because I thought, you know, like, this would provide a better life.
Speaker B:And two years after working into that, I'm like, I make more money doing hair.
Speaker B:I was going home to do hair every two weeks because my corporate job wasn't even paying me that much.
Speaker B:And I'm like, you know what?
Speaker B:September 11th happened, and one of my aunts passed away at the Pentagon.
Speaker B:Now, the funny story is I was applying to beauty schools in Atlanta.
Speaker B:I was living in Atlanta at that time, and I wanted to get away.
Speaker B:Anyway, I was tired of a breakup, just wanted a new change, so I wanted to do new.
Speaker B:I applied to beauty schools in Atlanta several times, did not hear back from them.
Speaker B:I applied to beauty schools all over.
Speaker B:Long story short, I applied to Dunlas in D.C.
Speaker B:got accepted.
Speaker B:I applied in November, January, started going to beauty school, and I moved to D.C.
Speaker B:to go to beauty school.
Speaker B:And I told myself, now this is true.
Speaker B:I said, I'm going to apply corporate strategies to hairdressing and do it big.
Speaker B:So I was on the hunt to make a name for myself.
Speaker B:I knew that, hey, I've already did that corporate stuff, and it ain't that.
Speaker B:Let me do this and do it big, nice.
Speaker B:And I looked up to did not do great hair.
Speaker B:Gray hair is not the way.
Speaker B:Great customer service and great attitude and great attendance is the way.
Speaker B:I mean, great hair is the way.
Speaker B:But, you know, when you look at some of these things, you look like they look like they could have done their hair, but they need someone to do it, to make it look right now, cotton color and certain things they cannot do and they can't do Their own updos and they can't do their own hair, but they don't need the most elaborate work is what I'm saying.
Speaker B:You know what I mean?
Speaker A:I hear you.
Speaker A:You don't have to.
Speaker A:Yeah, I hear you.
Speaker A:I hear you.
Speaker B:So I knew to let me start doing more what celebrity hair looked like because I was one of those guys where.
Speaker B:And I'm.
Speaker B:I did what was considered ghetto hairstyles.
Speaker B:So I used to do finger waves, waterfalls, if you saw baps, those the kind of hairdos I used to do.
Speaker B:So I was doing hairdos and I realized my market would have to change in order for me to be a celebrity hairdresser.
Speaker B:Because they weren't wearing no waterfalls or finger waves or fashion hairdos.
Speaker B:They were wearing what normal or generic or the masses were wearing.
Speaker B:And I knew I had to switch up the game.
Speaker B:I said, oh, let me start doing the boring hair.
Speaker A:Interesting.
Speaker A:So you, you go to.
Speaker A:Well, let's go.
Speaker A:I want to unpack something.
Speaker A:So you.
Speaker A:So you end up going to school.
Speaker A:You got out of school.
Speaker A:Did you like working?
Speaker A:Like, would you work in a salon?
Speaker A:Did you go straight out on your own?
Speaker A:Did you do.
Speaker B:Oh, no, no, no.
Speaker B:I work.
Speaker B:I had the great privilege of working in a salon.
Speaker B:It was called Shaz, my first day assistant.
Speaker B:I made 55 in tips and I knew I could do this and so I assisted there.
Speaker B:I assisted, got on my feet and then after assisting for a while, I also.
Speaker B:While I was in beauty.
Speaker B:So I went to beauty school part time because I had to pay for school on my own.
Speaker B:So I needed a full time job.
Speaker B:So I did Shazzy's part time and I worked at Macy's in the cosmetics department at the makeup counter and I learned how to do makeup.
Speaker B:So I was doing makeup and hair and going to school at the same time, like working as assisted going to school and all of that.
Speaker B:So I assisted built up a clientele per se from assisting and accepting the walk ins and the Penny Savers and the coupons and.
Speaker B:And I would read while I was not busy because I had to work on me.
Speaker B:I would read books like the Seven Lively Sins.
Speaker B:You know, another book I read was, you know, it was a book by Florence Shovel Skin called the Game of Life and how to Play It.
