Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Petry.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Tiffany. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My background is deeply rooted in fashion and beauty. Most notably, I am the eldest of 6 daughters. This in itself leads to all things related to femininity. I was that kid running around with the wild unruly afro channeling Diana Ross. As such, my mom would experiment to find ways to manage my hair which in turn became my own practices. As the oldest, I then used those same practices with my siblings. So, my knack for hair simply grew out of experience as did my exposure and passion for fashion and beauty.
Nearly every female in my family was a seamstress so quite naturally the skill was passed down to me. I started sewing at the tender age of 7 and was essentially required to construct or at the least alter all my clothing throughout my school career. I studied fashion in college, but I was “that girl” on campus that was doing hair in the dorm and altering clothes as a side hustle. As I pursued fashion, the importance of the relationship between beauty and fashion became more evident. A look was never complete without all components.
I was that friend that was always well put together with the hair, makeup and an outfit I had most likely made myself. So, friends would come to me for hair and makeup advise. I recall doing a friend’s makeup for her wedding shortly after graduating college. I was flattered and a nervous wreck all at the same time. I had no idea this simple opportunity to share with a friend who trusted me on such an important day of their life would turn into something I would eventually do as a career.
Fast forward many years after working in the fashion industry and even transitioning careers into education, an insightful friend introduced me to someone who they felt I could benefit in knowing. This person owned and operated a mobile hair and makeup business in the DFW area. I had never heard of this platform and was intrigued to learn more. As the antiquated saying goes, “and the rest is history”… I initially trained and worked with their company. Then, with their blessing, branched off and founded PaperDolls Hair & Makeup in 2007.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As a beauty entrepreneur, you are also challenged with the task of just staying viable and competitive. This includes continuing education, understanding trends and staying informed of new products and tools. It can be very overwhelming but also serve as a way to set yourself apart.
Perhaps, my biggest challenge was when I relocated from Houston to Dallas. My business was still very new and growing in the Houston area. However, my clientele was on a steady incline. So, I found myself having to travel between the two cities quite often in the initial years which was very taxing. It was challenging to find a niche and know my target audience in order to streamline services. Today, I am happy to offer destination services throughout Texas and abroad.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the PaperDolls Makeup & Hair story. Tell us more about the business.
PaperDolls Makeup & Hair offers airbrush makeup and professional hairstyling for special events, specializing in multicultural bridal events. I am most proud of the range of diversity in my clientele. I have been blessed to work with a plethora of cultures and ethnicities which has helped me to expand my knowledge of bridal traditions and cultural ceremonies. These include Indian, African, Bangladeshi, Persian, Chinese, Vietnamese, American… and many more. I also LOVE to travel. So, I am often able to make connections with my travel experiences to my clients’ backgrounds and share some level of familiarity with their needs. This helps to build a meaningful rapport with my clients and their families. Brides also appreciate my clean, polished makeup aesthetic. I have learned the art of enhancing my client’s natural features while still elevating their look.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. I have remained open to all the things I love to do and have witnessed them come together in harmony. I wear many hats as a business owner, educator, seamstress, traveler… I measure my success when I can do all the things I am passionate about and see how they make connections in my life or someone else’s life. I know that every experience and every encounter will be a benefit to someone in some way.
I take pride in the personal connections I am able to make with my clients in order to bring their visions to life. As a result, I have made so many meaningful connections and fostered lasting relationships that have carried over to other areas of both my personal and professional life. I think these connections and experiences speak to the quality and integrity of my work as well as to me as a person.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.paperdollsmakeup.com
- Phone: 281-827-9807
- Email: tiffany@paperdollsmakeup.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paperdollsmakeup
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaperDollsMakeup-151541360808/
- Other: https://www.weddingwire.com/biz/paperdolls-makeup-and-hair/d2819129b40ec3d8.html
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