Cherelle R., affectionately known as Relle, became CEO & licensed cosmetologist of brand/business — Vamped Publicity — at the age of 23. The impeccable level of resilience, compassion, and ambition stored within her provided the perfect ingredients to make her qualified for the hair industry! God chose her to bring light and love to others who struggle with being true to themselves and hiding in the dark.
Vamped Publicity specializes in locs/natural hair, weaves, & more. It is a mother brand that lets out the alter ego we all thought we never had in ourselves without judgment. Passive self-expression & daring new looks to wear because you are the emphasis the world NEEDS as a distraction; EMBRACE THE NEW ATTENTION!
Cherelle R.
How did you get started in your industry?
I was practically born into the hair industry, lol. I was introduced to my first roller set by my grandmother (rest in paradise) at the age of 8. My godmother has been a beautician for over 40 years. She kept me in her home salon to learn the outskirts of being a cosmetologist from 8 to 13. Amongst being around other licensed relatives, I had decided to begin my complete education to my license at the age of 18 and graduated from hair academy 2 at the age of 23. After school, I started bouncing between being a traveling stylist and doing hair in my basement until I could afford to rent a booth in a salon setting.
Growing up, did you imagine being an entrepreneur?
It didn’t come full circle to me. I didn’t realize that was the title I was embarking upon until I became a freelance model. Then, I began chasing the dream of becoming a fashion designer.
In the beginning stages of developing your brand/business, what was your biggest struggle and how did you overcome it?
My biggest struggle was gaining/keeping clientele and my level of confidence. So I worked from the inside out to resolve these issues. Self-pep talks about keeping me motivated & encouraged to boost my confidence. I always kept a rule of thumb in mind:
“Clients will come and go. As long as you treat the five you have grand, others will come along and see why they remain in your chair.”
Cherelle R.
When it was time to get out there on the streets to hand out flyers, I mentally prepared myself for the rejections to come. I counteracted the negative with the positive saying, “There are over 20 people out here. If one person accepts this flyer, more will do the same.” I would say this same statement after the goal was hit and boost up the number. For example, one person has already accepted the flyer….OKAY, IF I CAN GET 3 PEOPLE! Three people took the flyer. Next thing you know, you’ve passed them all out and built your people skills (now add a short call of action tag to say to the people)!
Do you feel like you are pursuing purpose? If so, how did you know this was your purpose?
Absolutely!!! I ran (literally) from my purpose to be in 2 other career fields remaining in the beauty industry during my college days. I did not want to do hair for the public. When those two fields of being a fashion designer & model didn’t work out, I ran out of options to make something of my life. I knew this was my calling – seeing strangers to me lose their minds dancing over my work and showing their genuine excitement on video. I kept videos of my clients’ authentic reactions to help remind me of why I am on this journey, and I fall deeper in love with what I do when I see how deep this industry goes beyond hair itself.
What’s the best part of Vamped Publicity? What keeps you motivated to keep going?
The best part of Vamped Publicity is the clients who give me free rein to show my creativity. The ones that wholeheartedly trust that I, as their stylist, know and can execute what look will be suitable. For I have already taken into account their everyday lives, habits, and self-conscious areas just through the small talk of getting to know my clients.
As an entrepreneur myself, I understand sometimes personal life can get in the way of business. Have you encountered any personal hurdles that could have or did result in a business pivot?
Most definitely! There’s a battle between friends and family when it comes to business. To them, it’s personal because they know YOU. Although everyone wants discounts and freebies, it can be challenging to say “No” as a business owner. Still, once you find yourself in the UTTERLY most uncomfortable and unnecessary circumstance, it’ll wake you up to stand your ground not to repeat those mistakes.
During these times, we’ve all had to adjust. How has the adjustment been for you and your brand?
I was READY to level up, lol! The thing is God has a way of making you feel it in your spirit that “It’s time.” The adjustment came with preparation and planning of course, even if it’s not all fully put together. The foundation of it needs to be solid enough not to confuse yourself. Once you’re confused, so is your clientele, which disrupts your flow of business. Settling into Vamped Publicity’s new home puts a dent into my timeline of accomplishments. However, it’s a proven visual for me that Vamped Publicity is growing. My baby is no longer a newborn anymore; it’s now in the toddler phase.
What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman starting her career?
You do not need $300 or more to start your business. You can walk into a Dollar Tree and buy a $1.06 pack of 10 pens for your business, and you have already begun. When you start, remain open-minded throughout the whole journey. The public can smell when you care for yourself.
Lastly, what keeps you struttin?
It’s just the way “He” built me. It’s the curiosity of what Vamped Publicity and I will look like in XYZ amount of years. It’s the feeling of turning someone’s terrible days or outlook into hope and an extra lifeline.
Connect with Cherelle R.
Interested in learning more about Cherelle R.? Follow her on social below and learn about her hair company:
- Website: Vamped Publicity booking
- Instagram: @vamped.publicity.llc_