
Ralph Cole is a passionate and driven Master Esthetician and revered member of the beautician community. A North Carolina native, Ralph relocated to Washington and served in The U.S. Army from 2013 to 2016. As too many of our nation’s veterans do, Ralph faced unemployment, financial insecurity and even homelessness post outprocessing. Unwavered, however, by this set of dismal circumstances, Ralph’s passion for esthetics and his drive for success quickly placed him in the throne as one of Seattle’s top barbers. Olympia Barber School and Clover Park technical Park alum, Ralph Cole entered the beautician world and thrived; even acquiring impressive roster of celebrities such as the Seattle Seahawks, Durham Bulls, and Duke Basketball.
Having surmounted and mastered his career as a barber, Ralph then set his sights on what he considers his ultimate goal: becoming a top-tier master esthetician. In 2020, he graduated Clover Park Technical College, then packed up shop to return to his home state of North Carolina to be reunited with his daughter. The mastermind and author behind facial massage resource, “The Facial Massage King 101,” Ralph obtained notoriety in a very short time; something that very few industry professionals can attest to... especially as a male in the field. Upon being nominated as Favorite Esthetician for the 2021 Black Spa Awards, and then being granted The Dermascope Magazine Licensed Master Esthetician Award in the same year, the skincare powerhouse decided to give life to his startup business in Durham, NC by opening up RC Salon Suites.




The new HQ of what will soon span throughout the area, and foreseeably the nation, RC Salon Suites in Durham provides both unmatched facial services and a luxury experience to Central North Carolina’s entire spectrum of diverse residents. Whether in pursuit of an effective wrinkle prevention regimen, a pore quenching dryness remedy, or a tactical approach to pigment taming, clients find Ralph’s clinical approach and personalized treatments to be indispensable to living in their dream skin. With premium massage oils like Skin with Ralph Cole Facial Massage Oil developed personally by Ralph, as well as an empathetic, skillful set of facial techniques, RC Salon Suites invites you to join them in their integration and expansion in RDU’s beauty community.
The beauty industry is female dominated. Men that work as estheticians are often thought of to be either gay or effiminate and more often than not, services are marketed towards women. On this week’s episode, we’re dissecting where our gender biases come from and how it plays out in the treatment room. From hyper masculinity, to cultural power imbalances, Taylor and Mary dig deep to uncover how we can grow as an industry together and support our male colleagues and clients. Thanks to our guests Ralph Cole, Adam Merkle, and Onisha Claire for sharing your eye-opening insights.