Speaker B:So I would be reading books during the slow time.
Speaker B:And next thing you know, I started building a cl.
Speaker B:My clientele started growing and I wanted to be on a point where I was no longer on commission.
Speaker B:I went and wanted to be on boof Rent.
Speaker B:So I Wanted to be on Boof Rent, me.
Speaker B:And the owner wasn't really seeing eye to eye.
Speaker B:So I moved and went and got on Boof Rent, got on Boof Rent, started working the Boof Rent, started growing that, and then started building a name for myself.
Speaker B:While I was doing that, I was doing hair shows.
Speaker B:Hair shows led to hair magazines, and hair magazines led to Patti LaBelle.
Speaker B:I started being on tour with her.
Speaker B:So during that time, I was still Boof renting.
Speaker B:I was on Tour with Patti LaBelle.
Speaker B:So I would work on the salons when I did not do her hair.
Speaker B:Those two years while I was touring, all of that.
Speaker B:And then I went to do my class reunion because I was my high school's class president.
Speaker B:So when it was time for our 10 year reunion, I wanted to be there with them.
Speaker B:And so I was like, you know what?
Speaker B:Okay, I've had good fun on the road.
Speaker B:I invited one of my friends and we started sharing Patti LaBelle as a client and he took over from there.
Speaker B:And we just kind of.
Speaker B:That's when I got introduced to the White House and other celebrity clients because I was now in a point where I didn't have to leave to go make money because that's what I got kind of tired of.
Speaker B:It's fun in the beginning, but after a while, you're on the first flight out in the morning and you're coming home late at night.
Speaker B:So it was always.
Speaker B:And you know, it was fun.
Speaker B:I went to many places.
Speaker B:I've gone to every country almost.
Speaker B:I've been all around the world.
Speaker B:I would not change it for the world.
Speaker B:But there comes a time when, you know, you grow you.
Speaker B:Like, I need more.
Speaker B:Like, this ain't enough money for me.
Speaker B:This ain't enough life for me.
Speaker B:Like, I need more.
Speaker B:And I was able to find that outside.
Speaker B:And so now I only do hair three days a week.
Speaker B:You know what I mean?
Speaker B:I've done every kind of hair.
Speaker B:Nice.
Speaker A:This is.
Speaker A:That was very great.
Speaker A:Okay, so just because we spent a lot of time talking to his students and rising stylists, I want to ask a couple questions.
Speaker A:So you, you.
Speaker A:How long did you work at the salon before you went independent into a booth rental?
Speaker B:I worked at the salon about.
Speaker B:I would say about a year or two.
Speaker B:And I would always encourage young assistants and even stylists and people who have assistants.
Speaker B:You should be assistant for about a year to two, and then after that, then you should be working on your own.
Speaker B:And a stylist should be training a person to be able to Leave in two years.
Speaker B:Like, do clients with you, let that person do with you.
Speaker B:You know what I mean?
Speaker B:If you train that person to work with you and you share the commission and it's a win, win situation for everybody involved in the transaction.
Speaker B:It's a win.
Speaker B:You need to come with a plan for them to leave you too, like every two years.
Speaker B:And so I assisted for about a year and then after that a year or two.
Speaker B:And as a upcoming stylist, I would always say you need to have a very good support system, like live below your means, stay with your mom and dad, live with an uncle, have a roommate, share be, and do the bare minimum, live below your means.
Speaker B:Because I was staying with the cousin who allowed me to, you know, sleep at our house while I got myself together.
Speaker B:But I got on my feet and when I got myself together together, I am.
Speaker B:So you can't just be living with people or doing whatever and don't have a plan to get it together.
Speaker B:You know, not saying that, you know, I, I would say.
Speaker B:And so that's what I did.
Speaker B:I.
Speaker B:You know what I mean?
Speaker B:I just swallowed and sucked it up.
Speaker B:But I had a plan to, hey, this is going to be my exit strategy, because I need to.
Speaker A:And where did you.
