We’re looking forward to introducing you to Kiki Taylor. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Kiki, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
I was just honored at the Nail Excellence Awards in Hanover, MD as an industry trailblazer. I’m really proud to continue to be a person/inspiration for others that I didn’t have starting out in the nail industry.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Kiea Taylor, but I go by Kiki. I started my brand Kreations by Kiki in 2011 after experiencing less than satisfactory working conditions. I decided I wanted to create a space where everyone felt comfortable, safe and creative. In 2017, with that wish in mind, I opened my nail salon Tips & Needles. My studio is not your typical, run of the mill nail salon. There’s colorful graffiti and positive affirmations spray painted on walls. It’s a bright and happy place where I’ve had the honor of working alongside and training other nail techs in my techniques and business acumen. I love to make people smile and I’m very detailed with my work. You can pick out one of my sets without asking. I pride myself on my customer service and ability to provide an amazing experience for my clients. I hope to open a bigger studio with space for a continuing education program to help future and upcoming nail techs provide the best possible experience and quality for their businesses.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
I’d have to say my relationship with my mother and grandmother. My grandmother is a retired entrepreneur herself, she had a very successful cleaning business and I was able to watch and learn from her drive and work ethic. My mother is my absolute favorite person in this world, she’s been an integral part of my life as a whole of course but for my business as well. Both of them saw the passion in me just playing around and doing my own nails for fun in high school because I wanted to be different. They both suggested I go to nail school to learn all I could about that world. Pushing me to make a career out of the hobby I had at the time. Throughout the years they’ve continually encouraged and invested in me to go for the moon and I’ve been able to do so by having their ongoing love and support.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one thing to my younger self it would be to relax and let go when necessary. I’ve always been a very empathetic caring person and that has been taken advantage of in the past. In those instances, I really took it to heart. I let those bad experiences sit with me so long and deep that I wanted to quit. I wanted to protect myself as much as possible and the only way I could see to do so at that point was to find something else to do. I’ve learned since that time to not hold on to bad things. To not let the negativity sit and paralyze me to the point of quitting. I use them as lessons that I will never go through twice. I learn and keep moving forward, stronger and wiser.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
The amazing thing about what I do is I can show up truly as my authentic self. The colorful, fast talking unicorn that I am. I’ve always marched to my own beat and that’s even more so the case nowadays. I love being able to highlight my uniqueness and creativity through my work and public image.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
Even now people look at all I have accomplished and achieved during my career. What I don’t want to ever be misunderstood about my journey is the lows and hurdles I overcame to be where I am. The negative energy and opinions from all around me. I really had to push through wanting to throw in the towel and quit altogether. Some advice I have for anyone pursuing something new is to stay the course and don’t let anyone make you want to quit!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kreationsbykiki.shop
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kreationsbykiki?igsh=MXE4eTMwemxibzk5NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DAsvMEZpd/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@kreationsbykiki?si=0WEM6RMJTql7BEsU
- Other: TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@kreationsbykiki?_t=ZP-90Zf9DPlrXL&_r=1
Image Credits
Jack Frost; Drltoons @drltoons
