http://voyagehouston.com/interview/meet-stephanie-harms-barton-blonderellas-hair-studio-spring/

 

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Harms Barton.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Stephanie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started in the salon industry back in 1991. I was recently out of high school and I went to college for a few semesters. I was unsure of what I wanted to do as a career so I felt discouraged. I landed a job at a salon as their receptionist. After working for about 6 months, I decided that I loved the salon environment but didn’t want to remain at the desk. I decided that I would go to nail school.

I worked as a nail technician for 5 years and loved it. It was during this time that shop started popping up offering their services for half price. I couldn’t compete and survive so I left the industry for a year and worked in corporate America. I quickly decided that I was too social to sit behind a desk all day and made the decision to step back into the salon industry. I spent a year as an educator and selling salon products. It was during that time that I realized I missed the day to day salon activities and I signed up for beauty school to get my cosmology license. I worked and went to school full time. I had my first apartment, brand new car and had met my (now ex) husband. Life was amazing!

I worked several years at a salon in Florida until my son was born. We moved to Houston 16 years ago. I started back doing hair after my divorce, my son was 3. It was hard working long hours for someone and trying to juggle being a single mom.

In 2006, I decided that to be able to take care of my son without daycare, I would need to own my own business. My original salon was called Hypnotic studios. Four years later, I moved to old town spring and started offering photography services to my clients as well. I was able to do hair and makeup for the photo shoots. After 5 years, I decided I needed to move and changed the name of my salon to Blonderellas.

I specialize in blondes and corrective colors, which is 85% of my business. I also cut, updos, extensions and eye brow waxing.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. My biggest challenge was trying to own a business and raise my son. I didn’t have much help with him, so I ended up building him a room when I was in Old Town Spring. All my clients know him! Lol.

Old Town Spring was a challenge for several reasons. Parking was an issue. Festivals sometimes made water obsolete, which shut me down. We also had a year of a con artist who stole the property from the owners. It was quite the circus! From the cops being out all the time, locks being changed, windows being broken, I swear we could have had an award-winning reality show! Lol

I’ve had some amazing and supportive clients though out the 18 years I’ve been doing hair. I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today without them. I began specializing in corrective color and have made some lifelong clients from it.

The changing of the industry throughout the years has definitely taught me how to adapt and change. There is always something new to learn and education is so vital. I was certified with redken in 2005 as a master colorist.

Please tell us about Blonderellas Hair Studio.
I specialize in corrective colors and blondes. Myself being blonde, I learned not many people know how to achieve it. Home hair color correction stands for a large part of my business. Unfortunately, it’s not magic in a box and ends up costing clients a lot to correct it.

I’m most proud that even though I am a single mom, I’ve managed to own my own business and each year it continues to grow. I feel honored of the amazing clients I have that trust me with their hair. I have clients that travel from all over (including out of state) for me to perform their hair services. I’ve developed such great relationships with them that most of them just tell me.do what I think will look best. I try to keep my clients color current with trends and seasons.

What sets me apart is my color knowledge. I can fix just about anything. It’s the dread black home box color that is my nemesis lol

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would have gotten my hair license earlier. Even though I have enjoyed the different areas of the industry. I think it gives me a greater appreciation of the great gift I have. It never feels likes work. I spend all day making women beautiful and that’s probably the great gift I could give someone

Pricing:

  • Women’s Haircuts $45
  • Men’s Haircuts $20
  • Root Color $50
  • Color thru ends $15
  • Half a head of high lights $55
  • Full head of high lights $85
  • Toner $15
  • Bleach and Tone $85
  • Updos start at $55
  • Eyebrow Waxin $15

Contact Info:

  • Address: 7111 FM 2920
    Suite 120, Spring, TX 77379
  • Website: www.blonderellas.com
  • Phone: 832 786 8416
  • Email: blonderellashairstudio@gmail.com