Boss Doll® Spotlight — Terra Harvell
We sat down with this amazing girl for the first interview in our new Boss Doll™ Spotlight series!
Welcome to the Boss Doll® Spotlight, our new interview series where we chat with amazing female leaders! We are so excited to learn a little more about them and how they got to where they are now. The PR Dolls are truly honored to say that our first Boss Doll® Spotlight is with a woman we are lucky enough to call our client — Terra Harvell, the founder and CEO of Harper Ellis Hair Co. and owner of Salon Five Zero Four in Fort Smith, Arkansas! Terra has built a multiple six-figure beauty empire from behind the chair and was kind enough to answer a few questions during her recent visit to The Doll HQ. Here’s what she had to say:
So a little bird told us that before you set out to be a hairstylist you wanted to be a whale trainer at Sea-world! Where did that come from and when did that change?
Oh my goodness! This just made me laugh out loud! I actually grew up visiting this amusement park with my family! My brothers and I loved it visit in the summer — it was our favorite place! I was amazed by the way they could tame and train the whales. I also was sad about them spending their lives in a tank so I wanted to be sure they were only there to be take care of and rescued. I wanted to do whatever I could to make them happy! Needless to say my mom was relieved when my dreamed changed!
What initially drew you to becoming a hairstylist?
My great grandparents would babysit me before I was old enough to go to school while my parents worked. I would sit on the front porch with my grandma and fix her hair in any hairstyle I could think of, as long as she would let me! It was then I decided that I wanted to be a hairstylist!
Was your goal going in to it always, “I want to eventually start my own salon?”
No way! I didn’t want my own salon until about 5-6 years into my career. I decided it was the right move for me when I knew I could help other stylists make more money!
So you have your salon, you have your team, at what point did you decide to add hand-tied extensions to the mix? What was the appeal to focusing on hair extensions?
I have actually been into hair extensions from long before my hairdressing career! I have always worn some type of them myself (even in high school) so when I started my cosmetology career it was one of the first things I was certified in — this led to it becoming what I specialized in! To be honest, I’m actually kind addicted to the confidence hair extensions give people! Extensions are much more than just giving people “fake hair.” From a stylist to a stylist — the financial benefits of offering a service like this is a complete game-changer!
You changed the hair extensions game — so much so that you are teaching other hairstylists your own method! How amazing is that?! Did you ever imagine yourself also becoming an educator? How has this experience been for you?
I did! I am actually a product of a long line of educators so honestly that side of me comes naturally! It wasn’t until a few years into my career that I realized I was actually decent at it myself! Educating is actually what fulfills me- I have worked so hard to create this dream life I am living, and teaching others how to get here too, is more rewarding than I could ever explain!
You have now hosted the Academy in Fort Smith, Nashville, and just recently, online! Where are we headed next?! Is it going to stay digital? Is the goal ever to go global?
I have majorly large dreams for our education program! With the help from POSH PR®, we have recently evolved our new education program to help other stylist become what will be the most ELITE group of stylists in the industry! I am over the moon to launch this! Global??? ABSOLUTELY! I won’t stop until I can help as many stylists as possible live their dream life! We are only getting started here!
What is next up for your dreams?
This dream is constantly evolving actually! My dream is actually to leave the biggest mark on peoples’ hearts and to inspire them to be the best they can be! I truly want to help and guide people and to continue to spread love and positivity.
What Words of Wisdom would you give to your fellow Boss Dolls®?
To keep pushing when even when it’s hard. Anything worth having isn’t easy and it will, at times, throw many stones at you! The rewarding part is the journey — you will have to go through the storms to see the sunshine when the clouds break!
Seriously, what a truly amazing Boss Doll®! Terra is truly an inspiration for all — not just the hair community. We are so thankful she sat down with us to give us a closer look into her world! There is much to gain from her story!
Xo The PR Dolls
Are you a Doll doing business and interested in working with The PR Dolls?
Contact us! Email our Boss Doll + CEO, Caroline here!