Speaker A:Where did, where did.
Speaker A:What would you attribute credit for?
Speaker A:It sounds like your story sounds kind of like if you were to like, ask for like the, like, the advice that is most hurt I give and hear the most is basically everything that you did.
Speaker A:So, like, how, how did you know to like, spend time under someone, go out on your own, get like continuously to grow yourself and read during downtime and, and like, do the, you know, spend the bare minimum while you build yourself.
Speaker A:Like, what would you attribute that, knowing how to do that?
Speaker A:Did you just come naturally or did someone.
Speaker B:Oh, I would have to say my parents were a big part of that.
Speaker B:My mom, you know, she was always in my ear, always telling me, very supportive.
Speaker B:I have a very supportive family.
Speaker B:You know what I mean?
Speaker B:And I must say, I stand on their shoulders, the shoulders of giants.
Speaker B:My dad, he always paved the way.
Speaker B:My mom, she's always there.
Speaker B:So my parents were always in my ear.
Speaker B:My mom told me I was an awesome kid and I believed her.
Speaker B:So I always knew to read good books and all of that.
Speaker B:My mom had a rule, if you brought a C home, you're in trouble.
Speaker B:So I knew to read and do my work.
Speaker B:And also I attribute it to being gay as an openly gay man or a very flamboyant boy in high school.
Speaker B:And mid grade school, if I hung with the smart kids, they wouldn't bother me.
Speaker B:So I hung out with the smart kids because they didn't tease me, they didn't bother me, they accepted me.
Speaker B:And I learned a lot.
Speaker B:And so I would read books.
Speaker B:I remember being the editor of my high school newspaper and my.
Speaker B:I had a beard in high school like a girlfriend.
Speaker B:So my parents would think I'm not gay, you know what I mean?
Speaker B:So Chantelle would be in like sociology classes and she would introduce me to books and I started collecting quote books and all of that.
Speaker B:I would read Iyana Banzan in high school, you know what I mean?
Speaker B:And so I just had a natural attraction to progress and find the truth for myself because I knew adults had it effed up, especially when I was at kindergarten, they gonna tell me that nonfiction means truth and fiction means make believe.
Speaker B:And I'm like, well, I thought it goes the other way.
Speaker B:It was so confusing to me.
Speaker B:I was like, they crazy.
Speaker B:And I just knew there was some other truth out there.
Speaker B:And really that's within it's internal work.
Speaker B:Reading good books, working on yourself, being the best you finding people that you look up to, modeling their behavior, going after that and working on you every day.
Speaker B:Subscrib to whoever a favorite podcast, favorite quota today something.
Speaker B:You know, find these things out here.
Speaker B:The secret, the game of life, how to play.
Speaker B:And I work with a great team now.
Speaker B:I work with a fantastic team.
Speaker B:We read books of the month.
Speaker B:We're doing all these fantastic things.
Speaker B:So that helps me too.
Speaker B:You know what I mean?
Speaker B:But it's really about having programs like this, the Hairdresser Strong so that you can plug in, get information that's going to help you live a better life.
Speaker B:That's what it's about.
Speaker B:Oh, I'm not the only one.
Speaker B:You're inviting great guests who are pouring into this community and that's what it's about, having avenues like this.
Speaker B:You know what I mean?
Speaker B:You know, Stampora says it, you know, all the great, you know, we're out in this beauty world and so plug in and listen to these podcasts and make sure every day you get 1% better.
Speaker A:That's amazing.
Speaker A:I love that.
Speaker A:Okay, so let's go into the celebrity stuff.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker A:And like, because you, you've been all over the TV and like I'm looking at your bio right now and it's pretty awesome.
Speaker A:So you.
Speaker A:So you said earlier that Patti LaBelle was the first celebrity, is that right?
Speaker B:Yeah, the first big one.
Speaker B:You know, she was the first, like, big one our school used to do.
Speaker B:I went to Dudley, and our school used to do, like, BET Gospel and different local network.
Speaker B:So we would do celebrities as they came in, but we didn't get to go on tour with them or live with them and work with them and be on their entourage.
