Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Keaa Bray. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Keaa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Folks often look at a successful business and imagine it was an overnight success, but from what we’ve seen this is often far from the truth. We’d love to hear your scaling up story – walk us through how you grew over time – what were some of the big things you had to do to grow and what was that scaling up journey like?

Wow! Where do i even start?. When it comes to bridal hair many hairstylist tend to stray away from it. Me personally, love every second of it. My first bride was a client of mine at the time so when she asked me to do her hair for her wedding i was like uhhhh ok lol I believe that may have been 2012/13. It was just a high bun so i knew i could do that no problem! Ive been doing hair since i was 16/17 so of course i could do a Bun! i wore them myself all the time.
Not once did i think 10/11 years later i would be calling myself “the bridal hairstylist”! Once i realized it was really a thing i wanted to take full advantage of it!
Most dont know that i judged my 1st pageant out of high school and i was also a model bride in alabama wedding magazine 2011 issue so i had an eye for the industry way before i even got into bridal hair!
Fast forward to 2020 i started to get booked for more and more weddings so i started branding myself as “the bridal hairstylist” knowing i had to get better at more bridal styles if i really wanted to succeed in this business.
Yes i have a eye for it and it takes a natural creativity to create certain looks but in the beginning i was a bit nervous to try and create certain looks for a day so special in women’s life. I knew then i had to study the skill of it and figure out all the dos and donts to what it really takes to create!
Dont get me wrong im still learining and growing but ive come along way from my first regular bun lol
Its plenty of times i been discouraged and even upset when ive felt like a look could have been better or i simply didnt master what i was going for! In those moments i tell myself “none of this is one size fits all so make it work”.! Thats the beauty of bridal hair and what its all about. Creating a look based off an idea that comes together in the end. A awe factor that makes the bride and myself happy in the end! A Bridal look in itself is the definition of “trusting the process”. Something i tell my brides all the time!
At first the pressure of being responsible for what someone looks like on their wedding day was a little crazy at first but then i realize the makeup artist has it way worst lol!!

I knew i had to get better and really learn how to make it bridal! Your regular hairstylist and your wedding day hairstylist are two different people! Unless they do both! Like me! Lol. To be better in the beginning i studied bridal hairstylist on Instagram thats been doing it way longer than me. I love polished looks so thats what i try to learn more of.
I enrolled in online courses to study up to date bridal looks or the more “detailed” bridal looks which aren’t easy as the eye may seem. I ordered a human hair mannequin that was recommended by one of the bridal hairstylist on ig also and just started practicing looks i saw her do and even put my on spin on some to give different looks. Needless to say that worked out for me!
Im still on my journey to the ins and outs of also being a traveling bridal hairstylist which gets tricky because i dont think some potential clients understand what goes into that and why your prices are your prices.
What ive learned in all my years of doing hair in general is your price is your price for a reason, stick to it and youll attract the clients you need. Yes in the beginning youll question if thats to high or am i charging to much but youre not. The work i put into my skill set, the products i use on my clients, the customer service and how attentive i am says a lot so ill stand beside my prices knowing that everyone wont agree.

My biggest take from all this so far is put into the world what you want to receive back! God has blessed me and my hands to create for one of the most special days in a woman life and im forever grateful for that. I work really hard and i continue to learn everyday and thats how ive come this far now. Staying consistent with social media posts, referrals from previous brides, clients and staying focus on being one of the best bridal hairstylist around has brought me really far.
Another important factor for all entrepreneurs is selling a product if you can that goes with your business! I sell hair but since ive been doing bridal i now sell headpieces, and earrings to make things more convenient for my brides if needed! www.cherishbridalbymirich.com is just another one of my touches in the bridal industry that im really excited about also so be sure to look out for it! Offering packages for my brides and bridesmaids have helped tremendously making it a one stop shop so my bride can simply show up!

Im no where near where im going in this bridal industry but im excited for the ride! i can only imagine where its going to take me! Consistency, praying over my business and putting in the work after are KEY factors in making this all a success ! Hopefully i can teach someone along the way to stay consistent, block out all negative noise and do what works for you!

– thebridalhairstylist

Keaa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

A little about me that you may not already know is ive been doing hair well over 12 years now! Its my passion and i tried to stop many times in the past but that never lasted long lol I did my first sew-in in the 9th grade on my best friend at the time and it was for her 9th grade pageant! Who would of thought that sew-in started all this!

13 years later and i specialize in Bridal Hair! The wedding industry is evolving and i want to make sure im apart of it and my focus is there now. I still love all my clients but i am ready to focus on bridal only. Eventually!

Im super proud of the determination im putting forth to be consistent in something new and rebrand to make it all possible. Its something special about weddings and my heart is full when i get to play a part in such a special day. When i created Cherish Bridal by MiRich (headpieces and jewelry) i took the word cherish because its a moment that each person will cherish for what should be for the rest of their lives.! The moment i put the headpiece and earrings on the room literally lights up! Which i call “the final touches”!

I feel every bride should wear a headpiece,! Big or small its a statement thats made walking down that aisle.

I provide a couple different options for my brides and or their bridal parties but my most popular one is the “the ultimate bride package”. All my bride has to do is show up and i take care of the rest. From her hair to setting her appointment all she need is the time!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One thing i would say i had to unlearn would be that everyone wont think youre good or worth what you think youre worth. Most that dont know you will and some wont. Most will know your worth but not enough to pay your price or simply cant pay your price.

I think prices is always tricky depending on your audience and who actually understands what goes into what you do. Most wont understand and thats ok.

A little back story is when i was asked to travel out the country for basically nothing to do a service for several people but to charge only for accommodations and for it to be treated as a vacation! I knew then that you have to know your worth and be reasonable with yourself because others wont!

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Funding business is always interesting with me! I fund everything out of pocket because i dont like to owe anyone or pay on anything if i dont have to. When i first started the money i made from doing clients all day went right back into my business!

Contact Info:

• Website: linktr.ee/RichTown
• Instagram: Mirichnfamous
• Other: www.mirichhair.com www.cherishbridalbymirich.com