Rochelle Graham, also known as BlackOnyx77, is a popular YouTube personality who began her vlogging journey in 2008. She was one of the first natural hair vloggers at a time when many resources weren’t available to share her natural hair journey. Graham used YouTube as a platform to share her experiences and started recording videos in the bathroom out of her apartment. After uploading the first couple of videos, she realized she was helping people, and it inspired her to continue.
Today, Graham has 92,000-plus YouTube subscribers and more than 12 million video views. She travels worldwide to share her natural hair journey and to represent her product line, Alikay Naturals. By the time Graham was 26, she was named “black beauty pioneer†by Essence magazine and has contributed and been featured in many nationally recognized publications. In addition to sharing her knowledge with YouTube fans across the globe, Graham launched Be Fabulous Salon in Cape Cora, Florida. Graham is an inspiration to women who want to embrace their natural beauty. She has used her influence to encourage and inspire women worldwide.
On how she started Alikay Naturals:
At the start of her natural hair journey, Graham damaged her hair with harsh products and coloring. She had to cut her damaged hair and begin the search for healthy, natural hair products. During her search, she discovered that most of the products on the market contained harsh chemicals. Graham decided to make her own products to achieve her healthy hair goals. She created products that had the best moisturizing, natural ingredients inspired by her Jamaican roots. Initially, she created products for herself, but Graham’s followers noticed that her hair was healthy and was growing; they too struggled with finding the right products and wanted to try the products she used in her videos. She began by making only a few batches, and the demand grew.
On financing Alikay Naturals:
While in college, Rochelle and her husband started Alikay Naturals with $100 they saved from working minimum wage part-time jobs. She poured all of the revenues generated back into the business. To date, they have no loans or debt. Her family is her foundation; she, her husband, and even grandparents are all working together to continue to build the company.
“You have to sacrifice. It may mean you can’t dress cute, you may not be able to go out with friends, you may not have the best of the best, but those are material things. Sacrifice, for what your end goal is,†she says.
On getting Alikay naturals in retail stores:
A year after she launched her product line, the retail applications started rolling in without solicitation. They were very selective when choosing retailers, and made sure that they were aligned with the Alikay Naturals brand. “When you create something amazing and stick to your truth, you will be aligned with the retailers for you,†Miss Graham. Alikay Naturals is currently sold in 70 individual retail locations and in Target stores across the nation.
“My heart skips a beat every time I see my products on the shelf. I get teary eyed, it’s a touching and humbling experience.â€
It took nearly
five years for Alikay Naturals products to obtain a mass distribution deal with Target stores. Graham has this advice for other product makers seeking major retail distribution, ” You don’t want to rush the process. If you do business solely for money and your heart is not in it, it won’t work. Focus on you truth and why you created your products. What is for you shall be yours!†Alikay Naturals now operates in a 7000 sq. ft. facility, where they produce and manufacture their own products.On balancing career with family:
Graham strongly believes that as a woman you can have both a career and a family, but it takes sacrifice. Her “day to day” consists of her balancing her work life with her husband, son, and family. She often sacrifices sleep by flying round trip from Florida to California in one day to minimize the time spent away from her family. After leaving her family to handle business, Graham would hurry home so that by the time her son wakes up, she would be home and he would’ve only spent one night without her.
“Although I am a beast when it comes to work, but when I am home, I’m mommy, I am a wife, I take care of my house. It’s all about balancing what is important to you.â€
Her advice to other entrepreneurs:
“Surround yourself with great people, do it for the right reasons, and be committed! A dream without a goal is just going to float. Start with what you have now, and be committed. If you are working a full-time job now, dedicate four hours or a set amount of time that you are going to commit. You need to hold yourself responsible and don’t give up. When people say no, take it as a not yet.â€
Author Chanel Martin (@ChanelEbone) is a co-founder and chief science officer of Techturized (@Techturized) Inc. She is also a wife, new mom, and lover of all things hair! She works full-time on her Techturized’s first product, Myavana (@Myavanahair) providing hair care personalization for female consumers around the world.