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

Hi Jhordan , thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I started braiding when I was a little girl. I would watch my mom braid her clients hair and after standing beside her for so long staring with intense curiosity, she started asking me if I wanted to help. She would start a braid and I would finish it. I loved the entire process. And not just the actual braids themselves, but also spending time with each client, a few hours at a time exchanging laughs, sharing stories, and building close connections. After working retail and corporate jobs, I developed so many skills in business. I feel like those years were like a business 101 crash course. At my last job, I would braid in addition to going to work, but very quickly, what I considered to be a part time passion flourished into an amazing business. I’ve felt the most fulfilled and inspired by the relationships I’ve been able to cultivate through braiding. I’ve met some incredible people over the years who have made what I’m doing so worth it.

Jhordan , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am originally from Los Angeles CA. I’ve been blessed to grow up here. There’s a wealth of culture that has always inspired me. I’m a lover of art in many forms. I feel like Los Angeles has always been such a diverse art hub. I’d consider braiding and hair styling as a form of art. It’s a huge part of my culture as well. I grew up seeing so many beautiful braided styles from box braids, Locs, cornrows, and twists. All of these styles have been passed down from generation to generation and have evolved over time. I’ve always felt a sense a pride in my ability to create intricate styles. I’ve felt a sense of pride from wearing them. I believe the thing that has set me apart is not just mastering the art, but being able to create the sense of community and family that has grown over time just from braiding. I’ve done braids for weddings, special occasions, giving birth, and from women seeking styles to care for and protect their hair. I’m so blessed to be apart of those special moments or to simply just share the time during appointments to connect over life. It has brought me joy to have clients come in just expecting braids being able to leave feeling good inside and out.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

The most challenging time I’ve experienced in my business has been returning back to work from Covid and pregnancy. Finding a rhythm after returning from being away from my work for an extended period of time has required a lot of patience. I’ve learned to show myself so much more grace these days. Especially after the birth of my daughter. She has been such an inspiration for me to just savor ever moment. A huge lesson that I’ve learned from both of those experiences is not to be discouraged by starting over if you need to. It is important to look at moments we don’t have control over as a blank canvas and an opportunity to slow down and come up with fresh ideas. It can be so scary, especially when you’re running your own business during those moments of uncertainty. Overcoming those things has made me more confident in my ability to adapt and embrace the journey.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

I started braiding most frequently during my high school and college years to make extra money for school. Beyond those years, I kept braiding even while working full time mostly for clients that had already been coming to me for a long time. While working my last office job, I was braiding on the weekends and occasionally after work, but the demand started increasing fairly quickly. Over time I realized that this was also an opportunity for me to make more money while doing something I loved to do. I came up with a business plan and with the encouragement of my husband and a lot of faith, I began to develop what has over time been more than what I initially imagined. I’ve scaled back in the past two years while focusing on my daughter, but I’ve had some exciting things in the works for future business and I’m so excited to share with my clients.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: jhordanharrishair