Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandi Maddox.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I began doing hair as a child and by the time I was in middle school I had a full clientele ranging from my peers, their siblings, church members- everyone! I took clients after school almost everyday and my mother would always exclaim “my house has a revolving door!” Ha! My parents would allow me to set up shop anywhere in the house. I used to do hair in the bathroom, kitchen, my bedroom, the basement- wherever it made sense is where I would be. I had an extremely loyal clientele and I would even do adults hair on occasion as a 14 year old. During that time, hair was second nature to me. I didn’t quite understand what I was doing but I instinctively knew what to do. My aunt Omar always told me “Brandi what you have is called a gift. Submit it to God and He will open doors for you.” This has always stuck with me and I still hold what my aunt said near my heart.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
School was never easy for me because I already knew deep down inside I wanted to be a hairstylist. My passion for hair always seemed to distract me from my school studies and a social life. I never was able to fully embrace being a teenager because I was full of passion… it’s safe to say I was a bit awkward/different. This would honestly cause me a great deal of grief and depression because there was always a tug of war between enjoying my teen years or pursuing my career. School events, sports events, prom, graduation were things that never quite excited me and I didn’t know how to manage those feelings -which always made me feel extremely out of place. I never knew where I belonged for many years…and that loneliness felt debilitating at times; but I did know early on the traditional American school structure wasn’t helpful for me and that I could accomplish so much more if I could graduate early. I had to learn to embrace the unorthodox route- it seems to be the lane that best fits my journey. Luckily, my mother was optimistic about my talent and took a huge gamble by unenrolling me from the school system and homeschooled me my sophomore year of high school. I was able to graduate two years early at age 16, and immediately started cosmetology school two months later. I am so appreciative and fortunate to have had that opportunity.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in haircare, bespoke haircutting and hairstyling. I’ve been told by many that I approach haircare from a holistic perspective and after reviewing my years in the cosmetology industry, I believe it’s safe to say that is 100% accurate. I believe in tailoring hair to complement a person’s lifestyle, goals, and personality. I’ve learned that helping people understand their hair and teaching them how to develop a love and appreciation for what is naturally theirs, is a priceless experience. I hope to inspire as many people as I can to love and embrace themselves.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I come from a long line of entrepreneurs and small business owners -on both my father’s and mother’s side. As a child I watched my father become one of the most sought after automobile mechanics in the city of Atlanta and other neighboring states too. He had government contracts ranging from USPS to Trucking Companies and would repair all their vehicles. He always preached work ethic to me, how to invest in yourself, having order, cleanliness, resilience and not to be lazy. He worked a lot, but watching him taught me so much about pursuing my passions and having a life full of purpose. My father also taught me to have as much fun as I can. Even while working long shop hours, he always made time to prank people and laugh until his face hurt. He said “Love what you do, so you can effectively help others.”
My mother has earned many accolades and titles ranging from becoming the top three black woman real estate brokers in Georgia, a National Board Certified teacher, Miss Black Teen Atlanta Pageant director, receiving the Dorothy Height award…the list is truly exhaustive. My mother drilled a standard of excellence in me as a child. I watched her commit herself to any project she wanted and she would not stop until it was complete. She taught me to never take “no” as a final answer and to not allow anyone to think for me. She always said “You can do bad by yourself! You are the head and not the tail Brandi!”
There are many clients who have become family to me. I can’t name them all but two that are near and dear to me are Ms. Regina and her daughter Tayler. I gained another mom and sister when I began doing their hair. As a hairstylist you need people who are sunshine in human form; people whose presence feels like a warm hug- that’s what Ms. Regina and Tayler are. They are the epitome of grace, poise, class and beauty. I’m so blessed to have them in my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thechateausalon.com
- Instagram: Brandi: @iambrandibeauty The Salon: @thechateausalon1
- Youtube: Brandi Beauty Tv
