62: Nikki Walton on Regaining Peace After Starting CurlyNikki, Then Burning Out, Then Finding Her Spiritual Path

Like many Black women in America, today’s guest went through a period when she believed that she had to look a certain way in order to be perceived as beautiful, mainly related to her curly, natural hair. After deciding to wear her hair naturally in college and encountering pushback from her own family, Nikki Walton realized the importance of creating a community for Black women who also felt the desire to embrace their natural hair. She started her industry-disrupting and now wildly popular blog, Curly Nikki, to document her natural hair journey, which went on to become the number one natural haircare and beauty blog in the world, reaching millions of women in over 30 countries and influencing the marketing and formulation of products for major beauty brands.From the outside, with all the television appearances, book deals, and sponsorships that come with being unafraid to take a leap of faith and put yourself out there, Nikki was the picture of success and empowerment. On the inside, however, she was struggling with burnout and disillusionment, working 24/7 on building her brand while also juggling being a wife and mother. It all came to a head when she realized that she didn't have a strong enough spiritual foundation to sustain it all. This led her on a spiritual quest, which ultimately culminated in a podcast collaboration with the Be Here Now Network. Go(o)d Mornings with CurlyNikki is currently one of the top 10 spiritual podcasts in the world.In today’s episode, Nikki shares how her relationship with her hair impacted her confidence and her perception of beauty, why she had to learn to acknowledge fear rather than trying to eliminate it, and the key to her success, which was infusing everything she did with her personal story. We touch on the power of finding inner peace, stillness, and light and the value of sharing how you get through your darkest moments in order to help others find their way through theirs. Listening in, you’ll learn the saying that Nikki echoes with her children and how her perception of success has changed as her career and spirituality have evolved. Make sure not to miss this inspiring and uplifting conversation with natural hair guru and spiritual teacher, Nikki Walton!Key Points From This Episode:Learn about Nikki’s upbringing in Missouri and her favorite activity as a child: reading.The mantra she remembers from her childhood: “Don’t let anyone disturb your inner peace.”How she perceived success in those early years and why she decided to study psychology.Nikki’s relationship with her hair and her perception of beauty as a young Black woman.The very real dangers of permanent chemical burns from chemical hair relaxers.How Nikki’s relationship with her hair impacted her confidence and her everyday life.Why she chose Truman State University and started wearing her hair naturally by necessity.How she came to learn about the science of Black hair and the pushback she received from strangers, friends, and even her own family.The pivotal point at which Nikki saw a career opportunity in her personal hair journey.Hear about her decision to take a leap of faith and her intuitive sense for marketing.Nikki reflects on her relationship with fear and ego; how she has learned to acknowledge fear rather than trying to eliminate it.The secret sauce behind the success of her articles: infusing them with her personal story.The rate at which Nikki was producing content for her blog and how it became all-consuming.When she transitioned from her job as a psychotherapist to pursue Curly Nikki full time.Advice for entrepreneurs in the early stages of following their passion: let it work through you.Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!