Speaker B:That was just.
Speaker B:They came, we did them and hit it and quit it with her.
Speaker B:It was tours, special events.
Speaker B:There were Martha Stewart show, you know, different television shows that she would be on.
Speaker B:You know, hair and makeup is different than, let's say, for instance, the band or anybody else, because hair and makeup is needed for every event.
Speaker B:The band is only needed for the concerts.
Speaker B:So we would do events that weren't even concerts.
Speaker B:I mean, concerts are great because you get a per diem and you get all these benefits, and I love concerts.
Speaker B:But, you know, there are also public appearances and everything else that people want to see a celebrity and they need their hair and makeup done.
Speaker B:And especially people in that time.
Speaker B: during, I would say the early: Speaker B:And if you're in celebrity styling or if you're looking for that, I would highly encourage you to get recording artists and people that, you know, have those kind of budgets.
Speaker B:Because an actress can't sell out shows, but an entertainer, you know what I mean?
Speaker B:So seek out entertainers if you really want to go that route, you know what I mean?
Speaker B:Because they're the ones who.
Speaker B:And it's really about building good relationships, you know what I mean?
Speaker B:Like, you want to do hair, you want to know how to keep your mouth closed.
Speaker B:You don't want to ask a bunch of questions.
Speaker B:You don't want to pry into their business.
Speaker B:You want to see and don't see, hear and don't hear.
Speaker B:You're here to do hair.
Speaker B:I don't care if they want you to do it on the floor.
Speaker B:Where are the plus.
Speaker B:And people will book you and continue to keep you.
Speaker B:You know what I mean?
Speaker A:Yeah, that's so good.
Speaker A:Okay, so would you say that if someone wanted.
Speaker A:Is some it.
Speaker A:If someone wanted to get into celebrity, working with celebrities, do you.
Speaker A:Would you say that being able to do both makeup and hair is a hugely important, or can you just do one or the other?
Speaker B:I strongly think that you should do one and have an edge on the other.
Speaker B:Because I had an agent who told me seven when I was working with Patti LaBelle and I wanted to do both hair and makeup.
Speaker B:He was like, you need to pick one or the other.
Speaker B:You can't be the master of both.
Speaker B:And I wanted to prove him wrong, so I went on this journey to do that.
Speaker B:But when you got to carry all this stuff, you got to have all this stuff, and you got to run from one and run to the next, you, like somebody else could have had that time while I rest, right?
Speaker B:And.
Speaker B:Or whatever, and then you really don't master it all.
Speaker B:I'm really not that great of a makeup artist.
Speaker B:I mean, I can do good makeup on a pretty girl, and I can make you look good and all of that, but there are certain things that I just really cannot do.
Speaker B:I did counter makeup, I did fashion makeup, and I did different things with time.
Speaker B:So I'm like, you know what?
Speaker B:I just decided to go and do hair.
Speaker B:And I think as you mature as a beauty professional, in the beginning, try it all, you need to find out what it is that you love.
Speaker B:But once you got it together after about two or three years, you need to pick a niche, because people pay for niche.
Speaker B:I do nothing but sew ins.
Speaker B:That's what I market.
Speaker B:I promote hair extensions, and I get paid very well to do them.
Speaker B:You know what I mean?
Speaker B:Not saying that, but.
Speaker B:And I know other people that do.
Speaker B:So at a certain point in the game, you want to be known for something, because one thing about the one trick pony is, you know which trick you coming to see.
Speaker B:Like, you ain't guessing.
Speaker B:It ain't can you?
Speaker B:And everybody that says they can do it all, I'm like, I don't see you doing that well over the girl.
Speaker B:That is the specialist.
Speaker B:You're not out coloring this girl because you're doing too much.
Speaker B:No matter how you say you do DC color, you do nice color, you're doing a nice haircut, it's given.
Speaker B:But it's not like that girl who's mastering it because she just focus on that.
Speaker B:You.
Speaker B:We only got 24 hours in a day.
