Conversations with the Inspiring Breia Amie

Today we’d like to introduce you to Breia Amie.

Breia, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was attending the University of Houston (main campus), studying biology.

I hated college, I hated the thought of working for someone but I thought I wanted to be an anesthesiologist, but I only saw the money never had the passion to study or learn anything regarding that field.

I couldn’t afford to get my hair done, so I was still wearing my sew in from that summer, I learned how to tighten/install my own sew-ins so I always looked nice (so I thought, fast forward… this girl Ambrea asked me who did my hair, I told her I did. She asked me if I could do hers, I told her I never did anyone else’s hair but I’ll try. Which I did & I happened to be really good at it. From day one, I turned my dorm into a mini salon. I had the girls at UofH waiting in the halls to get their hair done. A few weeks later, I dropped out of college because I didn’t feel it was necessary for ME to be successful. I was in control which was new to me. Enrolled in beauty school to take this hair thing seriously, I was super excited, however, I wasn’t making enough to live on, so I got a job at Pappadeaux on 610, used that job to promote my own business. I used to harass the people at the bar, passed out flyers/business cards, whatever could think of I did.

On my off days, I would go to all of the surrounding malls & market myself. I was super serious because I knew I couldn’t go back to college. I ended up getting fired from Pappadeux (unfair treatment) & I started to panic because I didn’t know what I was going to do for money. I ended up getting some little temporary jobs (Del Friscos & razzoos) I quit both. Even though I needed money I could never conform to being a worker of a company that’s worth millions & choose to pay the workers (servers) 2.13$ & then treat you like trash. My mentality was ALWAYS “I deserve better) I’ve had a total of 26 jobs, I would quit a job because I couldn’t find a parking space it just wasn’t for me.

Fast forward again, I had no job, I ended up being a mobile stylist. It was cool because I needed money but that wasn’t for me either because I had a Lexus, gas was high & people were weird. I drove all over Houston (woodlands, channel view, sugar land, 3rd ward, Greenspoint, EVERYWHERE). It wasn’t until my last client in Greenspoint where I had a horrible experience that I decided to work from my grandma’s house in South Park.

My business was growing & I felt like I found my calling… a couple months went by, I got my first apartment & started work in a shop with my name (swankie hair) on the door. Servicing clients all over Houston.

Unfortunately, hurricane Harvey severely damaged the building I was working in & I was super nervous about where I would be working. Luckily, I have a beautiful “aunt” and mentor Crystal Victorian of Victorian Hair Salon (who did my hair growing up)allowed me to work in her upscale salon. That was really big and exciting. In my opinion that was when I “bossed” up upon working in her shop, I was only 65-85$ whereas I believe she charged maybe 180-300$ for a sew in. In my mind, she put the fire under me to really perfect my craft that one day, I could charge that much and I wouldn’t have to work so long. Mind you some days I would go to the salon at 6 am and not leave until 2/3 am. Within a month, I go really good and started charging 100$ which was a big step for me. Also, by watching HOW she is as a stylist and HOW she runs her business is like being an upcoming entertainer and working with Beyoncé it was really heaven for me. Even when she probably thought I wasn’t paying attention, I was always paying attention and listening to her. By the time, I left I was a pro charging 150-300$ for a sew in.
Here we are now in the present 2019.

I have a returned clientele list of 428 clients, I current sell Virgin Indian hair extensions, have worked with A list Celebrities, opening up a storefront very soon.

Being an entrepreneur may seem glamorous and easy, but it’s actually the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. I am very sensitive and serious about my business. All the potential client or customer sees is the pretty pictures and the Instagram likes which mean absolutely nothing to me. They don’t see how I’ve stayed up for 24+ hours working on my website or how I’ve cried because something I was confident in went to shambles. There’s a lot that goes in this.

I didn’t wake up with this plan, but I’m glad it manifested within me to be strong enough to handle something so important.

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?
No, not at all the struggle is REAL, however, it is still rewarding.

Whether you’re a hair stylist or you sell socks with rocks in them. Business is business. You deal with rude customers, you deal with scammers, you deal with hagglers and people who are trying to get over, the list can go on and on.

