Today we’d like to introduce you to Rayshonna Harvey.
Hi Rayshonna, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born and raised in Bartow, Florida, raised by my great-grandmother Melonee , who taught me the value of hard work, resilience, and showing up for people. I’ve always been entrepreneurial, a go-getter who believed there was something more for my life. I never imagined that “more” would come through locs. It started with my own hair. I decided to lock it, learned how to care for it, and before long people started asking me to do theirs. At the same time, I was working in the mental health field, and that changed how I see people forever. I realized that pain doesn’t always look a certain way. It’s not limited to hospitals, prisons, or treatment centers. Some of the strongest people are silently carrying heavy burdens while going to work, raising families, and smiling through it all. That understanding completely changed how I approach my work behind the chair. For me, doing hair has never just been about creating beautiful locs. Every appointment is an opportunity to create a safe space where people can breathe, be honest, and simply be themselves. My clients trust me with more than their hair. They share pieces of their lives with me. I listen, I encourage, I pray with them when they’re comfortable with it, I share scriptures and motivational messages, and remind them they’re seen. God actually showed me this path before I could see it for myself. Through dreams, He revealed that I would one day be behind the chair. I questioned it because I couldn’t see how doing hair could be connected to my purpose. Looking back, I understand now that He wasn’t simply calling me to do hair. He was calling me to care for people. One of the most meaningful things I tell every client before they leave is, ‘I’m proud of you.’ Those words come from a personal place because I didn’t grow up hearing them myself. Today, I have the opportunity to become the encouragement I once needed. When my clients leave my chair, I want them to feel lighter, more confident, and reminded that they matter. If they walk away believing in themselves a little more than when they sat down, then I’ve done what I was called to do. Being a loctician isn’t just my career. It’s my ministry. Hair is simply the vehicle that allows me to reach people, pour into them, and remind them that they are loved, valued, and capable of overcoming whatever they’re facing. That’s the legacy I hope to leave, one person and one conversation at a time.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely wasn’t a smooth road. I faced a lot of internal and external struggles, especially trying to figure out who I was beyond what others expected me to be. For a long time, I was a people pleaser. I kept trying to fit into spaces that were never really made for me. I jumped between jobs because deep down, I knew I was meant for something different. There was this pull, this sense that my life had a bigger purpose, even when I couldn’t see it clearly. Learning to silence those voices telling me what I couldn’t become, and replacing them with the truth of who God says I am, was challenging, but necessary. And honestly, all of that prepared me to create the safe space my clients experience today. Every setback and disappointment taught me resilience. And that’s something I now pass on with pride. Looking back, I wouldn’t change my journey. It wasn’t smooth, but it was meaningful, and every step led me closer to my purpose.
As you know, we’re big fans of Loctician. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I specialize in healthy loc care and creating an experience that goes deeper than just hair. My brand, Locs of Spade, is about giving people a safe space where they can be heard, encouraged, and cared for.
Along with providing professional loc services and education, I offer mobile appointments for clients who value convenience. I’m also proud to create products that help people maintain healthy hair between visits. My Extra Strength Growth Oil is handcrafted with herbs grown by my aunt on our Florida farm and is prayed over before it ever reaches my clients’ hands. I also offer luxury satin bonnets in both long and short styles to protect locs and promote healthy hair at every stage.
I’m passionate about helping others build successful careers in the loc industry. I created an eBook that teaches aspiring and new locticians how to build a successful loc business with confidence, professionalism, and purpose. I also offer one on one hands on training classes where I personally mentor future locticians, teaching them not only the technical skills of loc care but also the business, customer service, and professionalism needed to build a thriving career.
My goal is for every person who encounters my brand to walk away feeling more confident, more knowledgeable, and more empowered than when they arrived. Whether I’m caring for a client’s hair, mentoring an aspiring loctician, creating products that promote healthy hair, or teaching the next generation of professionals, everything I do is rooted in faith, education, and service. For me, it’s about so much more than hair. It’s about leaving a legacy of care, purpose, and empowerment.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Something surprising most people don’t know is that I actually didn’t start out confident behind the chair at all. I used to be really nervous that people would judge me or think I didn’t know enough. And honestly, even though I’m pouring encouragement into others now, it took me years to believe that I deserved that same care and confidence for myself. So, the flip side of the work people see is that I’m still learning to give myself the same grace I give my clients.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://locs-of-spade.square.site/
- Instagram: Locsofspade
- Facebook: Locsofspade
- Other: https://linktr.ee/IssaSpade
