Meet Erin Hundley Maybin | Intuitive Entrepreneur, Director, Educator & Community Advocate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Erin Hundley Maybin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erin, how do you think about risk?
To be honest, I think I’ve lived my life at risk, I started running away from home at 12 and have been on the move with purpose since. I’ve had good and bad outcomes on both ends of the spectrum. I will say that I am scared most times I’m about to take a risk, I try not to let fear get the best of me. I do it anyway, nerves and all. It takes guts to bet on yourself whether for personal or business sake. I chose to take one of the hugest risks when I opened my business. In 2014 I left corporate America and used my retirement to open my business. I knew that “I” was my biggest investment and that the only way it would not succeed is because of me. I am almost 10 years into this entrepreneurial lifestyle, some days I am like wtf am I still doing here and other days I’m like this is it, this is my calling I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s a very high and low experience, definitely not for everybody.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I am a hairstylist first and what I do creatively represents S.T.E.A.M, Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. My focus in all that I do from teaching to behind the chair is based on science. In the past, I created and taught a series of fun interactive workshops called the science of hair for the Girls Inc annual STEM program. It was always a great hit with the students, especially because our setting was a lab inside of a nano-tech school. I have since elevated the workshop, Hair S.T.E.A.M: The Science of Hair, to help people understand that we are more than just stylists, we are Scientists, Techies, Engineers, Artists, and Mathematicians. Subscribe to my channel for updates.

Some believe that doing hair is a hobby when in fact it’s an art and a science. We not only have to master color theory and light to enhance a person’s natural undertones, but we also have to know angles and degrees to create shapes that complement a person’s facial structure and features. My favorite is the chemistry of it all, being a board-certified colorist. I love seeing how hair reacts to the color formulas based on the composition of the individual’s natural hair color. Most importantly we have to understand the body inside and out and become familiar with skin and scalp disorders, sometimes we have to pre-diagnose and refer to a medical professional. Many hairstylists work very closely with dermatologists and other health professionals like OBGYNs. Whenever we have anything internally happening health-wise, our hair and nails are the first to expose the problem whether hormonal, dietary, or environmental.

One of the challenges I found was the pandemic; hair professionals were deemed non-essential. However, the hairstylists working in nursing homes and facilities were deemed essential. I was taken aback by this decision because what we offer our clients is much more than cosmetics. Grooming is a human necessity, if we do not groom, we can get bugs, mangled hair, fungus, scalp, and skin disorders from bacteria, and the list goes on. Elderly grooming is essential because it can be detrimental to their health. As well as someone who is clinically depressed and doesn’t have the motivation to care for themselves daily. This leads me to Psychohairapy, I am a certified Psychohairapist, and this practice uses hair as an entry point to mental health and wellness. The certification gives stylists the knowledge of how to connect with a client in crisis. COVID revealed so much that needs to be elevated and repaired, especially in the Black community surrounding wellness. So far my journey through the beauty industry has been less desirable at times, especially being a Black woman. My industry is very imbalanced in education, there is a huge learning gap between stylists who don’t have to learn how to do all hair types and textures v. stylists that have no choice but to learn it all because the standard in hair school is to learn straight hair or how to manipulate curly kinky hair with chemicals or heat. This year Milady Cosmetology book with the guidance of Master Pioneer, Diane Da Costa, was updated to be more inclusive to all hair types and textures throughout. No longer just a small chapter on natural hair, which most cosmetology schools skip or teach the bare minimum. Due to the deeming stylists non-essential, I pivoted my business to reflect more wellness and holistic opportunities for my clients. This led to the development of my online shop Genuinely Dope. I started with a small corner of goods in the salon pre-COVID, it’s since evolved. Thanks to my super supportive Husband and children we travel to vend at various locations. I have many spiritual & wellness tools, hoop earrings(my favorite), candles and more. My goal is to focus on the retail and education aspects of my business while slowly coming from behind the chair. You know because I’m ready for another challenge, ha! Oh the life of an entrepreneur, always adding more things for ourselves to do.

I am most proud that I get back up every time I get knocked down. I’ve wanted to quit so many times, there have been moments I thought I may have to close my brick-and-mortar location, but somehow it always works out, and this makes me go even harder. They say practice makes progress, I am practicing being an entrepreneur every day.

I’ve learned that sometimes you start out with one business idea or goal and it organically develops into something else, whether by choice or circumstance. My advice would be to go with it. We can get so emotionally vested in our business idea that we lose sight of the need, value or solution it may be for someone else.

Change is good, it’s when we refuse to change that our businesses may suffer. Learn to bob and weave those punches like Ali, they can hurt like hell and knock you out even. Eventually, it becomes an intricate dance of passion, dedication, and pure will. Keep going, that nudge is in you for a reason don’t ignore it, let it push you through.