However, what makes it easy is when you understand the science of business.

Customer service is key. Even if you have a rude client/customer, yes, you can yell scream and curse them out but what does that do? Nothing makes you feel better for a while but then later you say “I shouldn’t have done that.”

For me, I am always respectful and courteous. Even if you’re rude, I have the power to say either “I’m going to have to ask you to leave” or I genuinely try to find the issue and help the client or customer needs be meet. The goal of a business is to make money. Now, all money isn’t good money please know that but when you can save the customer you’re able to still do “business.”

Professionalism and great customer service goes a very long way.

Even when I wasn’t the “best” hairstylist, I always had clients. Even if they might have not like their hair, they continued to come. Why? Because I was always professional , gave the best customer service and guess what, people LOVE good customer service.

When you first start. The first thing you do is get all of your legal documents in order… your DBA (Doing business As), tax EIN (employer identification number). Make sure you purchase your business name/websites. The last thing you want to do is make a lot of money and have the government take it from you.

All of that listed above, that’s the easy stuff.

Organization. When owning a business, YOU MUST BE ORGANIZED. Just because you’re an entrepreneur doesn’t mean you get a pass. No, you especially must be organized. Even when you aren’t a big business, you must treat your small business as a big business. Remember your thought hold weight.. Think be so that one day you will be big. Wake up early and be productive no matter whatever that may consist of..

You should have an itinerary of what you need to do each and every day, whether that will be responding to emails or perfecting your craft (whatever that may be). The goals you set should be followed up with a plan on how to execute/achieve that goal. We all know a goal without a plan is a dream and if you still dreaming, you still sleeping! We as entrepreneurs are awake and productive.

When you’re selling a product organization is key. Keeping inventory, making spreadsheets of sales vs. predicted sales.

Every move you make with your business should be on paper.

Branding marketing, of course, is very vital what does your business represent? Who do you want your business to reach all goes into the name you choose, the colors you choose for your business.

Social media is now a great platform for advertising your business.

Keep your pages clean, captions clean and professional. Remember, in business, you attract what you are. If you are always late and unprofessional, you may encounter more late and unprofessional clients because people from my experience mimic what they see.

Last thing is punctuality. Being on time is late . As a business owner you should NEVER Be late . I don’t care if the freeways are shut down that doesn’t affect you because we already thought of the possibility of that happening & that’s why we left the house an hour in advance. Now i know things happen and if/when it does happen you COMMUNICATE with client / customer that you will be late and give an estimated arrival time . I hear time and time again “my stylist was 2/3 hours late or she didn’t show up at all “. To me there’s only so much understanding one can have . Remember how i said business is science it always comes right back around .. communication is important for not only the customer but business owner as well.

I’m 21 I don’t hang out in clubs and bars late at night because I work at 5am. I wake up at 4:00 .

I’m not  saying you can’t have fun but you have to be responsible as a business owner . Do you wanna show up to your business with a hangover & looking busted? No, is it possible yes I’m sure people do it all the time but that’s respectable .Plus clubs & parties will always be there & that’ll eventually get old anyways .

I know went very deep into this… that is only because we as black people we aren’t taught business nor the sciences of business growing up. We go into a business head first with no knowledge of anything most times and yes, it’s unfair, however, it does build us and gives us the fortitude to handle a business that is built on trial and error. I wasn’t always a polished business professional I had to learn along the way. I didn’t have a blueprint to how to do this and I still don’t think there is one. Your journey is your journey, but if I can help make that journey just a little easier for you as black entrepreneurs, I will very much do so.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am first a hair stylist.

I specialize in natural hair and weaves.

I am ”known” for.

“Flat and Natural looking installs.”

I now service three-five clients a day, the average client spends two-four hours with me in a private room where my time is their time and I am 100% focused on them.

It’s funny, sometimes I have to reflect on where I am in that specific moment. I sometimes get caught up like I’m maybe not doing enough & forget to appreciate where I and accept my growth. Lord knows I’ve come a very long way.

