Meet Loryn Brooks | Houston hair braider

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

Hi Loryn, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I live in west Houston with my four siblings (two brothers and two sisters), my mom, dad, and grandmother. From a very young age, my parents encouraged me and my siblings to start and run our own business. I was purposefully raised in an environment where I was able to discover and pursue my natural talents and my love for entrepreneurship. The first business I started was a crochet business with my two sisters. We crocheted slippers, scarves, hair accessories and more! To sell our items, we would set up tables at women’s conferences and special events. This is where I got my start. Styling and braiding hair has always been intriguing to me. My mom always twisted our natural hair, and never introduced any chemicals! As I grew older, my interest in braid styles grew. My parents could not afford to pay $300-$500 every month for me and my sisters to get our hair done. This motivated me to learn how to braid for my self.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
JaeHair is a Houston based braiding business that I started in 2020 at the age of fourteen years old! I practiced styles on my mom, sisters and brothers in the beginning. My clientele expanded to distant family, then friends, and has increased with the growth of my Instagram following. Being your own boss isn’t easy. There are always decisions to be made, schedules to update, and clients waiting for a reply, There are times when I’ve been discouraged, questioning my skill and talent and even the future of my business. And I’m sure there will be more days like that, but I will never give up. I am proud of where JaeHair is today. I am learning new techniques and successfully implementing them. I consider it a privilege to be able to own and run a business at the age of 16.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Throughout our trip, we have to try some of Houston’s best food! Los Tacos, a local food truck, has recently become a famous spot all around town. And, of course, you can’t leave Houston without eating barbecue. Throughout our trip we could grab a bite at Pappas Barbecue, or my cousin’s barbecue truck downtown, Sherrard Barbecue! When exploring Houston, the Downtown area is one of the best places to be! Driving around certain areas of downtown is an experience in itself. We could visit one of our amazing museums, take a trip to Discovery Green, or take pictures in front of the murals of the art district! Besides Downtown, City centre, and the boardwalks are pretty cool places to visit. Houston is a big city! I have lived here my whole life and I haven’t even toured it all! It holds many adventures! You will never be bored.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There is a long list of people who have loved me and supported me so well during the launch and execution of JaeHair. God has shown me so much favor! My parents and siblings have done everything from waking me up on mornings I could have slept in, to driving me back and forth to the beauty supply, to letting me try out different styles on their hair. My braider mentors, Ms. Love, Tiffany and many others have also been a huge part of my story. they have encouraged me and inspired me to keep going and continue doing what I do! And then there are my clients. The support they give by way of repeat bookings and referrals, has been overwhleming in the best way possible.

Instagram: @jaehair.houston

Youtube: JaeHair