Page 96 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2024

Ravish Hair Studio
THE BOOK CREATING
S howststopping S tyles
story by Cherie Ward photo by Teddy Lewis
Nothing compares to the magical sensation of a glorious fresh hairstyle or a chic new manicure as you tilt your head, put on your shades, and walk out of a salon. You feel more gorgeous than ever and with plans to conquer anything the rest of the day tosses your way with style and grace.
That’s exactly how a beauty artist should make you feel when leaving a salon, like a cosmetology expert just handed you a one-of-a-kind masterpiece that’s yours and yours alone.
“And people don’t always think about hair, or anything beauty, as an art form, but it definitely is,” said Narquita Bridges, owner of Ravish Hair Studio in Gulfport. “It changes the way people feel about themselves as much as it changes the way they look.”
When we think of artists, we seldom think of hair or manicure stylists and more like a struggling painter with
a magical connection to a canvas. But for the six-member team at Ravish, their canvases are hair and nails, and they use imaginative energy to create beauty showstoppers.
“We each can do everything, but we primarily stay in whatever our specialty is,” said Bridges, who is a hairstylist and a custom wig artist.
April Powell, a salon co-owner, handles haircuts, coloring, and styles, while Lashunda Smith is a braid expert. Shantae’ Ryan and Aikia Rustamov take care of everything mani-related. Marlena Ware is the newest stylist to join Ravish, having recently relocated from Natchez. The
team knows exactly how to pamper their clients with top- notch professional salon services and unique visions found nowhere else on the Gulf Coast.
“Our main goal is to help women look and feel amazing,” 96 | February 2024
Standing: April Powell, Lashunda Smith, Aikia Rustamov and Narquita Bridges. Seated: Shantaé Ryan and Marlena Ware.
Bridges said.
Like most salons nationwide, Ravish had to temporarily shut down
during the 2020 global COVID-19 pandemic, which Bridges used as an opportunity. It gave her time to create Ravish Hair Extensions, an online custom wig shop.
“I was already selling hair extensions locally but once I started the online store it really took off,” Bridges said. “I ship them all over. They come right to your door ready to wear. You just pop them on and pop them off.”
Bridges has several clients with medical conditions that cause hair loss. She’s shipped wigs nationally as far away as Hawaii and internationally as far away as Greece. She added most of her international clients are military personnel stationed overseas.
Ravish Hair Studio
12342 Ashley Dr. Ste. C, Gulfport 228.314.3554 www.ravishhairextensions.com
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