The functionality of your business is what you make it. Stay organized & on top of things is all on You . That alone is so important to me . I want my customers/clients to have an easy experience. Because I have so many clients I have created my own website (www.swankiehair.com) for my clients to select their service, pay a deposit and reserve their appointment online. They receive a text message and email. That way is easier for both the client and I.

I only service one client at a time. For me personally a shop full of people just sitting around makes me nervous & anxious . Definitely doesn’t work for me .

There is no over or double booking, there is no confusion very simple & effective.

That is how I stay organized while still being in demand. I only communicate with clients via email or text for documentation purposes which aid in my organization. You see how almost everything is connected or related to each other? Business is a SCIENCE.

As a brand, I am super proud of my clientele and amount of quality within my work.

When I first started all of my clients were young girls in high school, whereas now I service judges, lawyers, surgeons, teachers, and other business women.

I am very grateful for that because I am in love with the woman who loves and appreciates “quality.” I am very big on quality because I feel like that’s what separates me from others.

With me especially, I could be a stylist who is super cheap and did 10+ heads a day, but I know there’s no quality in that. I am like a head surgeon. People often to get amazed at how I work because EVERY step is important. From the way, I part your hair to how I braid and stitch your hair. Not one step of your sew in service will out weigh the next. Therefore, I can guarantee within the quality I give, you will also have longevity.

People know when you go to Swankie hair, you definitely get what you pay for.

Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
I am so grateful to have been surrounded by a strong woman my whole life.

Of course, my mother, I watched her really grow into an extremely successful woman..it’s still so crazy to me to see her growth as a woman.

I remember my mom being young and not always making the very best decisions but she always knew how to turn it around and turn a negative into a positive. Although she has a thriving career in the medical field (grants & contracts). She was always a hustler at heart, we never went without anything. If she needed to sell T-shirt’s or flip flops on the side, she did what she had to do and never ever complained . Most people don’t have that drive and “by any means necessary spirit” but she does. I believe my mother can handle absolutely anything. Now, she’s a published author and is the founder of several nonprofit organizations giving back to the Houston community..

Ms. Tashawn Williams has been Inspirational from the day I met her. She is the only person I trust to do my sew ins. She is a beast and will literally have you out of the chair in 45 mins to an hour. I watched this woman with five children be a straight boss. Her children always had the best of everything and it was from her being a hairstylist to me that was everything because when I said I wanted to be a hairstylist most people told me I would be broke and on “section 8”… but I knew and lived with Ms. Tashawn who charges 150+for a sew in, lives in a four bedroom, two-story house and drives a BMW. She didn’t look broke nor on section 8 to me. She motivated me to really push and commit to this industry. Even to this day, if I go to her house, she has some wisdom to give and I’ll always love her for that.

Shamika Williams better knows as “SadeStyledMe.” I met her via Instagram when I was still very very very new to doing hair. My first meeting her in person was in late 2016, I believe and it was like I found my hairstylist soul mate. She invited me I to her home because I was purchasing hair extensions from her. She was servicing a “quick weave” on her client and she was like “girl come in here and watch me do this” of course, that’s like music to my ears. I go in and we’re talking like we’ve been friends for years, we clicked because of how genuine she is. She told me straight up how challenging this industry can get. She didn’t sugar coat anything & I listened. I watched Sade grow her Instagram organically, I have watched her growth. She’s been doing hair since 2007/2008 and now look at her. We have worked for a list of celebrities together and with her, there is NEVER any competition. She from what she has shown me has my best interest as I do hers. In this industry, it’s hard finding that and for that same reason is why I am grateful to have met and work with her.

I hope you take all that gave you & really apply it some where in your life. If you don’t own a business be the best student or employee YOU can be . YOU are always in control . That’s not something I just say . We can’t live life like we are a passenger. If you want something go get it . Stop thinking negatively and get up and do something positive. There is beauty in the struggle .

Contact Info:

• Address: 8877 lakes at 610 drive
• Website: www.swankiehair.com
• Phone: 281-914-5907
• Email: swankiehair@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/swankiehair?utm_source=ig_profile_share&igshid=7tgec2evgpbx

Image Credit:
Darien Burton, Derrick Hinez

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