Speaker B:How you got the time to be great when you're doing some money, other things.
Speaker A:Steve, that's so good.
Speaker A:Thank you for that.
Speaker A:That was very good.
Speaker A:So just to.
Speaker A:Just to clarify, because.
Speaker A:Well, just to clarify, make sure you're really good at one thing, but it would help if you at least had some sort of basic knowledge about the other.
Speaker B:And also to clarify as you grow in your career, in the beginning, okay, you need to do it all.
Speaker B:Get familiar with what it is like in the intermediate phase.
Speaker B:Okay, master the things, pick few, four, five, six that you're going to get.
Speaker B:But when you're ready to get in the high premium overtime, want to work less two to three days a week, you're going to be.
Speaker B:Need to be in a niche because women with money know they want a specialty.
Speaker B:When they're going to Gucci, they're getting a specialty designed bag.
Speaker B:And when they're coming to you, they're getting a specialty design, weave, color, cut, something that's built to last.
Speaker B:They know it's going to last them a little while.
Speaker B:It's going to be good to go.
Speaker B:That's when you get into the big league.
Speaker B:But as you grow your career, in the beginning, no, you got to figure it out.
Speaker B:You're gonna have to mess up 100 heads.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker A:Thank you for that.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker A:You're gonna have to mess up 100 heads.
Speaker A:I like that number.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:This is so good.
Speaker A:So we are.
Speaker A:This has been a great conversation so far.
Speaker A:I.
Speaker A:I'm curious to know, like, just if you want to do like, like a high level, because we mentioned a number of celebrities.
Speaker A:If you want to give, like a high level, like, because I'm.
Speaker A:I mean, based on your story, it sounds like getting into certain.
Speaker A:Doing certain things and having certain experiences and having certain relationships leads to other opportunity.
Speaker A:I mean, I'm.
Speaker A:I'm picking that up from what you're saying.
Speaker A:You're not saying that.
Speaker A:I'm just gathering that from what you're saying.
Speaker A:Would you talk.
Speaker A:Would you tell us a little bit about, like, that process?
Speaker A:Like, one thing leads to another.
Speaker A:You don't have to give them all of them because there's so many, but maybe you give a couple of things that kind of one thing led to another, if that's how it works.
Speaker A:And if not, tell us a little bit about how you landed some of these gigs.
Speaker B:I would say yes.
Speaker B:It definitely starts with building relationships.
Speaker B:I started doing hair shows with Glenn Jackson, who also has an agency and does a lot of relationships.
Speaker B:So Glenn Jackson put me in Hair Idol when I won Hair Idol.
Speaker B:Ted Gibson Salon was coming to DC and when they came to DC, Hair Idol gave us $50,000 and $10,000 to give to our favorite charity.
Speaker B:So it was a big, huge deal by Sensationnel, who by Hair Zone and Sensationnel.
Speaker B:So they own the companies, the hair companies like Outre and another hair company in the store.
Speaker B:A lot of people know them.
Speaker B:So long story short, they.
Speaker B:Glenn Jackson introduced me to them.
Speaker B:I won the award.
Speaker B:Ted Gibson Salon was coming to DC and the owners say, hey, Ted is coming to dc.
Speaker B:Would you mind going?
Speaker B:I didn't know who Ted was, but my friend, when I asked him because he worked for Aveda, he was like, oh, if you work with Ted, you'll definitely make some money.
Speaker B:So I'm like, oh, well, let me go over here, because this is a, well, upscale salon.
Speaker B:So I went, got a master stylist there.
Speaker B:I was introduced to Valerie Jarrett, who was the senior advisor to President Obama.
Speaker B:So I got to work with her in the White house for about 14 years.
Speaker B:I mean, it was three and four times a week because whenever they had press.
Speaker B:And so that introduced me to the US Attorney General who got.
Speaker B:I started working for her and all of that.
Speaker B:And that's how I got it, working for Naomi Campbell, because Ted Gibson referred her, their agency referred her, they referred Lupita.