What I want the world to know is that there is so much more work to do in the hair industry and we have to elevate it so people understand we don’t “just do hair”. I have had so much continued education in my craft that I should have a doctorate by now. Hairstylists make the world go round. Your favorite actors/actresses, and politicians, have all sat in counsel with their hair care professionals. We have helped save the world on numerous occasions and hold some of the deepest secrets that we will never tell, ask Jackie O’s hairstylist, Kenneth(he’s dead but you can google him). We are the merlins, the high priestesses, and the highest esteem in our villages and communities.

Last thoughts; I recently attended Vagaros Iconic 22 at Bespoke in San Francisco, talk about inspired! This was the first “future of tech” event that I’ve attended in the hair industry. So many excellent breakout sessions, motivating speakers like Tabatha Coffey and Venus Williams. I appreciate what Vagaro is doing, they are empowering stylists by giving them the tools and information they need to succeed, especially post-pandemic. I’m grateful I attended, there were so many beauty, wellness and fitness professionals that are at the same stepping stone. Our industry is in a paradigm, if you aren’t in that wave of movement you may get left behind. Going to this event gave me the breath of fresh air I needed to keep going for now. Attending conferences with your peers is a major key to success. They bring you back in focus through the fickleness of being an entrepreneur. Conferences also help broaden your network to assist you on the journey of building an iconic business. If you’ve been considering a conference for your industry, just do it and thank me later.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The first thing we would do is hit up Venice beach, not to swim but to enjoy a good people-watching stroll, and check out the continuous b-ball games at the court. Maybe have a little puff. We are def going to grab a churro from this corner spot on the boardwalk, I can’t remember the name but it’s the only one, hands down the best churro ever. They are huge and one will do, but if you’re feeling crazy have two. Then for lunch, we would visit my friend who owns Grilled Fraiche. Whenever I’m in town I make it my mission to visit and grab some good healthy fusion-style food and kick it with him, he’s always such a welcoming host and a genuine person. I’ve enjoyed watching his entrepreneurial journey, he now has 4 locations. I remember when there was one and it was for pop-up hours only. At night time we’ll head to Santa Monica, visit the pier, and head over to the shops maybe grab a tattoo or go crystal shopping. There is a crystal shop on the strip right next door to Cleopatra INK tattoo shop that has some wild energy. It’s like entering a portal. I’m all about the portals, let’s take off! Whenever I visit LA honestly I let the wind take me, I don’t typically have a plan, maybe some people to visit some cool new restaurants to try. I love a good Uber, make sure you budget for transportation while visiting, some like to rent a car, and I prefer Uber, less stressful.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

There are 2 organizations that I work closely with, one I am a co-founder: The Natural Hairstyle & Braid Coalition, a collective of licensed cosmetologists, business owners, entrepreneurs, and organizations, from the Hair & Beauty, Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, and Political industries who advocate for education, equity, diversity and inclusivity in the Natural Texture Industry for consumers and stylists. Our mission is to elevate the ART and SCIENCE of the natural hair care industry. 

The other is the Capital of NYS Black Expo, as Executive Advisor. The mission of the Capital of New York State Black Expo is to promote economic growth and business opportunities across New York State. I have been with the organization for the past few years we have grown immensely. We have so many wonderful things in store for our communities, which lack many tangible business resources for individuals who currently own or want to start a business.

There is another person Dr. Sylvia Long-Tolbert, we met on a plane coming from Dallas many years back. I was in Dallas for corporate training heading back to NY and she was headed back to DC, by chance we were sitting next to each other and began talking almost immediately. I am definitely a believer of everything happens for a reason, and the universe will provide you with all you need if you are willing to receive it. I consider her a mentor, she is a Professor of marketing and communications. Although I didn’t complete a degree she always said I had more business sense than the students that were actually majoring in the subject. She helped me simplify my mission statement, and has continued to give me guidance over the years. We don’t speak or see each other often but she is truly an inspiration to my journey and I appreciate her more than she probably knows.

Website: erinjhundley.com

Instagram: @ejhundley

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rdbwellness

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-UqJtGkn9Iov2EmhVm066w

Other: Help fund our project: https://ifundwomen.com/projects/what-do-hoop-earrings-mean-you Take and share our natural hair survey: https://www.nhbcoalition.com/join Donate or become a sponsor: https://www.cnysblackexpo.com

Image Credits
The hoops image: Photographer Nicole Acosta @atsocanic The “non-horizontal” image I sent was taken by Natasha Gaspard @manemoves The photo of me in front of the screen was taken at Vagaros iconic by Jeremy Moore @beats_by_jacques