Today we’d like to introduce you to Louticia Grier.
Louticia, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
As a child, I often looked at everyone’s hair when they walked into a room. I remember imagining different hairstyles on people. My parents often purchased dolls for me as a child. While playing with my dolls I would fix the dolls hair in various styles. I was a mini fashionista and beautician. Growing up in the 60’s and 70’s there were not many dolls that reflected my skin tone or kinky hair nonetheless; that did not stop me from styling the hair of my dolls. Without knowing I began desiring long ponytails and straighter hair. My natural hair was short, coarse and kinky; I could not pull my hair into ponytails as I wanted. I began requesting dolls with longer hair that I could do more versatile styles with.
I grow up and found love, got married and bear children of my own. I am a mother of four girls, Loutricia, Myra, Cecelia and Neferiatiti. I am sure you can guess what happened next, you guessed it! I transitioned from the dolls to my real life baby dolls. I enjoyed it, but if my girls were reading this passage they probably didn’t enjoy my experimenting. I remember my girls having every new style from Jheri curls, box braids, asymmetrical cuts, weaves, relaxers, afros to French braids. You can smile it’s okay, I smile when I think of the past. I have learned from the experience that it’s important to be loving, attentive and compassionate when doing your children’s hair.
This prelude is how my story began in the hair business. My story involves ups, downs, trials, tribulations, successes, disappointments and many blessings. I am and will forever be grateful of my journey in allowing my creativity and visions to assist thousands of women to become as beautiful as they truly are. As a young lady, I was not empowered nor was I uplifted in such a way that I appreciated my own beauty inside and out. God took a little girl that wasn’t very happy with her hair and gave her a gift to bless other children and women with her gift to help them with their hair and scalp situations. I treat individuals with various cancers, alopecia and chemical burns. I have developed a hair system that is ventilated that allows the scalp to breath, increases circulation and lays flatter for a more natural appearance.
After plenty of experimenting, I decided to attend to Beauty College. As soon as began at the college I felt right at home. I was a natural and was extremely successful there I have to say. The first day on the floor was magical and within a week became master stylist. All my experimenting paid off big dividends. Even with all the experience I still learned more and more daily. I had been doing extensions for years for my daughters, family and friends. I convinced the owners to add extension to the curriculum at the school. They obliged and so it began, I had a major part in the implementation of the extensions being part of the cosmetology school’s curriculum.
I was always a people person and when I purchased supplies, I fostered positive relationships with vendors. A wonderful lady named Miss Kim offered me a space connected to her beauty supply store. I was nervous however; I had built a clientele that would support the decision to become a business owner. I was the first female African American business owner on the Gaslamp district. I was beyond ecstatic about this new opportunity. Many customers would ask me if I was from New York City because I talked and moved fast. Then when they would see the way I styled hair they said it looked like a New York Style. I pondered over these comments and then the name was born for my first establishment, Uptown New York Style. I have also owned, Another New York Style and A Diva’s Hidden Hair a division of UTNYS. I would never change my path or my journey that has allowed me to use my gift and talents.
I was able to teach my children various skills and talents to share with others. My daughter, Cecelia has been a Master stylist for the past 16 years and has done very well in the business. She has brought innovation, endurance and enthusiasm to the business. I have developed products that soothe and heal the scalp. My products are natural that include healing components such as Aloe Vera and peppermint oil. The products vary from basic shampoo/conditioner to Scalp Ease. What will continue to set me apart from others will always be my passion, diligence and love for what I do and the clients that I will continue to serve.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Learning the business, learning to work with other people, and managing my time and work life balance.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Uptown New York Style and A Diva’s Hidden Hair – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am proud to be able to assist women and children with their hair and scalp problems. I custom make my hair products here at my business. I am a hair replacement specialist. I make custom cranial prosthesis and hair systems and hair replacement systems for many clients that are going though hair loss. I am known for weaving hair and my hair systems.
What stets me apart from others is the fact that I will custom make your system at my business and not send the work out to a company to have them made. All work is done in house. You can bring in a picture or in a picture and we will make that style of system for you.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I plan to keep growing my business.
Contact Info:
- Address: 524 Stevens Ave., Suit #9, Solana Beach, CA 92075
- Website: www.adivashiddenhair.com | www.cranialprosthesis.net
- Phone: 858-259-6833
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADivasHiddenHair/
Image Credit:
Hair Stylist to Chaka Khan for 8 1/2 years
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
