Meet Tammi Taylor and Jennifer Lewis | Scientist & CEO of Hair Luxury Company

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tammi Taylor and Jennifer Lewis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tammi & Jennifer, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?

Tammi: For me growing up seeing my mom own her own business and being successful I knew I wanted to have my own business also. When I lost my job back in 2012 I knew that was the time for me to start my own business. I opened a boutique from Dec 2012-Dec 2017. I knew I never wanted to depend on 1 income so by my boutique being around 2 hair salons and 1 barbershop. I created the name Hair Luxury Company in 2014 and decided instead of selling hair, I will create hair products to help maintain a healthy scalp for natural luxurious hair.

Jennifer: It was always important to me to work in a field I would love to get up and do everyday without it feeling like a job but more of a passion of mine. I knew as a little girl doing hair and being in the beauty industry was what I wanted to do and I did just that by completing my 1500 hours of hair school in high school before I went to college.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

Tammi: I’m a microbiologist. I got my PhD from Indiana University School of Medicine. I was the 5th African American to do so from that program in 2010. I had to overcome a lot of hurdles for my doctorate degree so it was not easy at all. I was very fortunate to to have an HBCU background before I got there. I attended Tougaloo College for my Bachelors of a Science degree in Biology and Jackson State University for my Masters of Science in Biology.

Getting my PhD taught me how to run a business. The grant is similar to a business plan. You have to know every detail of your business and what you want to do with the funds you obtain for it before you get it. This will be beneficial so you can run it successfully. Also, knowing your competition in the market you are in is also important because you have to show why your products are just as good or better than what people are currently buying or create a niche for you to get your own customers.

I want the world to know that Hair Luxury Company is the most innovative black owned, women owned hair care brand in the market. We promote healthy hair and scalp by making sure your hair and scalp gets the most luxurious nutrients and essential oils to make it luxurious.

We have a product, our Intense Hydration Leave-In Conditioner that was made to Detangle hair in minutes. It also protects the hair from shedding while wearing protective styles when used 2-3xs per week. We have great serum that helps your hair against humidity, and a shampoo and conditioner that helps to retain moisture and hydration on low Porosity Hair types and 4c hair. We were created for what’s really going on with black/mixed, thin, and dry hair. Our products are affordable and they work.

Jennifer: I am a licensed cosmetologist and certified phlebotomist ; due to COVID19 in 2020 the salon I was working for closed down and  I went from full time hairstylist to focusing more developing products for Hair Luxury and I totally agree with what Tammi said about Hair Luxury and what we want the company to be.

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.
If my friend was visiting and I wanted to show them the best time ever I would take them to all the fine dining spots throughout the week and some historical places also. I’m a foodie so we definitely hitting up DD one of my local favs.. So Sunday I would take them for drinks at Names and Faces love the Faces Sauce wings and fries. Tuesday Char for the short rib sweet potatoes and cabbage for lunch and La Cour for dinner of course. Wed we hitting up the Manship for their fried chicken, for lunch or Dumbo’s in Fondren that night for their fried chicken for dinner. Thursday we going to Johnny T’s for the Rick James deviled eggs shrimp toast and pasta., Friday for lunch we hitting Taste of the Island their curry goat so good and we may go bar hopping and hit up The King Edward hotel, and 4th Avenue for love their truffle fries and seafood dip. Saturday night definitely hitting up the new spots Trio till about midnight and Last Call for drinks later till 2am. We can also go to some great tourist places such as the civil rights museum and the capri theater to watch a film.

Jennifer: If my friends came to the city to visit me for a week Sunday we are having “ Sunday Funday” with hookahs visiting different lounges in our downtown area like 4th Avenue, Name and faces or Mbar, Monday we go to Babalu’s for margarita Monday, Tuesday( really everyday ) lol, I eat at my family restaurant Josephine’s Kitchen for a good meal, Wednesday Cultivation for food and drinks sit outside for the nice scenery, Thursday go bowling in the fondren and have food and drinks, Friday and Saturday we are back downtown

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?

Tammi: I would like to shoutout God who encourages me to keep Going and stay motivated and strong minded even when things don’t turn out how I hoped to, I continue to pray and work hard and manifest all that I want for my life and my business despite all adversities and trials that I have encountered the last 2 years in business.

Jennifer: Giving God all the honor and praise because without him and the discipline we would not have gotten this far.

Website: www.HairLuxuryCo.com

Instagram: HairLuxuryCompany

Twitter: HairLuxuryCompany

Facebook: 1HairLuxuryCompany

Youtube: HairTalk101Podcast

Image Credits
Photo cred: SneakerBoxPhotography (white dresses and black dresses) Photo Cred: Robin V Photography (gold dresses)