Today we’d like to introduce you to Paije Perry
Hi Paije, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I knew I wanted to do hair by the time I reached the 5th grade! I used to braid my close neighbors and style or curl my Barbie dolls hair daily. One fond memory that sticks out to me is my late grandmother used to let me practice on her hair everyday after school she knew what my agenda was in life before I did! I started doing hair at regency beauty institute in Durham, North Carolina. I was more into natural hair and color at this time, but while attending school I started working as an apprentice at Style Ahead in Raleigh, the home of the 50 dollar sew in! We gave half of our earnings to the owner and paid each braider 7 dollars. Can you imagine how fast and long you had to work to bring your check to 1000 dollars per week? I did this multiple weeks for about a year and a half. I had my daughter and moved to one of my good friends salon, A Unique Perception, it was the same layout however the sew ins increased to 85 per head! Still I worked my behind off until one thanksgiving, I left the salon and went to work from home. Working out of the house while living with my mom, one year old daughter, sister and nephew lasted all of 2 weeks before my mom kindly went and applied for me to get my own apartment above her. She went into my safe and put my deposit down without me knowing until my move in date lol. About 2 weeks after I was approved I moved into my 3 bedroom apartment, front room becoming my new space to do hair. I used to have so much traffic coming out of my house the neighbors started to complain so I had to take my talents to Mrs Elaine’s shop and that’s where I had my first salon suite. My high school teacher Reesie Holsey came to get her hair done and said Paije it’s time to take your brand to the next level. What do you want your clients to think of after they get their hair done? I want them to say my hair is Perfect, and Perfections By Paije was born. Shortly after I started my brand I moved to Atlanta Georgia where I got into protective luxury extensions and raw bundles. It was one of the most humbling yet amazing year of my life, however Something kept calling me back home and a year later my daughter and I packed up and headed back to Durham North Carolina where I started working at 40/40 hair salon downtown. A year after that I moved to another salon suite at Wanderlaux. I worked there for 2 years and the pandemic happened. I’ll never forget watching the news and they announced all salons, barbershops and gyms would be closing March 25th 2020. My now husband looked at me and said when you go back to work you will not be working for anyone but yourself. We put our money together and built up The Perfect Salon Suites, 9 suites that have been full since we’ve opened on June 22, 2020. I went from roughly 15 dollars per sew in to luxury extensions in my own space and I plan on expanding even more in the years to come.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road to get where I am was so hectic. When you’re in the moment you never realize you have to go through these stages to really get where you’re destined to go. Being in the service industry is tricky one week you can make great money the next week you can make barely anything but at that moment it makes you think should I just give up or keep going? Even during those bad times I’ve never gave up I just found a better way to get to my destination. One time that sticks out is while living in Atlanta the road was super tough. The first salon I worked in was ran my someone i really looked up to in the industry, to my surprise it was a nightmare and who they portrayed to be online wasn’t who they were in person. My clientele was nothing like it was back home so money was really on the short end while living there however like i said I found a better way. It was hard to get through those times but to top it off my daughter ended up getting hurt pretty bad while we lived there. My family was 6 hours away so all i really had were the friends that i made our family, we are still very close to this day. That is why its so important to really choose your circle wisely.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Get Perfected ?
Get Perfected is the base to all of my businesses. I have Perfections By Paije, where you’re physically getting your hair done by me. Then I have The Perfect Salon Suites, this is where you come to get your hair done. There’s also Perfected Packages, this business is where you purchase your raw Cambodian bundles. This year I will be launching Perfect Potion, this will be my brand new hair care line. I specialize in healthy hair, luxury extensions and pixie cuts. I think what sets me apart is my hustle and humility. No matter how much money i make or the situation my clients come in with, they leave uplifted, relaxed and even more beautiful than when they came in. What i can say Im most proud of brand wise is being in business 10 plus years and I’m still striving to do more each day to build a bigger brand. When you decide to come and Get Perfected you will come into a welcoming atmosphere where you will leave on the healthy hair journey no matter if you’re getting luxury extension, a pixie cut or even a natural style the goal is healthy hair and building a bond with you and your hair!
What matters most to you?
Family. As a black woman we are always taught to be “tough” in reality we have weak moments too but no matter what comes my way in life they are who I can depend on emotionally, mentally, physically and financially. They all mean the world to me!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Getperfected.com
- Instagram: Perfectionsbypaije
- Facebook: The Perfect Salon Suites
- Youtube: Blended By Faith
