Beauty of The Week 11.28.22 – Rachel Dinkins

How old are you?
34 

What’s your zodiac sign?
Leo 

Hometown?
Mobile, Alabama 

Education and current occupation?
Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Marketing and Management, CEO & Founder of Rachel Indira 

What’s currently on your reading list or podcast?
Currently on my podcast I am a huge fan of listening to Real Talk Kim with Pastor Kimberly Jones. She gives me so much encouragement and motivation to start my day. I try to use my mornings as time to meditate and listen to encouraging uplifting words. Sometimes we just need to hear that uplifting word to push us further into our destiny. 

What got you into the various careers?
I decided to jump in the Hair Care industry because growing up it was hard for me to find a hair care product and/or system that targeted my issues and worked for my hair type. I dealt with Eczema on my scalp and didn’t want all those chemicals in my hair. After years of trying out different products I decided it was time to make a change and start my natural hair care journey. I attended SCAD, Savannah College of Art & Design. Having majored in Fashion Marketing and Management, I always had a passion for the beauty & fashion industry. This led me to research the hair care industry, which is a thriving $87 billion industry. 

I believe that SCAD really gave me the tools and resources to better prepare myself when I face challenges or stress. For example, I remember in my Fashion Design class we had projects due literally within the same week and since SCAD was open 24 hours so you could literally stay there overnight which helped me reach deadlines.That experience prepared me for real life business and personal life. I believe that as an entrepreneur your day never ends, requiring you to work around the clock to meet deadlines. 

How do you stay in peak shape? What’s your workout and diet regime?
I stay in peak shape with the help of my trainers. Coach Devin @solofitnessatl and Coach Monet @motivatebymonet. I also do a mixture of weight lifting as well as Yoga. I see the difference in my body which is helping me stay motivated. I believe fitness is a lifestyle and should be incorporated in our daily lives. 

I try to workout at least 3 times a week and I do Yoga at least 3 times a week. As far as diet regime I always try to implement a lot of fruits and vegetables in my diet. I also drink plenty of smoothies which I make myself or I pick up at one of my favorite smoothie restaurants Fresh Squeezed Juice Bar in Phipps Plaza Mall.

What does self care look like for Rachel? (We love to encourage our readers to take part in self care) 

Self Care for me looks like having a work life balance. I practice sound meditation which has helped me get in tune with my mind, body and spirit. I think carving out time for meditation, yoga, sound baths, etc can help you take your mind off your workload and do some self healing and vision refocusing. There is a woman I go to her IG is @dearlifechat Tay Lang, she is awesome and can bring you the whole Holistic Sound Therapy experience to your home! 

I believe self care is self love and we all need to carve out time away from work and give ourselves love. 

What is something you wish you knew before getting into your career ? Are There any dos and don’ts you would advise others pursuing it?
I believe as an entrepreneur it’s important to have a great team around you. We overcame so many challenges, especially starting our company during the height of the pandemic. I was faced with limited resources such as low, raw materials from manufacturers. When we first Launched in June of 2020 officially online, we sold out within 48 hours and had to reassure customers that restock would be coming soon! It was definitely challenging as we had to meet the needs of our supply & demand. I do wish I had known about some of these challenges before however, all of this is a part of learning through my journey. As far as Do’s & Don’ts, I would just advise that you do need passion in your endeavor. Success will come but it requires a lot of hard work, drive and sleepless nights. It is bigger than someone who solely is starting a company out of just wanting to make money. You need to be able to have passion so you can be impactful to your audience. And this will help you succeed and withstand any obstacle. And don’t give up. The road to success is hard however you have to be able to be persistent and keep yourself motivated. 

We are all about black beauty, what does black beauty mean to you?
Black Beauty to me means our melanin is powerful, beautiful, elegant, exquisite, and confident. I believe that Black Beauty inspires and truly captivates the essence of being comfortable with yourself and loving yourself. 

So long we have always looked at the typical European beauty standards however, I am happy that we are shining light on Black Beauty all around the world and understand that Black Beauty is extremely diverse. It’s a celebration of our hair, skin, features and body type. Black Beauty means so much and simply can’t be put in a box. 

With a growing fan base and platform, what is something you want your followers to take away from following you on your journey? 

I would tell my audience that it is important to be passionate about what you are pursuing. You need to have a go-getter, innovative mindset to keep going. I would say to always be patient. I think sometimes we don’t see results as quick as we may want them but I am starting to learn as an adult you have to let things naturally happen. What is meant for you will happen. These are key things I was able to learn along the way during my journey of where I am today. 

Lastly, what’s next for Rachel? Our vision for the brand is to keep elevating and evolving. This also includes adding more products to the collection as well as extending hair care accessories. I don’t necessarily see myself having a stand alone brick and mortar store as retail is also evolving. Our foundation is our online community and our customers love the easy access of logging onto a computer and ordering directly from us. Recently we just partnered with a Luxury Beauty Retailer, The Collective by Marva at The Pardo in Sandy Springs, Ga. We are excited to showcase all of the Rachel Indira line with The Collective! We look forward to expanding with other future Retailers in the near future.

Photography Credit
Jasmine Lavii Photography 
Brittney Mullins Photography