This week, we are featuring Suite Elite Member from MY SALON Suite of Las Vegas Roland Kailihiwa. Originally from Hawaii, Roland has been drawing since he was five years old and has been fascinated with all things video games and comic book characters. Roland joined the military instead of going to art school and served for 8 years. After his service, he joined the Art Institute in Las Vegas, NV and pursued a video game design career. Eventually, he began to really love the idea of tattooing and began an apprenticeship. “I enjoy challenges and like to take risks but as I was going through school, I do sketches with black and gray pens, photo realism. When my peers were looking at my work, I was really good and people wanted me to tattoo on them. My cousins would say I should be a tattoo artist. I took the risk and I took the chance. You have no room for error as a tattoo artist.” Roland was working at another suite concept but felt that the brand did not represent him. He found MY SALON Suite and loved the security and cleanliness of the facility. “My clientele went up and my work improved as well.”
Roland has been a Suite Elite Member for over a year and has even expanded his business. He began in a single suite, moved to a double suite and has now merged his double suite with another single suite (Check out the photos below) “In my suite, I can show all my artwork on the wall and sell my art. For my tattoo clients, I charge by piece not by the hour, which allows me to devote my time to the client. My military experience, my education and the communication skills I learned from working at a front desk of a tattoo shop, all helped get me to where I am.”
What does owning his own business mean to Roland? “It means that I am in control and only take on what I can handle. If I worked in a shop, I have to worry about another artist’s personality. As an artist, we are either over the top or introverts…. I’m able to represent my brand as professional as can be and give my clients the best experience possible and make my clients extremely happy.” Roland went on to talk about Amanda and Mike (The owners of MY SALON Suite of Las Vegas). “Amanda will take care of you. She and Mike are humble and respectful people. They want all of us to succeed.” During the COVID-19 closures, Roland felt particularly supported. ” They [Amanda and Mike] checked up on us throughout the entire COVID closure and helped guide us. We had meetings every week. We were welcomed back with a nice little “welcome back” package. That’s what keeps me coming back; respect.”
What piece of advice does Roland have for someone thinking of becoming a salon suite owner with The Suite Elite? “You’re going to love it here; the atmosphere is great. . I love the cleanliness, the way the suites are built and how you are able to make it your own. You get what you pay for here. It feels like home, I’m treated with respect and it’s super clean.”
Roland’s salon suite business is called Tattbros. You can check out his amazing work here and follow him on Instagram.
