Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandi Parks Harris.
Brandi, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My story started three years ago after a failed attempt to partner with an ex-coworker to open the studio. I have been in the industry for 17 years, but it wasn’t until I moved to Houston that I had the opportunity to pursue my dream of becoming a salon owner. In 2013, I met Raq of Styled by Raq. She was a young fashion stylist who had energy and drive that was inspiring and contagious to other people around her. We started working together to produce shows and editorial photos so that we could build a portfolio to help our businesses grow. It was very important for us to have a brand that clearly represented what we stood for. After I had lost my partner, this gave me the opportunity to form a brand that would truly reflect how I wanted to be seen as a stylist.
One of my overall goals, once I obtained my license was to learn how to do everyone’s hair type. I never wanted to be the stylist that was intimidated by color, cut or styling hair. So, as I worked in other salons I knew this was the time for me to continue to collaborate with Raq and grow my network. Eventually, we would expand our family of creative’s to include some of the best artists in the beauty industry. Jack of Jack’d Peg photography, Trecia Witchert of Beauty by Trish, designer Chasity Sereal, models Skyrah Bliss, Ebony Martinez, Samantha Snow, and Tiffany King of Tiffany Couture photography are just a few of the amazing people that we work with on a consistent basis in order to achieve the goal of putting out outstanding work in the city.
I made it a point to continuously collaborate with my team so that when I was ready to launch my own brand I would have everything that I need in order to do so. I wanted to make sure that I was seen and taken seriously as a hairstylist in the city. I did not want to be boxed into one hair type or group of Women. So, my goal is to continue to educate myself so that I am familiar with techniques that will allow me to service all women. The best feeling that I get out of being a hairstylist is the smile on their face at the end of the appointment when she sees her hair done. Since this was the case I made sure that I came up with a motto that reflected beauty in all of its diverse ways. “Diversity is key to hair artistry”. over the years I’ve seen all of us grow but even more importantly I have seen myself grow! I’ve had the opportunity to style celebrities such as Angela Yee from The Breakfast Club and Aja Naomi King from the hit show How to Get Away With Murder. I hope to have more opportunities To style celebrities and be known as an editorial hairstylist. I’ve also been able to expand my specialty services into the bridal industry.
I am blessed to still be able to service my clients out of my own exclusive studio where I’m able to control the environment and the number of appointments that I take at one time. Next year is going to be filled with great things for me and this makes me extremely excited! I’m very proud to be a part of a collaborative group of women who are getting together to tell their stories in a book called A Story for The God’s (storyforthegods.com) As well as the Purity Rae anniversary party coming up in May and the Women Raq’n the Industry Conference sometime in 2019!
I know that there is so much more coming up for Purity Rae And I also know that my growth could not have come without the help from God and my team as mentioned above. I am very passionate about what I do. I am blessed with a gift that I fall more in love with every day and even more grateful for my family my friends and most importantly my husband and kids. These are the people who give me encouragement, drive, and the ability to keep pushing forward so that I can Ultimately see Purity Rae grow to what I know it’s destined to become.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Everyone who is in business knows that it’s never a smooth road But being willing to take on this rough road is what makes a business owner a leader. One of my biggest struggles that I had to learn how to handle was having the ability to speak up for myself. I have such a big heart and a will to give, that I allowed other people to make their problems my problems. Of course, this leads to a domino effect to give me problems in business. The great thing is now that have I have dealt with this so much it is easy for me to recognize when I’m being taken advantage of. Sometimes, it is very important to know what a need is and what luxury is! That if you’re not able to pay for the services, then my service is not a luxury you need. I have to live just as much as everyone else has to live and my prices are beyond reasonable. You have to be careful to attract the right people to your business and to make sure that you respect yourself as a business so that others can respect your business as well.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Purity Rae Studio Salon – what should we know?
Purity Rae Studio Salon specializes in diverse healthy hair care. You can come in and have your hair cut colored, Blown out or silk pressed in addition to other services! Whatever you desire for your appointment I am here to serve. I also offer editorial services for all types of photo shoots and press needs. Purity Rae has also recently expanded into the wedding industry. Purity Rae Bridal’s focus is on making sure the bride can look forward to her day in pure bliss making sure that she has a look that is timeless. I want my Bride to look back on her photos in 20 years and still feel she looked as beautiful as she did when she got married. Purity Rae is also looking to launch merchandise, wigs, and extensions in 2019!
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
In order to be in business, I feel that resilience is one of the most important things that you need to have. Everyone talks about how great it is when you actually break it big but I think it’s more important to remember that the come back is much better than the come up. So many people in business share their stories but what they tend to leave out are those parts of their journey when they fall and how they were able to pick themselves back up. I wish more people would share this part of their story because there are plenty of people out there who need to hear those type of things so that they can be encouraged. This is one of the things that I am most proud of, the ability to now recognize these problems when I see them and know how to better handle them. I look forward to my ultimate big break but I get more joy in knowing that I came through something that was hard. And I believe that’s what’s most important. Knowing how to get back up and carry-on because without knowing how to do so, it could lead to your ultimate failure. I think it’s important for you also to know that you are your biggest competition. That as long as you keep yourself occupied with your plan there is nothing but success In your future!
Pricing:
- Blowouts $40
- Shampoo style cut $65
- Silkpress $65
- Brazilian blowout treatment $165+
- Relaxers $65+
- Sew-ins $120+
- Ombre $125+
- Travel Fee $40+
- Tape-in Extensions $120+
Contact Info:
- Website: Purityrae.com
- Phone: 713-373-5209
- Email: purityraehair@gmail
- Instagram: Purity_rae
- Facebook: Purity Rae Studio Salon
- Twitter: Purityrae
Image Credit:
Marvin “Jack” Jackson of Jack’d Peg Photography, Tiffany King of Tiffany Couture Photography, Isadora Bravo of Isadora Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston 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.