Speaker B:Now, this is a story you have to hear because I don't watch tv, I don't know my celebrity cl.
Speaker B:When they call, I'm just here to service them.
Speaker B:I've gotten good at staying out of the way.
Speaker B:Okay, So I get the call from Rashida Jones publicist that America Ferreira is going to be in town and would I be able to do her hair?
Speaker B:Now, I thought America Ferreira was an event.
Speaker B:I did not know that was a person, because I'm thinking, oh, Rasheeda's coming to get her hair done.
Speaker B:So I go to the hotel, knock on the door, America Ferreira answers, and I'm like, hey, is Rasheeda here?
Speaker B:And she's like, huh?
Speaker B:So I have to go look at the email.
Speaker B:I Google her, and I'm like, oh, this is the lady from Ugly Betty.
Speaker B:I had no idea.
Speaker B:But I did her hair for that.
Speaker B:But that was a Ted Gibson referral.
Speaker B:So a lot of, you know, I built a great relationship with him, too, and he taught me a lot.
Speaker B:And one of the things, he humbled me and taught me that, like, if you're a celebrity hairstylist or a top hairdresser in your salon, you need to make sure that everybody else is eating too.
Speaker B:Like, you can't be the top and nobody else.
Speaker B:It's, we all rise together.
Speaker B:And he was like, when I'm successful, you're successful.
Speaker B:When you're successful, I'm successful.
Speaker B:And it really taught me about everything on the ship matters, you know what I mean?
Speaker B:And it really was, you know, I learned a lot and he would just send clients my way.
Speaker B:He sent Lupita my way.
Speaker B:You know what I mean?
Speaker B:They would just be like, hey, Adrienne, Naomi Campbell's in town.
Speaker B:Can you do her?
Speaker B:You know what I mean?
Speaker B:So I'm like, okay, cool.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:And that's incredible.
Speaker A:What incredible story?
Speaker A:Oh, my gosh.
Speaker A:That is.
Speaker A:It sounds like that is very exciting.
Speaker A:Very, very exciting times.
Speaker A:And so I always have to ask this for anybody who's worked in the White House.
Speaker A:What.
Speaker A:What is that like?
Speaker A:What is that experience like, working?
Speaker A:You know, we're in D.C.
Speaker A:any.
Speaker A:Everybody who's tuning in, you either know that, and if it's your first time now, you know it.
Speaker A:But Dr.
Speaker A:Adrian Seven is also DC.
Speaker A:DM, where are you?
Speaker A:Are you in DC proper?
Speaker B:In DC proper?
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:I live.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So this.
Speaker A:And we're in D.C.
Speaker A:also.
Speaker A:So white House is a pretty big deal everywhere, but definitely here.
Speaker A:So how did you tell us about that?
Speaker B:So, you know, it's really my second run into the White House because the first time, even though I didn't go there, I did Mikhail Salahi for her event that she had at the White House.
Speaker B:She was a client of mine when she was on D.C.
Speaker B:housewives.
Speaker B:I was her hairdresser.
Speaker B:Aggressive.
Speaker B:So I got to tell you that story, too, because I want to hear that story.
Speaker B:I'll tell you.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:So, long story short, the second time around, when I got the gig for Valerie Jarrett, what happened was.
Speaker B:So when I first moved to dc, my aunt took me to get a clearance because she worked for the government.
Speaker B:So she had done.
Speaker B:Ben took me.
Speaker B:Soon as I land, I have an uncle and a wife.
Speaker B:His wife lives here.
Speaker B:She took me to Glass, like, start getting clearance.
Speaker B:So when I started working for Valerie Jarrett, who is the senior advisor to the president, I already had a clearance, and I could now be cleared to go and service her on location.
Speaker B:So by servicing her on location, it gave me access to so many things.
Speaker B:I also had a relationship with the editor of essence, Pamela Edwards, who also knew Ted Gibson.
Speaker B:So Ted worked that where we would all know each other.
Speaker B:So long story short, they were doing a spread for Essence magazine because when Obama was in town, there were a lot of different minorities who were in power and in office.
