We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Gracie Howard. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Gracie below.

Gracie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively.

I talk a lot about how I really appreciate my parents, but to tell you the truth, they’ve always been my biggest fans. Obviously, kids and parents can have their disagreements, but in the end, I know my parents are always going to love, support and encourage me. When you’re young, you don’t think about the little things. When you’re young, you don’t think about how much going out to eat with your family or just playing stuffed animals with your parents really make the best memories when you look back at your childhood. Looking back at all of the things I had and was able to do because of my parents makes me realize just how truly grateful I am to be their daughter. Growing up in Frisco in the 2000’s-2010’s was filled with happy and exciting moments I had in my life!
I’m thankful for the life my parents have given me and I’m thankful for my birth parent(s). Being a proud Chinese adoptee has also been a huge part of just me (obviously) and my family. My parents have always supported me when it came to me asking my parents about wanting to search for my birth family. They know they are still my parents no matter what if I talk about my birth parents or about China. I’ve been very thankful to know my parents are supportive and sensitive in that subject matter.
When I told my parents I was interested in doing hair instead of college, they loved that idea! Since I’m not the best at the academic stuff, we all knew I was probably not going to make it through college… Which is fine! My parents believe that if college isn’t for you, it’s not for you. Just try to earn money to make a living. That helped a lot when I realized my parents were’n’t going to pressure me to go to college.
During high school, I checked a few cosmetology schools and settled with Toni & Guy! They helped me so much with just the support and encouragement during school too! Even though hair school is fun, it’s still school. Hair does involve a lot more math and science than I thought, but it’s not bad. But, when there were times where I was struggling, my parents were always the ones to help me get through it. For my written test, I had to take it four times before I got finally passed the fifth time I took it! I felt like giving up after my third one, but I didn’t have any idea what I’d want to do or could do. My mom really helped me stay on track of doing hair because (not only did they pay for it) but because they know this is just a set back and tests can be difficult especially if the questions change every time and you just gotta keep going.
I’m still going, my parents are still going, you just have to keep going.
I really couldn’t ask for a better pair of parents though! Since 2021, they’ve been living in the beautiful state of New Mexico and I couldn’t be happier for them! They continue to work hard and enjoy their lives.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a proud Chinese adoptee who grew up in Frisco, Tx and is now doing hair in Denton Tx! I am a cut specialist, but I am also a color/vivid and balayage enthusiast! I got into looking at cosmetology when I was in sixth grade! My mom took me to get my hair colored a dark cherry red and I was in love with it! I kept getting it done and had no idea I’d want to do this as a career! My middle school also had a career day when I was in seventh grade and by that time, I was interested in hairstyling! I was super excited that day because that was the only career I wanted to pick that day.
Stepping to high school, I see a lady outside of our cafeteria who is handing out a brochure for a cosmetology school! We checked it out, and I just fell completely in love with the environment of all of it! I also found out you don’t need to take the SAT or ACT to get into cosmetology school! You just need your high school diploma or GED which was perfect because I knew I wasn’t going to be taking them later!
I graduate high school in 2018 and then go to cosmetology school in August of 2018!
Since then, I have grown so much as a person, an artist, a professional, etc.! It’s been a roller coaster of emotions, new experiences, new techniques, everything!
I’m so proud of myself and what I have achieved as a person and professional! I currently now own my own business as a hairstylist! I am renting out a suite and that has literally been my dream since hair school! I also rent an apartment so knowing I am able to afford that in this economy, and my car and all those other stuff feels really good personally! It tells me to keep going because I’m doing it! Younger me would have a lot of questions…! Hairdressing has really been the best choice I made for myself mentally and physically I believe so far.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I don’t have a giant social media platform, but I do a lot of the socials personally. Trying to grow on say TikTok can be extremely difficult if you’re not posting constantly. Instagram and Facebook can be tricky too sometimes, but hashtags on Instagram definitely help with promoting and getting your content out there! Joining local Facebook community groups helps grow your business as well! I like to introduce myself, offer what services I do, but I try not to sound like I’m pressuring anyone to comment or like or reach out. I want them to feel like they can message me without feeling shy or anything because it can be intimidating asking someone something, I get it! I’m the same way! Communicating with potential clients is a huge one as well! Anytime I have a client wanting a color done and I haven’t seen their hair, I like to have them in for a color consultation so we can go over what we’re wanting to do, how we can approach the service and pricing and everything! I also let clients know we don’t have to do this immediately tomorrow or anything too! We can wait and figure it out later! Letting your clients be open with you and allowing yourself to open up a little as well can allow the client to feel more comfortable too! Don’t need to tell them everything, but letting them know why you chose to do hair, talking about pets, anything can help your client feel more comfortable!
Being in a suite has been beneficial for my clients as well because they like the privacy and quiet, just like me! I have also made my room specially cozy and comfortable so my clients can feel cozy and comfy too!
Social media has it’s ups and downs, but it has overall helped me advertise myself and share my work!

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Like mentioning before, social media can be very helpful with putting your work out there and hashtags, but keeping up with responding to messages and comments helps your clients know they can message you if they have questions. Joining social media groups has helped a lot as well! It doesn’t have to be hair related groups either! It can be anything of your interest! I’ve posted depending on which group saying a few things about me, why I joined the certain group and then explain I’m a hairstylist accepting new clients and I’d love to have them in and we can do a hairstyle inspired by (for example) a kpop idol or anime character! I’ve had some great responses and some forever clients from these groups! Then these clients tell their friends, family, co-workers, or anyone who compliments their hair! For us hairstylists, the clients are our walking advertisements! It helps a lot with word of mouth because it’s easier to just show an instagram, message me and say “hey Gracie, I’m sending you a client who wants…” and we get them in and I get excited! I always make sure I tell new clients I want them to feel comfortable to tell me what they want, what they don’t want, like, don’t like, etc.!

Contact Info:

• Website: hair-x-gracie-howard.square.site
• Instagram: hairxgraciehoward
• Facebook: Hair x Gracie Howard
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/hairxgraciehoward
• Other: Personal Instagram: gracexhoward Singing Instagram: vocallygrace Personal TikTok: ohthatgracie

Image Credits
Annjolee Gothard (personal photo) (photos of me doing hair) Gracie Howard (the hair pictures and family)