Today we’d like to introduce you to Bree Darden.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Bree. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
Wow, since a child I can remember my mom dropping me and my sister off in Houston over the summer when we lived in Dallas. My Aunt Angie owned a salon in 3rd ward called Angie’s, she serviced women all day sun up to sun down even overnight still up on her feet braiding, straightening, curling. I can still smell the burnt smell of the marcel irons til this day. As a kid during the summer being stuck in a salon was the worst until I saw the art and passion behind what my aunt did and how she made her customers feel the power behind the chair was inspiring to me and I would come back home to Dallas and force my dolls to be still while I braided their hair.
Our family holiday story my mom would tell ever year is me caking my sister face and hair with Vaseline, Lol! I wanted to give her a new look, I can still hear my mom screaming “ Bree omg why would you do this, and Courtney why would you sit there “ my sister was probably four or five and couldn’t even open her eyes because the Vaseline was so heavily spread. Lol, good times. So, of course, doing my school years I did my own hair then worked my way to doing my girlfriends hair for free to eventually getting paid by snacks and cash in high school. I always wanted to join the cosmo class in school but sports at the time was my first love so I had to choose between hair and volleyball and my junior year I decided to dedicate to volleyball for scholarship purposes so I could go to school.
Well after completing a semester or two I found out I was expecting my first child, ended up coming back home and my mom wasn’t a pushover she found out and her two options was “get up and work or go to school” “you not laying up feeling sorry for yourself on my couch every day” and before I knew it she had called a local beauty school that was walking distance from our house, spoke with a counselor enrolled me and filled out my financial aid paperwork. She came home gave me the admission card and told me I had an appointment at 9 am the next day. Long story short, I started that Monday completed cosmetology school in February 2012 worked at a couple of chain salons for women fell in loveee with color!
I then was my Aunt Angie standing up 12-15 hrs a day doing what I loved my passion displayed in every color I did you couldn’t catch me wearing any natural hair color in my head, and I loved the looks I got with rocking purple orange or green hair. Fast forward four years my new found love Men’s haircutting! Before I gotten serious and more disciplined I applied at this Great men salon “ Tune up the Manly Salon” it’s a salon for men, catering services include haircuts beard trims manicures pedicures wax massage facials and not to mention Free Beer and Alcohol. This place is so laid back rocking 80s pump music TVs with games shuffle board and big buck gun shooting game. What more could a man want!
Literally from open to close you are rocking out while having fun doing what you love and making men feel catered too that pushed me into Barber school! I wanted more knowledge of the field of men I wanted to learn everything that I could to service my men more and give them the best experience ever. December 2018, I did just that completed 4months of no off days between school 10-12hrs a day and work 9-10 hrs but I love what I do my reputation in the Humble/Atascocita area is superb not only by my skills but my customer service to match, and I don’t want to stop here. As a mother of two I have a different drive and 2019 I’m coming for everything be on the lookout! I’m ready for this roller coaster because I control this ride.
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?
No, it hasn’t always been a smooth road as a mother of two a seven yr old who is growing everyday and wanting to be involved in so many things and a two yr old who is so curious both full of life mommy working nine hours or school ten up at 4 am everyday back home at 11 cause me to have them up and running with me many nights I wasn’t able to help with homework or talk about that new friend my son met or help potty train, my daughter but I kept going and encouraging myself that I was doing it for them, days I missed school events or bike rides I was doing it for a cause so I can work now and play harder.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
So, Bree the barberist is a name I gave myself because I specialize in men’s hair cutting and coloring! Hints the word colorist. Currently, I work at Tune up the Manly salon, and we are taking over Texas I’m most proud about this company because we show even or blue-collar men that you deserve to be catered too sit down and let me give you a pedicure massage those feet and give you the best fade you ever gotten.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up I will say I was always the free spirit. Everything didn’t have to make sense to me it didn’t have to be black and white I act first for happiness and think about how or why later. My favorite motto life is too short live it to the fullest. Now I’m not saying go buy a house or car you can’t afford but take a trip even though you’re supposed to be saving by that dress you deserve it, get those shoes they look bomb on you. In my field you win some you lose someone day I could make $300 in tips one day I can make $50 but if I want something I go get it. I set goals for myself and life is too short not to enjoy your money. What you gone do bury it with you. “
Pricing:
- Basic Mens cut $25
- Kids cut $18
- Pedicure $50
- Beard trim $10
- Straight shaves $30
- Facials $30
Contact Info:
- Address: 7072 Fm 1960 East
- Website: Tune up the manlysalon
- Phone: 281-408-5644
- Instagram: Bree_the_barberist
- Facebook: Bree_the_barberist
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.
