Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandi Brown.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I didn’t start out with a direction or a path. I didn’t know I wanted to be a hairdresser until much later in life, actually. I grew up in Texas and went through all the typical childhood career goals like being a singer, being a rockstar, a TV personality and even wanting to be the person who worked at a landfill. (Which my parents love to remind me of that last one fairly often.) But my point is that I sort of floated through this life, shaping my experience as I went along. I had children early and experienced divorce early and so my focus was an ever-changing obstacle course. I delayed higher education, like college, until my children were older. In the meantime, I took jobs I knew I could do that would pay the bills, keep the lights on, and put food on the table. It wasn’t until my kids were older and I was laid off from my job that I even began to entertain the question “what do you WANT to do?”.
And so, I went back to school as an adult to figure that out. I started out wanting to go into psychology and counseling, then nursing which turned into wanting to become a nurse anesthetist until finally I started to feel like a professional student and went through significant burnout feelings. I had to do some soul searching to eventually land on touring a cosmetology school.
The most beautiful thing about choosing this path for me was how accidentally I fell into it. I honestly had no idea if this would be something I would enjoy but it married a love for helping people feel good, a creative artistic desire and a healthy dose of science and chemistry. And the best part was that I didn’t have to be married to it to figure out if it was truly for me. Of course, it was and it has changed me significantly. I love this career and this industry. I look forward to going to work and seeing the people who trust me to bring their visions to life. It sounds hokey, I know, but the ability to be artistic, to create, and to know someone is going to love their hair when they leave my chair is so satisfying.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Definitely not a smooth road by any stretch of the imagination. It never is when you’re a single mom of two kids working and going back to school and then stepping foot into a new industry, career and life. You’ve got to be able to handle change, the good and the bad. Money gets tight. Kids get sick. Adversity happens. But the most important thing is how you face it all. Get your own back. By that I mean just have faith in yourself, your ability to make it. But also know your support net and never feel ashamed to fall into it when you need to. Asking for help can be the bravest thing you do for yourself.
What should we know about Shape + Shade Dallas? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I brush hair for a living! I’m kidding (kind of). I work as a hairstylist, specializing in color and vivids and bringing the looks you see and dream about for yourself to life. Most people choose me because I can take an inspiration photo and translate that into something for them, even if they are two completely different heads of hair with their own histories and traits. And if it just can’t be done, I am honest about that with my clientele. People enjoy my brand of honesty. Clients don’t feel like clients, but more like extended family, and I think people enjoy that connection with me. Coming to get your hair done me feels like seeing an old friend. We catch up, talk about what’s going on in the world or just for them and hash out life problems if we need to. Most of my appointments end with a good hug and who doesn’t love that?
Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
Reach out and ask. You may get told no a million times before you get that yes but stick your neck out there. Just try. I seek out groups of people in my industry online and participate in discussions, troubleshooting problems or venting about industry-specific woes. It has done wonders for helping me solve problems of my own that other industries might not understand. Industry-specific classes and workshops are excellent sources of mentoring and networking opportunities.
Contact Info:
- Address: 5639 Dyer Street
Suite 8
Dallas, TX 76206 - Website: brandibrownhair.glossgenius.com
- Phone: 9728728519
- Email: bookwithbrandi@gmail.com
- Instagram: @brandibrownhair / @shapeandshade
- Facebook: fb.com/brandibrownhair
- Other: fb.com/shapeandshadedallas
Image Credit:
All images taken by me, Brandi Brown
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