Meet Gabrielle Lewis | Stylist

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

Hi Gabrielle, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor to the success of my brand would ultimately be my motivation. I’ve always been the type to dig my hands into new things and challenge myself with things that people would easily give up on. Having a brand isn’t for the weak. I have weeks where I go without an off day just to make sure that I’m completely investing myself in my dream. Going into school at 9 then going into work at 3 and not getting off until midnight or later is not easy.

However, going from 20 clients to 500 is paying off for me everyday.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
LAIDBYGABBYLLC prior to Corona emerging out of nowhere was actually never thought of. It was a dream almost fantasy like but I never seen myself starting a business from the ground up. My whole childhood I was taught to bring home honor roll grades, church throughout the week, no trouble in school, and to be someone else’s vision of who I was supposed to be. A doctor or lawyer or something not dealing with the beauty industry.

Even though nothing is wrong with having good grades and going to church I still felt like I had no freedom.

My aunty Lynette taught me how to conrow back in my home town in Maryland. I was only about 9/10 when I learned and later the next year my parents moved us out to Riverdale, Ga. Man I never seen so many black people in my life till I moved to the soufside and I’m black lol. I always stood out no matter where I went, uncomfortable till I got older. It was rough out there even though Maryland had its days I never got bullied like I did till I came out here. People felt like I was so stuck up and ugly I grew up feeling like it, I had moments where I did my makeup everyday just to not see what they saw. Looking back I wish I could have seen how beautiful I actually was.

When I moved I ended up running into a Hispanic neighbor around the corner named Jasmine. Jasmine’s family was sooo nice and they always sent me home with fresh Tamales every time I came over. One day they asked if I knew how to do hair, and I was only 11 at the time but I put all those Barbie doll years of practice in and started doing the criss cross rubber band style that everyone does nowadays. They loved it, and had me doing everyone in the house and who came over.

At 12 years old I started going to my Uncle and Aunts house in the summer out in Rockdale county. My uncle a licensed barber and my aunt a licensed cosmetologist always made me feel right at home. Every time my aunty Kim was doing hair I starred in amazement. Watching how she would turn her wrist when she was curling, watching her apply relaxer and color on her client’s, and when she did her cuts, my Aunt was BOMB and still is till this day. Watching her in her own element made me start to dream!

Jasmine later on moved out the neighborhood but I met two girls around me and my little sister’s age .

Brittany and Briauna Jones let me do everything on their hair I mean everything. I was silk pressing, box braiding, curling, twisting all at the age of 12. I gained a couple more clients around the neighborhood who’s parents would pay me here or there but I would get it done. By high school I was getting paid good to do sewins, box braids, and more. I started wearing makeup and practicing on my friends. It just stuck with me , but my parents made it clear that it was just my hobby.

Upon graduation in 2015 I decided to join the United States Navy Reserve at first because I felt like my future depended on financial security, and because I was still in this mindset of what my parents wanted me to be. For some reason though my hands couldn’t stay out of people’s head. Me and one of my battle buddies in boot camp got in so much trouble one day. Everyone else was in formation but we were still in the bathroom slicking her bun into place. Man my legs and arms hurt so bad after my chief worked us out. You’d think I’d give up doing hair after that but nah your girl was still in the bathroom late at night making sure everyone had they conrows down and eyebrows plucked.

When I came home I enrolled into the University of West Georgia as a Nursing major. Bio ended up kicking my butt so I changed my major to Criminology to go along with my career in the Navy Reserve. As I got older I started to realize more and more that I was tired of doing what people wanted me to do. I was still broke being in the military and being a manager at Little Ceasers and Popeyes wasn’t going to cut it. I had moments where I fell short on rent. One morning I came outside about to head to work and my car was just gone, repoed, whew talk about ghetto. I didn’t understand how I did everything that my parents wanted me to do that life was still finding a way to keep me back. My grades started to drop and my bills needed to be paid and at a point I fell low.

In college I stayed doing hair and makeup in my dorm and that’s also when I made my first price list . $40 sewins , man my sewins start at $185 now but I was getting it in. When I got into my second college apt I really started having more regular clients. I ended up discharging from the military and taking a year off of college and working a warehouse job.

Corona came and canceled all my birthday plans in March 2020, I was so devastated because they also sent me home from work. I honestly didn’t know how I was going to survive at that point. I had no plans besides finishing my last year of school but Corona honestly put a hold on everything. When lockdown lifted I started accepting clients and that summer my $85 knotless sale was a hit!

I ended up getting a opportunity to work as a braider in a shop in Douglasville. I started at 8am till 2 am the next day every day that I had a client. I applied for my own LLC and enrolled into cosmetology school part time. I later on moved back home to Riverdale and worked in a salon on old national where I learn how to do lace ! And started my brand ambassador program. My business went from 30 clients to over 500 clients.

Currently I am in my own salon suite in Fayetteville Georgia where I continue to grow my talents.

I offer lash extension services, braids, makeup, weaves, color, relaxers, and pedicures. I also currently sell extensions. My business is my heart, my dream that finally came true.

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.
Atlanta has such a wide variety of places to go and partake in! Me and my best friend are both in the beauty industry and we both love great deals on products! The first place on the list would be an Taliah Waijid’s hair expo ! There are so many vendors, classes, and products to have access too! Taliah story reminds me how much me and my best friend go through trying to start our businesses from the ground up. Even though we have a lot more to accomplish Waijid’s success is motivation that we are going in the right direction.

Bringing my friend to Atlanta can’t be complete if I don’t take her to the good spots to eat! Wings will always be first on the menu, and The Bando Atl stole my heart with their Strawberry Hot Wings . Then later on get her some soul food from Annie Laura’s or Peach Cobbler Cafe.

For fun we’re definitely going to Puttshack! Who knew put put would be so fun! The obstacle courses are so fun and the vibes are the best part. 10/10 recommend!

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?
I would like to give credit to Kimberly Lewis my aunt. Aunty Kim has always made me feel like I belonged, she showed me how to be comfortable in my own skin and always let me express myself. I don’t feel like my dream would have been possible if she wasn’t in my life. Thank you Aunty Kim for showing me a pathway to my dreams.

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Youtube: Gabrielle Lewis

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