Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire Addison.
Hi Claire, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My journey started when I was about 15 years old. I grew up on the southwest side of Houston, Texas. At the time, celebrities like Ludacris and Allen Iverson were making braids popular so everyone wanted them. When a boy that I liked asked me if I could braid his hair, I was excited though I didn’t know how to braid. I asked my mother to show me how. When she showed me, I went right to my crush and braided his hair. He is my husband now. Soon everyone wanted to know who had done his hair and wanted my services. That was the beginning of Hair by Claire. I would post flyers in apartments mailbox rooms the laundry area and even on cars. I never cared to go to school for hair since I felt like I was already doing pretty good. I wanted to go to college for psychology. A few years later when we moved to Austin, Texas I realized I wanted to expand my skills so I enrolled into Aveda Institute to pursue my cosmetology license. Things were great there. I passed my state board exams with flying colors. School helped me to realize that not only did I like to braid but I also love to cut hair. So when I got my license, I worked at a couple of barbershops before the pandemic hit us. I was unable to work for about a year. When things got hectic, all I wanted to do was cut hair and work. Hair is my passion; it literally gives me life to create, to transform someone’s hair to make people happy to connect with them. That’s what I live for. With all that time on my hands, I started to reflect on my past how I got started with my career and I remembered I was an entrepreneur before I knew what I was doing. I’m my own business. I did a little research and got my paperwork together and not Hair by Claire is official. I saved some money and bought a truck to provide a mobile service to my clients in Austin and the surrounding areas. I couldn’t be happier working for myself and doing what I love. In the future, I hope to expand my business but for now, the mobile business is in high demand.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, this road was definitely a bumpy one. One of my biggest challenges was definitely balancing school work and being a wife and mother. When I attended Aveda, I was working nights at a home healthcare facility and going to school for 10 hrs three days out the week and still taking clients.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a mobile stylist. I specialize in hair growth, natural hair care/styling and haircuts. People know me for providing quality prompt services. I work quickly and efficiently. I’m most proud of my whole business itself. This was something that I was afraid to do and it’s actually happening. It’s here. The thing that sets me apart from others is that I’m all about healthy hair. I will never sacrifice hair for style but will always do my best to get the job done.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
For those just starting out, my advice is that persistence is key. You’ll have good days and bad days but just stay at it. Eventually, you’re at the finish line. Exhaust every option.
Contact Info:
- Email: Hairbyclaire86@gmail.com
- Website: Claireshaircare.glossgenius.com
- Instagram: Hairbyclaire86
