Today we’d like to introduce you to Harkena Pigg.
Hi Harkena, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Eye of Rah Beauty Academy was born from seeing a need in my community. I realized there were so many talented people who wanted to braid professionally but didn’t know where to start or how to meet Tennessee’s requirements. I wanted to create a place where people could learn the craft, understand the business side of beauty, and build something that could change their lives.
As we continued teaching adults, I noticed another opportunity. I kept thinking, “What if we introduced these skills before young people became adults?” That’s how the Everything Beauty Summer Camp was created.
What started as an idea 5 years ago has grown into a program where young ladies don’t just learn beauty, they learn entrepreneurship, confidence, communication, professionalism, and how to turn their creativity into income. Throughout the camp they explore everything from braiding, nails, skincare, lashes, product making, t shirt making and marketing to public speaking and business ownership.
The journey hasn’t always been easy. Like many small business owners, I’ve had to overcome financial challenges, personal setbacks, and moments where giving up would’ve been easier. But every obstacle reminded me why I started. Seeing a student believe in herself for the first time, watching a camper discover a talent she didn’t know she had, or seeing someone start their own business because of what they learned, that’s what keeps me going.
7 years later Eye of Rah Beauty Academy is more than a beauty school. It’s a place where education, entrepreneurship, and empowerment come together. My goal has always been bigger than teaching beauty. I want to help create future business owners, leaders, and young women who understand that they have the power to build their own opportunities.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road at all.
One of my biggest challenges has been getting students and families to fully take advantage of the opportunities we offer. Even when we try to keep things affordable or flexible, there are still times when the cost of running the program falls back on me. As a small business that’s still growing, that can be difficult, especially when you’re pouring into people before you’ve fully reached the level of stability you’re working toward.
Another challenge has been visibility. We’re not the most “popular” program yet, and we don’t have a permanent brick-and-mortar building of our own. Because of that, we can sometimes get overlooked, even when the quality of our training and the value we provide is strong.
There have also been moments where I’ve had to cancel or adjust plans due to space limitations or scheduling issues, while other programs with more established facilities or lower-cost options naturally attract attention. That part can be discouraging, because I know the impact we make when students actually engage with what we offer.
But even with those challenges, I’ve learned that consistency and purpose matter more than popularity. Every time I see a student leave our program with confidence, skills, and a new mindset, it reminds me why I keep going. Our Academy isn’t just a program or regular course we have builded something that creates long-term opportunities, even if the journey to stability takes time for us.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in braiding education and Tennessee’s Registered Braider Certification. Through Eye of Rah Beauty Academy, I train students in the real skills that fall under that certification—braiding, protective styles, loc maintenance, natural hair care and I also make sure they understand the business side of it. Because it’s one thing to know how to do hair, but it’s another thing to know how to legally service clients, price your work, and actually turn it into income.
What I’m most proud of is our Everything Beauty Summer Camp. This is our 5th year doing it, and it’s grown so much over time. It started as just an idea to expose young girls to beauty early, but now it’s a space where they’re actually learning, building confidence, and getting hands-on experience in different areas of beauty and entrepreneurship.
What really makes us different is that we’re not just talking about it we’re actually in the schools. Being able to run hair clubs inside places like Jere Baxter Middle School allows us to reach the kids right where they are, during their school day, and pour into them consistently instead of just a one-time experience, although we try keeping in touch with our students.
And then outside of that, we stay active in the community. Braiders Bash (hosted by Jere Baxter) is something I hold close because it’s about making sure kids are seen and cared for. We come together with other braiders, barbers, and stylist and make sure children are looking and feeling good for the first day of school, especially those who may be dealing with hardship.
At the core of everything I do is community and access. I didn’t come into this just to teach beauty, we came to make sure people actually have a way into it, and a real path to build something for themselves.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
For me, mentorship and networking has never really been about walking up to someone and asking them to “be my mentor.” It’s been more about showing up consistently, doing the work, and letting relationships build naturally over time.
What’s worked best for me is being intentional about community. I stay connected to schools, parents, other educators, and people doing work in the beauty and youth development space. A lot of the opportunities I’ve had didn’t come from formal networking events, they came from people seeing the work I was already doing and trusting it enough to connect with me or open doors.
I also learned early on not to be afraid of collaboration. When you’re building something, it’s easy to feel like you have to do everything alone, but I’ve found that being open, sharing ideas, and supporting other people’s work creates real relationships. And those relationships turn into guidance, advice, and sometimes mentorship without even needing to label it.
For anyone trying to find a mentor, I’d say focus less on chasing a title and more on aligning yourself with environments where the kind of person you want to learn from already exists. Be present, be consistent, and be someone people can actually trust with opportunity. That’s what has opened doors for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.eyeofrahbeautysolutions.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EyeOfRahBeautyAcademy
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eye-of-rah-beauty-solutions-llc-2b134493/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@eyeofrahbeautyacademy?si=TeWgMg6JSOWCKuzf
- Other: https://eyeofrahbeauty.com
