Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandy Lucas.
Brandy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up on the South side of Chicago. My family owned a few small businesses that I had the opportunity to work in over the years. I see those early experiences as my introduction to entrepreneurship.
I thought I’d go into social work,because I’ve had a deep passion for helping people.
No matter how much I moved in that direction, something kept pulling me toward beauty. I eventually decided to pursue a career in cosmetology. After completing my training and beginning my career as a stylist, I founded a non-profit youth mentoring organization Called “Sister To Sister.”
It was my way of feeding my desire to serve.
In 2015, my husband/ businesses partner & I decided to relocate to Dallas. We knew very little about DFW. We’d only visited twice, but we had a feeling that God was leading us here. We closed our first salon, & moved with the faith that he’d make a way for us!
Dallas opened up doors for me that I couldn’t have imagined. Just over two years, after our relocation we were able to open our second salon, Mane and Groom Barber and Beauty in Cedar Hill Texas.
I’ve enjoyed my nearly 20-year career as a hairstylist & salon owner. However, over the years, I questioned If I was on the path God chose for my life. Innately, I am a motivator and encourager. I wondered was I fully using those unique attributes as a hairstylist.
I am clear now that I absolutely am!
It’s constantly confirmed. My salon guest share with me how they have been positively effected by our salon’s atmosphere, their service experiences, and our candid conversations. Building my blog,www.iambrandylucas.com/blog & an online community of beauty professionals, students & short hair lovers who I affectionately call the “Mane Misses” has also helped me to see that impacting those around us can be done in many ways.
Our unique qualities and gifts can, & should show up in whatever we do. I didn’t have to become a social worker to enrich the lives of women and girls. I’ve been able to do it from behind the chair and by simply using my smartphone.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road hasn’t always be smooth. I’ve struggled most when I believed that my way was the only way! It’s important to have a plan and goals, but know also to know when to pivot and change things up. I use my mistakes as lessons and keep pushing forward smarter than I was before.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
In the beauty arena, my specialty is precision haircuts. My clientele is full of women who love ultramodern, sassy short hair. I am most proud of the inward transformations my work makes on the women I serve. When we look beautiful, polished and pulled together, we feel that way also! Women carry a lot, from parenting, career, and other personal pursuits. I feel blessed that my team, and I get to help them show up confident and ready to conquer it all in style! I set myself apart by focusing on nurturing the inward and outward wellbeing of my guest. I like to say we put the care back in hair at Mane and Groom!
Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
Comparison is a barrier to female leadership in beauty. With the insurgence of social media, and the internet as a whole, many talented women how allowed themselves to shy away from leadership. There’s a fear of not measuring up to the people they see online. There is a lane carved out for each and every one of us. When we worry less about what others are doing and tap into our own greatness there is no competition. No one can do me like me. I prefer to focus on living & leading the way God had called me to. I see and am encouraged by my peers. However, with time, I’ve learned to spend too much time watching someone else, takes time away from me doing me.
Contact Info:
- Address: Mane and Groom Salon
617 Uptown Blvd #102
Cedar Hill, Texas 75104 - Website: www.iambrandylucas.com
- Phone: 469-575-0505
- Email: brandyl@manemiss.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandylucastxshorthair
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/brandylucastxshorthair
Image Credit:
Ray Lucas
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
