Meet Sabrina Rowe Holdsworth | Celebrity Hairstylist, Makeup Artist & Founder of NTRL by Sabs

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sabrina Rowe Holdsworth and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sabrina Rowe, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I chose to pursue a both creative and artistic career because it was truly the best option for me to do something I could excel in that I loved. I think back to the saying, “If you do something you love you will never work a day in your life.” I don’t think it’s 100% accurate if you’re doing it right, but it’s pretty close. Working hard in a creative field is still very much hard work but the spoils are great. I am someone whose love language is acts of service. Being a hairstylist, makeup artist, and cosmetic formulator are all iterations of service for others. I love the instant gratification of having someone in my chair and seeing their mood shift in a positive way by the time I am done. I have always loved art and artistic expression, but I could never draw. I was always creative but also strong in math and science. The marriage of creating formulas which will then be used as part of a beauty practice to help people feel more confident in themselves is a rush I can’t even convey. It’s beyond a blessing to create on and for people and share it with the world in the way that my career allows. I truly feel the choice of working in a creative field was the best thing I have ever done for myself.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My beauty brand NTRL by Sabs was a project I had been cooking up in my mind for many years. I always knew I wanted to make something tangible it was just about when. I’d been quietly studying cosmetic formulation for a couple years and decided the time was now in 2020. The start of the pandemic was the wake up call I needed to push me to just take the risk.

Starting a product business is not easy. It’s incredibly hard. Starting a product business during a global pandemic was certifiably insane! Especially if you are not rich and opt to self-fund the way I did. Luckily, I am relentless when I want to do something so I just keep pushing forward. There will be challenges, literally every step of the way, but nothing rewarding is ever easy so don’t let that stop you.

There are countless lessons I’ve learned but none more important than this. No one will work harder for you than YOU. And you must accept that, that is ok. Adjust your expectations for others and be prepared to do anything and everything to make it work. This is not something you can do half-way. You must be willing to suffer and bounce back from obstacles. Be flexible and don’t think that there is only one way to do something. Another gem I have learned is utilize your network! People LOVE to talk about themselves so if there is someone you admire who can give you sound advice take the time to reach out and pick their brain. You would be amazed how many people are willing to offer words of wisdom or talk about their experiences which can ultimately help you.

With NTRL by Sabs I wanted to offer products that were eco-friendly and as natural as possible without sacrificing results. I offer a beautiful range of shampoos and conditioners, that work for just about anyone, which come in bar and liquid form. I have a multi-use oil that is safe for the skin, scalp and hair. I have handmade solid lotions and balms that work for the driest skin. The bars are truly my biggest accomplishment. They are not a new concept by any means but it was really important for me to do it in a way that was approachable to people who would be skeptical. I think creating products that are zero waste and come in recyclable packaging is doing what we should all be trying to do. The magic of shampoo and conditioner bars is they are all natural and require very little ingredients to do what they need to. Another incredible bonus is that bars are TSA/travel friendly which will limit your need for travel-sized plastics! Thankfully, people seem to get the brand and our mission because our Nourishing Conditioner is an InStyle Beauty Editor Pick and the CocoRiche Shampoo Bar is a finalist in the Glamour Beauty Awards!

The most important thing I want to the world to know about NTRL by Sabs is that we are a company who cares about you, the environment and will always make products that provide results. It’s not about making money for us – it’s about teaching and aiding in self-care while also caring for the earth.

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?
There are many who deserve love but I will limit it to the top three. I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my beacon, the most supportive person in my life, my husband Joe Holdsworth. Not only has he supported me in every pivot in my career over the last decade but he also is the Director of Photography for my beauty company NTRL by Sabs. The images he produces is the reason we have had so much success because he can expertly convey the luxury you can come to expect from the products in a photo. I could not be able to do so much without him. I would also like to super shoutout my sister Jazmin Rowe who was my original client and let me try so many things on her (and still does). She is my biggest cheerleader, who reminds me often how proud she is, will come help me make products, and gives the absolute best hugs. My final special shout out goes to Kim Jones, owner of Roots Radicals Salon, who has been my friend (and cheerleader) since high school. She has always done whatever she could to support me and my career. Those three people are who I rely on to help me get back up anytime I fall and always inspire me to keep pushing forward.

Website: www.ntrlbysabs.com

Instagram: @ntrlbysabs @sabsthegoodgirl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ntrlbysabs

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

Image Credits
All images shot by Joe Holdsworth