Daily Inspiration: Meet Kandis Murray

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kandis Murray.

Hi Kandis, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am an Aveda cosmetologist graduate of 2013 in Buckhead. I briefly worked at a few salons in this area. One being a very popular salon called DryBar. Also, briefly assisted a salon in Johns Creek.
When I graduated from hair school, my goal was to get into a salon to be surrounded by other stylists and grow my skill. But I shortly started taking friends and family from home and something amazing happened!

My request and clientele started to grow! I never liked doing color in hair school. The smell was very strong and overwhelming and it just gets very messy, lol.

But for some reason, when I graduated from hair school, everyone wanted color! Sooner than later, I became more of a colorist more than anything, than someone who did styling and cutting.

My business is pretty unique. Because I still currently work from a home space with two salon chairs.

Even though I have convenience, I’m still able to be a mom, as well as arrange my life and schedule to that. I have two professional salon chairs, mirrors, shampoo bowl, the whole nine. My clientele loves that they are in a private secluded area; especially during times like this.

The foundation of my business is built on providing the best service to those who have hair concerns, and just goals overall for their hair and hair health. My business focuses on natural styling, hair, and scalp health.

All of my clientele is natural, meaning no chemical straighteners, keratin of any kind. I focus on bringing out the best in one’s natural hair.

Now from being in the business for 9+ years, it truly has flown by. What I have learned and have focused my business around is natural hair, balayage coloring, cuts, and extensions!

Over the pandemic, I was learning and teaching myself different extension methods that would be best for people who are wanting to bring out the beauty in their own hair while not feeling like they are uncomfortable wearing a certain method or damaging their own hair. We want extensions to bring out the growth and health of one’s hair, not damage it.

So I became certified in Invisible Bead Extensions! Our founder is McKenzie Truley. She has discovered a beautiful method that enhances one’s hair, while maintaining hair health and scalp health. If you are struggling with alopecia or any form of hair issues, hair loss and thinning; this will be a great method for you. Also of course for everyone included as well. If you’re wanting to enhance your hairs look in length and density seamlessly, this is a great method!

So, my goal for 2022, is to be the top IBE stylist in the Atlanta area for all hair, but especially textured hair! Only a few of us are here in the area. Our IBE stylists are continuously growing. I would love to be the forefront providing this amazing method to everyone in this area and especially the textured hair community!

Hopefully by 2023, I will be able to have a space that is still small and private, still a boutique feel! So my clientele can still have that home feel in a salon space where they are comfortable. But not just for me, but a team that is wanting to do the same that I have done for my clientele thus far with this motto in mind;

B E A U T Y

“My goal when it comes to beauty is for you to feel beautiful, comfortable, and not far from natural. I want you to look like you, but 10x better. Still recognizable, but just refreshed! Looking great is great! But how you feel is the most important thing.”

HALLOW HANDS HAIR BOUTIQUE

Keep a lookout 😉

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Some struggles I’ve had along the way is honestly balancing mom life, work-life, and focusing solely on being a hairstylist. I always have had the option to conveniently work from home. But since my background has been in the service industry for so long, transitioning full-time to an independent stylist, or even a job that went on a regular two weeks schedule pay, that paid enough was a struggle.
I never wanted to give up being a hairstylist. But trying to work for other people, other salons, and the scheduling they wanted, was very hard.

One either didn’t pay enough; it took so much time away from my personal life and my child. The other just needed me too much and I had no personal time.

I will say the pandemic has really helped me get off that sidewalk and finally jump into my career full-time as a hairstylist.

I comfortably left the service industry in 2020. I was only working 1 to 2 days a week at the restaurant prior.

All that time we had at home definitely helped me focus on my business. I actually got busier over time.

It can be very scary but it was something that I had to do. I had to get used to making certain sacrifices and not living that “server life “quick money lifestyle.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in natural hair but bringing out the blown-out beauty of one’s natural hair. While enhancing your color and even adding length and density to one’s hair!

First and foremost, scalp and hair health is number one. We start there and then move onto the styling of what one may want when they come to see me.

Then focus on if they want enhancements of color. I decide on what is best for their hair in a safe way.

If someone has naturally black hair and they want platinum blonde in one day, I will not do it! That is not the safest way to get your hair to the goal of what you want. We will gradually get you there but it won’t be in one day.

Integrity is more important than my bank account when it comes to my clientele. I will not just do anything for a check.

Hallow Hands Hair Boutique also is specialized in IBE. Which is Invisible Bead Extensions. Especially in the textured hair community, we really don’t know much and haven’t done extensions using Handtied hair. Handtied hair is usually single donor hair that has been literally hand-tied onto thread to make a weft. This is the flattest type of hair extension at the moment you can get! Usually, this type of hair is used for methods that require you to hand-tie them into the hair. It’s so very new to most but this year, I’m ready to reach so many about this method as a great option for their hair, to bring them the beauty of hair extensions.

So, 2022 is the year that I’m focusing on transitioning to being a hair extension stylist solely.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
People can collaborate work with me and support me in a few ways. I am, this year looking for stylist who is wanting to work in environment where our focus is about the client. Our focus is about having integrity when it comes to one trusting you with their hair. I have met so many women who have lost trust in certain stylists for being dishonest.
When it comes to support, a simple comment, DM, or repost, it’s greatly appreciated it.

When it comes to collaboration. I have yet to collaborate with any stylist in the industry. But the time comes to where if someone would like to work with me, I am all hands in and if we are on the same route of how we do hair and integrity with our clients, let’s do it!

Pricing:

• Pricing for SignatureLook styles which usually are shampoo blow out flat iron styles are $60.
• Color can start you at $50 and up
• Extensions to be determined for $25 at consultation

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/hallowhandshairboutique?utm_medium=copy_link