Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikki Caba.
Hi Nikki, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hi, my name is Nikki, and I’m a proud Dominican woman who’s been doing hair since I was just 8 years old. My mom, Carmen, has been doing hair for over 35 years she’s the woman who shaped me, taught me everything I know, and showed me what hard work, passion, and love for people really look like. I grew up watching her in the salon, seeing how something as simple as a hairstyle could change the way a woman carried herself how it could give her confidence, joy, and strength.
In 2015, I decided to go natural, and that decision planted a seed that would grow into something so much bigger than I could have ever imagined. That’s how CabaCurls was born.
I still laugh thinking about when I came up with the name I thought it was so basic at first! CabaCurls? Really? I told myself I’d eventually change it to something “better,” but everyone loved it so much that it just stuck. The crazy part is that “Caba” is my last name all I did was add “Curls” to it and somehow, it became the perfect reflection of who I am and what I stand for.
I’ve always known I was meant to do hair. By the time I was 14 or 15, I already had my own clients. I’d go straight to the salon right after school to take care of them no breaks, no hesitation, just pure passion.
Growing up, I didn’t love my hair. Like so many Dominican and Latina girls, I was told I had “pelo malo” “bad hair” just because it wasn’t straight or “manageable.” I carried that shame for years, not realizing that what I was trying to hide was actually one of the most beautiful parts of me.
That’s why I made it my mission to change that narrative. To help women love their curls, their texture, their beauty exactly as it is. To remind them that they are seen, they are accepted, and they are more than what society tries to tell them they are.
As I started sharing my own journey on social media, something incredible happened people began to see themselves in me. More and more women wanted to embrace their natural hair because they finally saw someone who could care for it maybe for the first time. That connection became my purpose. It motivated me to perfect my craft, to stay dedicated, and to give 110% to what I love most: helping women fall in love with themselves again.
By 2019, my business had grown beyond what I ever dreamed. I was fully booked and not just locally. I had people flying in from across the country, from The Bahamas, from Canada… even from Africa. I’ll never forget when one client traveled over 20 hours just to sit in my chair. Moments like that remind me that what I do is so much more than hair it’s healing, it’s love, it’s legacy.
I remember the day I told my dad about my dreams, not realizing that almost a decade later I’d be living them running my second salon, building a brand that empowers women every single day, and carrying forward the legacy my mother started.
CabaCurls isn’t just a business. It’s a movement. It’s a love letter to every woman who was ever told her hair wasn’t good enough and a reminder that she always was.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Well… a smooth road? I don’t think anything in life is ever truly smooth. There are always bumps along the way and honestly, I believe those bumps are what shape you. They build your character, your strength, and your story.
I remember when we had our very first salon here in Florida, after moving from New York City. We poured everything into that space our time, money, and hearts. But after a couple of years, things got hard. Financially, we just couldn’t keep up the way we wanted to. We couldn’t maintain the space the way we dreamed, and eventually, we had to let it go. We had to start over.
We downsized a lot. It wasn’t easy going from a dream salon to something smaller. I remember feeling heartbroken, embarrassed, and like I had failed. I carried so much guilt because I wanted so badly for it to work. But now, looking back, I realize that moment that loss lit a fire under me.
That season tested me not just emotionally but physically. I was exhausted, questioning everything, even my purpose. But I truly believe everything happens for a reason. Because out of that hard time came one of the biggest turning points in my life.
That experience led me into a depression, and in that moment, I decided to cut my hair to start over completely. And guess what flourished after that? My curls. My confidence. My purpose.
I became obsessed. I started practicing every day doing locals’ hair for low prices, sometimes even for free just to perfect my craft. I’ve always had this hyper-focused mindset: when I love something, I have to get good at it. I have to understand it deeply, inside and out.
When I first launched CabaCurls, things weren’t easy. I wasn’t getting booked like I thought I would. For months, I maybe had two curl clients a month and that was one of the hardest, most discouraging times of my life. I had this fire in me, but it felt like no one could see it yet. All I wanted was to do hair curly hair. Nothing more, nothing else.
But I kept going. I stayed faithful, I kept showing up, even when it felt like no one was watching.
And now ten years later I’m at my second location, living the dream I once cried over. The same passion that started in pain has now turned into purpose.
I can say with my whole heart the hard times shape you. I’ve lost it all before, and I’ve had to rebuild from the ground up. But I did it through the strength of God, my family, and the fire that never went out inside of me.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about CABACURLS ?
CabaCurls is a salon and brand specializing in natural and curly hair care. We focus on custom curly cuts, color, and treatments that enhance each client’s unique texture while promoting long-term hair health and confidence.
What sets CabaCurls apart is our personalized, education-driven approach. Every appointment is designed to help clients truly understand their curls from proper maintenance to product knowledge so they can love and care for their hair beyond the salon.
Our mission is simple: to create a safe, welcoming space where women feel seen, celebrated, and empowered in their natural beauty. Over the years, CabaCurls has grown into a trusted name in the curly-hair community, attracting clients from across the country and even internationally.
CabaCurls represents self-love, confidence, and authenticity reminding women that their natural texture isn’t something to change, but something to celebrate.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I love most about Orlando is the sense of community and creativity that flows through the city. It’s full of talented, passionate people who genuinely support one another whether it’s small businesses, artists, or entrepreneurs, everyone wants to see each other win.the least thing I like I would say traffic !
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cabacurls.com/
- Instagram: CabaCurls
- Facebook: Cabacurls
- Youtube: CabaCurls