Speaker B:So they did a spread in the magazine, and so they hired me and my team.
Speaker B:So I called people that I work with, D.C.
Speaker B:fashion Week, friends of mine, my assistants, and we did that photo shoot at the White House that was like, all of these photos.
Speaker B:So we would also do different things.
Speaker B:And then they would invite me to things.
Speaker B:I never asked.
Speaker B:Asked for any favors.
Speaker B:I got to go to the Christmas dinners.
Speaker B:I went to when the gay would.
Speaker B:You know how.
Speaker B:When they signed a deal with gays can get married.
Speaker B:I went to that at the White House and the person in the back was making a noise.
Speaker B:I went through all of that.
Speaker B:So, you know, and I would never ask for anything.
Speaker B:They would just give them to me.
Speaker B:Hey, Adrienne, you want to go to this?
Speaker B:Hey, Adrienne, you want to go to this?
Speaker B:Hey.
Speaker B:And I always just served her like any other celebrity.
Speaker B:And I always believe the person you have to be most professional to is yourself.
Speaker B:I don't ask questions.
Speaker B:I mean, I talk about basic things.
Speaker B:I don't talk politics.
Speaker B:I don't care.
Speaker B:You know, that's not my thing.
Speaker B:I mean, I even work for Omarosa, who's a very dear friend of mine.
Speaker B:We've grown over years.
Speaker B:I've done book tour stuff with her, but I don't who you vote for and who you work for.
Speaker B:I believe as a beauty professional, this is where we get the one out.
Speaker B:We don't need to be involved in that.
Speaker B:Like, as beauty professionals.
Speaker B:How can you serve the masses when you're.
Speaker B:You all jumbled up into it?
Speaker B:Just stay out of the way.
Speaker B:Do vote who you vote for.
Speaker B:Do your thing, but don't get in the mix because that limits who you serve.
Speaker B:You only serve one half of the population if you stick to one side.
Speaker B:If you stay out the way, you get to serve them all.
Speaker B:And I'm like, listen, that doesn't matter.
Speaker B:We're talking about your family.
Speaker B:I don't get in their occupation.
Speaker B:Recreation, you know, motivation stuff, you know, life.
Speaker B:I sell me what I've been doing.
Speaker B:Taking classes.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:Here to serve.
Speaker B:Listen, be pleasant.
Speaker B:You know what I mean?
Speaker B:Like, that's how you get the jobs and get it done and get it quick.
Speaker B:Like, they're not.
Speaker B:You're here to serve.
Speaker B:Like, and when you serve on this level, you also have to realize we're serving the masses.
Speaker B:So you gotta be out the way.
Speaker B:You wanna be a professional.
Speaker B:It's really about professional hairdressing.
Speaker A:Oh, my gosh.
Speaker A:This is so good.
Speaker A:You.
Speaker A:You're.
Speaker A:You're nailing it, man.
Speaker A:I love this.
Speaker A:This is so good.
Speaker A:It's like, I don't even.
Speaker A:There are questions I usually ask.
Speaker A:I don't even have to ask because you're like, delivering.
Speaker A:This is amazing.
Speaker A:Okay, so since.
Speaker A:I mean, this has been a great conversation and I greatly appreciate your time, but as we Come to the end of our conversation.
Speaker A:I always like to ask a number of things.
Speaker A:First thing I want to ask you is, what are you doing now?
Speaker A:What are you up to right now?
Speaker A:What can we expect to, like, see from you?
Speaker A:And so that's the first thing.
Speaker A:And then the second thing is I would like you to, if you have any last, last words of advice or wisdom for somebody that's just starting or maybe someone that's in, in the industry but wants to advance themselves.
Speaker B:Okay, so what can you expect from me now?
Speaker B:I'm working on a national expansion of.
Speaker B:I'm working with, doing marketing and promotions on the side, helping small businesses, families, individuals with a great paying company.
Speaker B:You know, my friend introduced it to me.
Speaker B:Really great stuff that I'm doing on the side.
