Meet LaKeidra Petters: Hair Stylist & Beauty Supply Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with LaKeidra Petters and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi LaKeidra, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Making myself a world known hair boss was the thought process to my business. I wanted to provide services that everybody needed and that I was extremely knowledgeable about. As of now I am a mobile hair salon and beauty supply that provides the essentials to keep your hair Vibez on PERFECT. Many years of working as a hair stylist i noticed that when clients needed hair related products they went to the hair stores only to be dissatisfied with the products and the way they were being treated. Most times when people shop at local hair stores they don’t provide you information with the best products for your hair type but general products meant only to keep you shopping, and not to specifically properly care for your hair like a professional stylist would. My business cuts down the hassles and frustrations of searching for your hair products needed for a particular style, and provides delivery services for those customers who don’t have transportation to the hair store but still need quality products. 

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I have had a passion for hair all my life and starting braiding hair at the age of 8. Through my school age years I always did family and church members hair. When I became an adult I realized that the only way to make my dreams come true was to turn my passion into my career. For over 10 years I have worked tirelessly as a usps mail carrier to fund my business because of lack of knowledge in how to purchase a beauty supply and due to the gate keeping aspects of this business. Being young, black, ambitious, educated and a mother at a very young age I noticed that I was a threat to a lot of beauty business and it has been so hard to obtain everything I need to make my business my full vision. I would proudly show up to the wholesale locations in Houston with all my paperwork and after many short conversations in a different language I was turned away without an explanation beyond we refuse the right to sell to whoever we choose. Feeling overwhelmed, overworked and defeated I took a break from the post office for a while to get my business plan in action. To help me become more knowledgeable i attended ogle beauty school while building my online beauty supply and doing hair. Posting ads, recording YouTube videos, traveling to different hair stores around Houston talking to customers about what I have to offer vs what they experienced in their every day beauty supply. Years later here i am still building and still hustling to make my dreams come true as a full time business owner and mother of three. The lessons I have learned the hard way was to separate my business expenses vs my personal expenses and to keep the accounts separate. I learned that if I would have created a business account using my 15$ DBA and my regular social that by now I could have accumulated business credit with my years of consistent transactions. I also learned that there are other black women in positions of power that not only live in my city but even those outside of my city were willing to help me gain the proper knowledge if I would have just asked. Black tradition is always to keep your good things to yourself so nobody and talk it out of your life, and with my idea being soooo different I was afraid to ask for help from women in the same field as me in fear of them taking my idea and using their resources to steal my dream as theirs. I learned to not be so hurt about the way I have been treated as a female black business owner. The society we live is one normally dominated by racial and gender restrictions that automatically make it a little harder for women like me. Instead of allowing it to tear me down and slow me down I should have used that as fuel to my fire. Being underestimated is one of the most powerful and dangerous things people can do to me, to judge me before knowing half of what I’m capable of. That’s a power that gives me a consistent opportunity to be above excellent to others when I’m just being ME to me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Some of the best spots to visit for THE VIBEZ are: Razoozs (Stanford location)- The food is always amazing, drinks on point and affordable and the music is always lit. Gringoes ( Pearland )- Great Texas Food and The bartenders there give it a all inclusive vibe Pearland mall- All the pop stores, beautiful scenes to take photos, movie theaters close ..just a real vibe Memorial Mall- it’s literally like an amusement park for shoppers Sip and paint downtown- very relaxing, and your able to explore your creative side, Mikes SeaFood- My favorite Houston Seafood place ..always got bomb SEASONED food, amazing customer service, you can watch multiple games, drink and listen to good music while you eat. I recommend thier daiquiri’s too The Houston museum’s are lit especially Houston Museum of African American Culture, Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, and Community Artists’ Collective. And most of all the night life in downtown is so diverse and always lit all night I would make sure any friend of mine coming to visit had a great time.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a special shout out to the creator of my mind, body, and soul. I also want to shout out all my family and friends who have support and uplifted me in my times of defeat and frustration. I’m thankful for the many clients who refer me to thier family and friends. I’m great full for the many customers who buy from me daily ton support my dream. Most of all I want to thank my city for making me the boss I am today.

Website: https://levelsoflokei.myshopify.com/
Instagram: Instagram.com/BigMoneyLoKei
Youtube: https://youtu.be/NdAhZ0N3wkw

Image Credits
LoKei Vibez on the phot credit