Meet Ruben McCain

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ruben McCain and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ruben, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I didn’t set out to create an app or build a tech company. I set out to be a great hairstylist. For decades, my brand was simply Ruben McCain—the hairstylist and educator. I spent years behind the chair, then years teaching, mentoring, and training other professionals. Technology came much later.

PixiKwik was born directly from my own lived experience. As a working stylist, I knew firsthand how often we lose time, money, and momentum just trying to get the supplies we need to do our jobs. I experienced the rushed supply runs, the missed clients, the unpaid hours, and the constant juggling that comes with running a beauty business. Those pain points didn’t show up in market reports—they showed up in my daily life.

After 40 years in the industry, I realized the problem wasn’t a lack of hustle or talent. It was a lack of systems built for beauty professionals by people who actually understand the work. PixiKwik exists because I understood the problem long before I ever thought about technology as the solution.

That background is what gives the brand its strength and credibility. We didn’t reverse-engineer beauty to fit tech—we built technology around beauty. Every feature, every decision, and every partnership is informed by decades of real-world experience, not assumptions.

In the end, PixiKwik’s success comes from honoring the journey. I didn’t abandon my identity as a stylist to become a tech innovator—I brought that identity with me. That’s what makes the platform resonate, and that’s why it works.

What should our readers know about your business?
PixiKwik is a business that grew out of real life, not a boardroom. What sets us apart is simple but powerful: PixiKwik was built by someone who spent decades doing the work.

Before PixiKwik, my business was me—Ruben McCain, hairstylist and educator. I’ve spent 40 years behind the chair and in classrooms, training and mentoring beauty professionals while running my own business. Along the way, I experienced the same challenges every stylist knows too well: lost time driving to supply stores, missed appointments, disrupted schedules, and the constant pressure of juggling creativity with logistics.

PixiKwik was born from that lived experience. It’s an on-demand technology platform designed specifically for licensed beauty professionals, allowing them to order professional-only products and have them delivered directly to them—so they can stay behind the chair, serve clients, and protect their income. We didn’t build technology and try to force beauty into it. We built technology around the realities of the beauty industry.

What I’m most proud of is that PixiKwik honors both sides of the ecosystem. It supports beauty professionals by giving them back time, and it empowers beauty supply vendors—many of whom have never sold online—by opening the door to digital access without forcing them to change who they are. That balance matters to me.

Getting here was not easy. I didn’t start out wanting to be a tech founder. Balancing a service-based career with building a scalable platform has required learning an entirely new language—technology, logistics, partnerships, and patience. There were moments of doubt, long stretches of problem-solving, and plenty of lessons learned the hard way. What has helped me overcome those challenges is staying rooted in purpose. Whenever things felt overwhelming, I came back to one question: Does this truly help the people I’ve served my entire career?

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that experience is not something to outgrow—it’s something to build on. Longevity in an industry gives you insight that no trend or shortcut can replace. I’ve also learned the importance of surrounding yourself with people who believe in the vision and aren’t afraid to challenge you, support you, and help carry the weight when things get heavy.

What I want the world to know about me and my brand is this: PixiKwik isn’t about disruption for the sake of disruption. It’s about respect—for the craft, for the professionals, and for the time and income that sustain their livelihoods. I didn’t leave the beauty industry to build something new. I am still here, committed to building something useful.

At this stage of my life and career, success isn’t about speed—it’s about impact. In true LA fashion, it’s a marathon mentality—built for longevity, not quick wins. If PixiKwik helps beauty professionals work smarter, feel supported, and keep doing what they love without burning out, then we’re doing exactly what we set out to do.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend were visiting for a week and I wanted them to experience the best of LA, I’d plan something that blends culture, movement, music, food, rest, and history.

We’d start on Sunday with a 7:00am church service at Faithful Central Bible Church with Pastor J.P. Foster, followed by a relaxed
brunch nearby to catch up and ease into the week. That evening, we’d head to the Laugh Factory for Chocolate Sundaes comedy night, hosted by Ron G—because nothing sets the tone like laughter.

On Monday morning, we’d get active with a couple of games of doubles tennis at Rancho Cienega. Later that evening, we’d slow things down and soak in culture at Ora Coffee in Leimert Park, enjoying good conversation and the creative energy of the neighborhood.

Tuesday would begin with another tennis session at Rancho Cienega. Tuesday night is intentionally low-key—a chance to rest, recharge, and reset at home. A brotha gonna need some R&R.

By Wednesday afternoon, it’s time to get outside and move. We’d ride the full 22-mile Marvin Braude Bike Path from Santa Monica to Torrance Beach, stopping along the way for an açaí bowl at 50/50 Juice Lounge before finishing the ride by the water.

As the week winds down, Friday night would be all about music. Since I’m a musician, I’d find a jam session to vibe with—perhaps at Roscoe’s Jazz Lounge in Long Beach. Dinner would be at Kin Long Beach Thai Cuisine or La Louisianne on Overhill Drive in Los Angeles, depending on the mood.

Saturday afternoon would feel quintessentially LA—either a movie matinee at The Regal or a Lakers game downtown, followed by an early dinner at Fixins. On another night, we might also catch a Clippers game at the Intuit Dome.

To round out the week, I’d add a few meaningful extras: watching the sunset at Bruce’s Beach in Manhattan Beach and reminiscing, a visit to the Grammy Museum, and experiencing live music at Catalina Jazz Club on Sunset, the Hollywood Bowl on Highland Avenue, and/or Vibrato Grill Jazz Club on Beverly Glen.

And if we’re feeling adventurous, we’d rent Harley-Davidson motorcycles and roll out to San Diego for lunch at Lou & Mickey’s, then cross the border to dine on fresh lobster in Rosarita Beach.

For me, the best LA experience isn’t about rushing—it’s about rhythm. Faith, movement, laughter, music, food, rest, and history all deserve their place in the week.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
This journey has never been a solo one, and there are several people who truly deserve recognition in my story. First and foremost, I want to shout out my wife, who goes out of her way to promote and support me in every endeavor I take on. Her belief in me, her encouragement, and her willingness to amplify my work—often behind the scenes—have been a constant source of strength throughout every phase of my career.

When PixiKwik entered the picture, I was fortunate to be surrounded by people who believed in the vision and helped bring it to life. I want to recognize Paula Goins and Nasir Medley, who were instrumental in helping turn PixiKwik from an idea rooted in lived experience into a functioning platform. Their commitment, insight, and willingness to build alongside me were critical in moving the concept into reality.

As PixiKwik continues to grow, I’m equally grateful for the team helping carry the vision forward. This includes Nichol Goff, a 30-year Health & Beauty industry veteran with deep vendor and retailer relationships, and our public relations strategist, Kristen Wright Matthews. Across her work, Kristen brings experience in storytelling, program development, and communications strategy, supporting PixiKwik’s growth through clear messaging and purposeful initiatives.

I also owe deep gratitude to the beauty professionals who trusted me long before PixiKwik ever existed—the stylists, barbers, and educators whose honesty about the challenges of this industry shaped both my career and this platform. Their voices are woven into everything we’ve built.

PixiKwik may be powered by technology, but it was built through relationships, trust, and collective effort. This shoutout belongs to everyone who stood beside me, believed in the mission, and helped move it forward.

Website: https://www.pixikwik.info

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pixikwikbeauty

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruben-mccain-a3a795278/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PixiKwikBeauty

Other: https://www.instagram.com/rubenmichaelhair/?hl=en, https://www.rubenmichaelsalon.co

Image Credits
Cazzie Burns