Meet Akaiaya Martin of Glendale

Today we’d like to introduce you to Akaiaya Martin

Hi Akaiaya, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Absolutely! Well, I’ve always loved doing hair. I remember we had a career day when I was in kindergarten and I wanted to be a cosmetologist and an ice skater lol. By the time I made it high school, I gained a pretty decent clientele. I would braid hair during gym and lunch, then after school I was doing roller sets, quick weaves, updos, you name it!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There’s definitely been struggles along the way. After graduating from high school, I ended up living in shelter for youths, The Covenant House of New Orleans. During my stay, I was offered the opportunity to work on a movie set, The Power of Few, as a stylist for the leading actress. After filming, I reapplied for cosmetology school, Aveda Institute New Orleans. I had to provide a homeless letter stating I was not under guardianship of an adult so I could apply for financial aid. I used the money from the movie set to pay for my kit, and for the next 12 months, with no vehicle or support from family, I’d wake up at 5am, catch a streetcar and 2 busses to get to school for 8am. Despite the challenges, here I am 12 years later, licensed for cosmetology in the states of Louisiana and Arizona. I’ve been in Arizona for 9 months now, so my latest struggle is building a new clientele.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My specialty is hair, healthy natural hair, no matter the texture. I’m known for blowouts, silk press, traditional sew-ins, crochet, layered bob haircut, and makeup. I’m mostly proud of my growth and finding new ways to perfect my craft. What sets me apart from others is my pride, I really take pride in my work, and I absolutely LOVE to make my clients feel as good as they look. In the words of Erykah Badu, “I’m an artist and I’m sensitive about my shit!” lol. I think another thing that sets me apart from others is that I’ve recently completed school to become a cosmetology instructor, continued education is very important to me.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I’ve taken so many risks in my life lol! My most recent major risk was moving here to Arizona. I sold and gave away all of my furniture and clothes, packed up whatever I could fit in my vehicle, and drove 22 hours from New Orleans, LA with the help of my cousin. I think if you want something bad enough, you’ll do whatever you have to do to make it happen. Faith without works is dead, so if you’re not willing to bet on yourself, then who will? I’ll always take a calculated risk because I never want to be stuck thinking “what if”.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esthetics.by.kai_?igsh=bW0zemc3N3ZyOGxo