If you’ve never worked with Samantha, of LULA Hair & Makeup, I think you should come up with a reason to get all fancy and hire her now! She’s so wonderful and I feel lucky to have been able to have her do my hair and makeup on several occasions. I’ve actually known Sam since high school and it’s so nice to catch up on life every time I see her. She’s such a sweet soul and that’s why I’m so excited to feature her on the blog today! Her interview is below and I think she had some wonderful answers to these questions! I hope you enjoy this glimpse into Samantha’s business and life!

(photo on left by Perry Vaile, photo on right by Jake + Heather)

What CD is currently in the CD player of your car OR what is currently playing on your Spotify/Pandora player? Oh my, this is a little embarrassing but I’m going to be honest!  I just created a Pandora station for Jack Johnson.  Yes, like the 8 years ago Jack Johnson!  All of this gorgeous springtime weather and the trees in bloom made me want to listen to simple, feel-good music.  I am slightly ashamed to say that Bob Marley and Dave Matthews have appeared on this station:  I have yet to press skip.  My usual is the Bon Iver Pandora station.  It rarely lets me down!

What’s your favorite show in Netflix right now? I recently binged on Fuller House, and I totally cried a few times!  Otherwise, it’s Gilmore Girls.  I’ve seen every episode, more than once!  I will be in a Gilmore-induced hibernation when the new episodes come out on Netflix!

Coffee or Tea? Coffee, for sure.  I drink a cup every morning.  I drink my coffee black and love pour-overs.  This time of year also marks the start of iced vanilla lattes!

What is the “why” behind your business? Why do you do what you do? I have always loved femininity and the joy of doing something nice for yourself.  There is something great about being a woman, wherever you are on the spectrum of “girly-ness,” and getting to take a bubble bath, or getting your nails done, or putting on sweatpants and fuzzy socks on a Friday night.  The whole idea of pampering, sitting back and being the one to get taken care of, is what fuels me up.  I have always loved giving the gift of getting pampered, of feeling worthy and beautiful.  We all deserve that!

How long have you been in business and how did you get started? This will be my 3rd year of full-time LULA!  My first wedding ever was actually in 2006, and from there I would take occasional weddings or events for friends, in between school and other work.  I never imagined it as a legitimate business for myself until I started getting calls from gals that I didn’t know who had gotten my name by word of mouth.  I decided to put a small portfolio on Facebook and develop my first official pricing list in 2011, kept working my office job, and kept getting more inquiries for weddings and proms.  I went full-time in January of 2014.  I’m so glad about that!

(photo on left by Landon Jacob, photo on right by Jake + Heather)

What’s your favorite part of owning your own business? Really getting to do what I love.  If something systematically isn’t working or making sense anymore, I can adjust it to make it work better for my needs.  The business grows and changes as I grow and change.  I love waking up and thinking, “I get to make someone feel really special and beautiful today!”  Sometimes I have to remind myself of that purpose in between cleaning brushes and answering emails, and wearing all the other hats of business-owning, but it’s worth it to feel that connection to purpose.  It also offers me some room to do other things that I love to do, like hanging out with my husband, being outside, and making music.

What is the most exciting project you have coming up? Lots of weddings!! I’m also getting to work in collaboration with some local vendors for various workshops coming up this spring and summer, which I’m super excited about.  I love getting to push the boundaries of my creativity and challenge any routines or creative ruts I might have settled into.

What advice would you give to those just starting out in business? Glean wisdom from others who have gone before you, but don’t feel pressure to do what they’re doing, how they’re doing it.  Figure out what you want your business to be and do for you.  Define what it is you really love about what you do, the parts that make you come alive, and try to do those things as much as possible.  Let that passion fuel your work and keep you going in the not-so-fun parts of work (for me, that’s emails!)  Make note of the things that inspire you, even things that don’t seem relevant to what you do, and keep feeding yourself on it.  Create and recreate!  Most importantly, business won’t look the same for everyone!  Don’t compare yourself to others, and don’t feed into the rat-race mentality.  The world needs you to be you!

How can people find you?

• www.lulahairandmakeup.com
• Instagram @lulahairandmakeup
• Facebook /lulahairandmakeup
• Pinterest /heysamantharay

Samantha Ray is a Raleigh, NC native and loves everything beauty. When she’s not putting lipgloss or blush on people, she loves to travel with her husband, John, and snuggle with her cat, Tiger Lily. She believes in grace, honor, laughing big laughs, spending time with loved ones, sharing a table with great food, and being true to yourself.