“Well, I never imagined that I’d be doing hair for a living. I had a talent. My grandmother told me that I should go to school for hair. It was something that I enjoyed doing because I braided. I’m the oldest girl of nine and I would braid my baby sisters’ hair. As they got older, they got tired of braids and wanted something different. I had to learn how to do different things to their hair. When I went to hair school, I already knew how to do hair. I just needed to perfect it and become licensed. When I got here, I had quit my job. Then my husband was laid off and he seen this building. He was like, ‘I think you should go into business for yourself’. I was working at home, in my basement. I was also pregnant. That’s where Lavish Looks came from. It was seven years ago. My husband bought the building and told me that I was going to do this. 

I would say that in this industry, you have to push yourself sometimes and come out of your comfort zone. Anything worth fighting for, you have to put in the work, it’s not easy. Over time, things will change. Education is key. You have to stay on top of what’s new, different products, and different things that will keep people’s hair healthy. You have to set yourself outside of the norm. In our industry, people are into frontals and weaves but first, you have to learn how to treat their hair. 

I had to stay true to myself and be consistent. I have never had a time where I went a period of time and my clients not know where I’m at. I feel like consistency is what keeps you in this industry. Even though none of my booths are filled, I may have had people come and go but I stayed consistent. I had to keep pushing. I feel like Lavish Looks is Louisville’s best kept secret. People don’t know about us but we’ve been here for seven years. You won’t hear anyone say anything negative about us. What you do hear is that people found a gem up the street from Park Hill.

We need more things for our children. Social media’s taken over a lot. Before, everybody could go outside and play. Now, everybody’s on their phone. They need something that will stir them away from that. There’s really nothing for them to do unless you go way far out. We also need to stick together, within our community. What’s for you is for you and no one can take that from you. The Lord blessed you with it. We need to worry about self and more stuff for the younger generation in our community. 

For women entrepreneurs, I feel like you have to be yourself because if you don’t, no one else will. You have to lead by example and you have to believe in yourself. Do the research and get your business plan together. There’s different things out here that can get you started. If you do the research, you can start it off. It’s always a struggle and nothing will come easy. Always put in the work. Take a leap on faith but you have to put the work behind it.” - Sparkle, Owner of Lavish Looks Salon in Park Hill