We’re looking forward to introducing you to Tiara Hines-Abraham. Check out our conversation below.
Tiara, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Right now, I’m being called to lead, speak, and show up in ways I once hesitated to. For years, I was comfortable creating behind the chair or quietly building my brand. But stepping into my roles as an educator, author, and now speaker has challenged me to open up on a deeper level — to share not just my success, but my story.
Writing The Diary of an Overcomer taught me that transparency is powerful — that what I once kept private could actually free and inspire others. Teaching at Empire Beauty School has also shown me that leadership isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being present and real. I never feared being seen — I feared being understood. Now, I’m embracing that vulnerability as part of my purpose.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Tiara Hines-Abraham — a licensed Senior Cosmetologist, Educator, Author, and the Founder of The Creative Brand. I launched The Creative Brand in August 2020 with a simple mission: to create a space where beauty, creativity, and confidence connect. What started as a salon vision has grown into a full experience — offering Creative Faces for makeup artistry, Creative Academy for hands-on education, and Creative Essentials, my own line of healthy haircare products built on my motto that “healthy hair is the real luxury.”
Beyond running my brand, I also teach at Empire Beauty School, where I get to pour into the next generation of beauty professionals and prepare them for real-world success. And in 2025, I released my debut memoir, The Diary of an Overcomer: Where Pain Meets Purpose — an honest reflection of my journey through faith, healing, and finding purpose.
For me, The Creative Brand is more than beauty — it’s about transformation, confidence, and helping others walk boldly in who they are.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship that most shaped how I see myself is my relationship with God. Over the years, I’ve learned that my strength, purpose, and peace all come from Him. There were times when I questioned who I was and what I was meant to do, but through faith, I found clarity and confidence.
God taught me to see myself the way He sees me — worthy, capable, and called. That same faith also led me to my husband, Gabe, who is my best friend. From the very beginning, he’s been a constant reminder and supporter. His encouragement has taught me to live for me and to chase my dreams without fear.
Every accomplishment I’ve achieved — from the salon to the classroom to publishing my book — came from trusting God’s timing and knowing that even my pain has a purpose.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain when I realized that silence was keeping me stuck. For years, I carried my hurt quietly, convincing myself that being strong meant pretending I was fine. But true strength came when I decided to face it, feel it, and use it to grow.
Writing The Diary of an Overcomer was my turning point — it was the moment I stopped surviving and started healing. Putting my story on paper forced me to be honest with myself and the world. It helped me see that my pain wasn’t punishment; it was preparation.
My students also played a huge role in that transformation. Teaching reminded me that I couldn’t pour into others while pouring from an empty cup. Their stories, their struggles, and their growth taught me that transparency is the bridge to real connection.
Now, instead of hiding what broke me, I use it to build others up. My pain became my power the moment I decided it didn’t define me — it refined me.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies the beauty industry tells itself is that success is all about what things look like — the image, the followers, the aesthetics. Don’t get me wrong, presentation matters, but true success starts with professionalism, consistency, and integrity.
Another lie is that “anybody can do hair.” People think you don’t need schooling — that you can just watch a few videos and figure it out. The truth is, cosmetology is both an art and a science. It takes more than style; it takes skill, education, and discipline to truly understand and maintain healthy hair. I tell my students all the time: we are artists — and artists don’t paint on dirty canvases. That’s why learning the technique behind the trends is so important.
Lastly, I think our industry sometimes glamorizes burnout — as if working nonstop equals success. I had to learn to work smart, not just hard. I’ll be honest, I’m still a work in progress when it comes to balance, boundaries, and self-care, but I’ve learned that peace and purpose matter just as much as the finished look.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’m finally doing what I was born to do. For a long time, I did what I was told to do — following a path that looked “right” to others but never felt aligned with me. I was encouraged to take the safe route, to go to college and choose stability over passion. But no matter how far I tried to run from it, my purpose always found its way back to me — through hair, creativity, and connection.
Cosmetology has been in me since I was a little girl, but now I understand it’s so much deeper than hair. I was born to teach, to create, to heal, and to help others see the beauty within themselves. Everything I’ve experienced — the setbacks, the struggles, the redirections — all prepared me for the work I’m doing today.
So yes, I’m doing what I was born to do — and every day I get to walk in that calling feels like confirmation that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thecreativebrand22.as.me
- Instagram: Thecreativebrand22
- Facebook: The Creative Brand
- Youtube: TheCreativeNetwork1
- Other: https://a.co/d/hBuLiqW
Image Credits
Photoshoot for Tiara Hines- Abraham/ The Creative Brand: Photography & Creative Direction by: Ariel Pierce of Piece Ya Soul Photography