Speaker B:So I can introduce them, get them some information about that, because we'd be here all day, you know what I mean?
Speaker B:But.
Speaker B:And then I also would say, and I've been working bi coastal, luckily, I've been fortunate where, I mean, I'm going to be honest.
Speaker B:The key to wealth right now is multiple streams of income.
Speaker B:I got introduced to it and I'm like, you know what?
Speaker B:I need something that I can do with leverage.
Speaker B:So now I do that on the side and I do hair on the side.
Speaker B:And then I live and just travel.
Speaker B:I work in LA eight days a week out of the year, out of the month.
Speaker B:So I go to LA and I work in the salon three days while I'm there.
Speaker B:And the other five days I just work from home or go to the beach, go hiking, do whatever.
Speaker B:But I can work from my phone.
Speaker B:So I may stop on the mountaintop, work and do that.
Speaker B:So that's what you can expect is me expanding that, working with my team and also doing hair while I'm there.
Speaker B:When I'm in la, I do hair extensions at rvm, which is fantastic.
Speaker B:They have five salons on one block.
Speaker B:Block.
Speaker B:Can you imagine an owner with five salons on one block?
Speaker B:Listen, we're on Wilshire.
Speaker B:It's a very historic district.
Speaker B:Like there are a lot of hairdressers.
Speaker B:Like, it's so great.
Speaker B:And I mean, I work there and I assist too.
Speaker B:So I'm like, if I don't have clients, I don't mind assisting people.
Speaker B:I've done everything.
Speaker B:I don't mind.
Speaker B:And I learn from them, especially more hair extension skills.
Speaker B:So I do that.
Speaker B:And when I'm at McKenna Jordan, which is state of the art, it is DMV finest.
Speaker B:I mean, and I love commissioners as A beauty professional.
Speaker B:I've owned a salon, I've worked in a salon and I've done all these things and I believe commission is the best because you get to pay more.
Speaker B:You don't have to worry about all the overhead and you just, it's a beautiful scene.
Speaker B:So that's what I would recommend.
Speaker B:So if you're an up and coming or new beauty professional, I would encourage you to find other beauty professionals doing what you're doing, who you look up to.
Speaker B:Find role models, people that you look up to, mimic them, model them, work on yourself, read good books, study, become the best version of you.
Speaker B:Subscribe to beauty professional magazines, follow their pages, go to other people that are doing professional development work on multiple stream.
Speaker B:That's what wealth is about.
Speaker B:You know what I mean?
Speaker B:Having more than one stream of income.
Speaker B:I've learned the hard way, like you can't just depend on one thing, you got to have more.
Speaker B:And so I would encourage you that, that and really just have fun.
Speaker B:You came to enjoy life.
Speaker B:Decide what it is, create a purpose.
Speaker B:Start today.
Speaker B:I know my purpose is to enjoy life.
Speaker B:Entertaining, edifying, education, empowering, enhancing the lives of others while doing it and being in a prosperous environment.
Speaker B:So I don't want to, you know, but I want to enjoy life first.
Speaker B:So make sure while you go and decide what it is you want to do from here on out, you put enjoy first.
Speaker B:I want to enjoy life and let it be whatever you want to be.
Speaker B:But I would say follow other great hairdressers and tune into the hairdresser strong.
Speaker B:You're going to have another guest that's doing it just as good as me, even better.
Speaker B:And you're going to learn from them and continue to plug in and God will provide a way.
Speaker B:You're already on a great journey and remember you're in the best industry.
Speaker B:The number one product whenever there's a recession is lipstick it.
Speaker B:So people are going to want to see you.
Speaker A:That's so good.
Speaker A:Thank you so much.
Speaker B:You're more than welcome.
Speaker A:Yes, thank you.
Speaker A:It's been incredible experience for me and I'm sure you brought value to our listeners and, and, and viewers.
Speaker A:So thank you again so much.
Speaker A:It's been a pleasure.
Speaker B:You're more than welcome.
Speaker B:Thank you.
