Big city hair care, small town kindness at this Cambria Co shop
When Sylvia Carr couldn’t find haircare products in Johnstown, she decided to take matters into her own hands and created Bougie Hair Care. Photo: Provided
After a battle with cancer in 2012 Sylvia Carr realized that there were no local shops who sold the hair products she needed. At first, she made the trek to Pittsburgh to purchase the products, but after several bad experiences where she said that she felt disrespected by store employees, she decided to take matters into her own hands. “I said, you know what, forget this,” Carr recalls. “I am going to open up my own shop.”
“I never wanted other people to feel that way – like their hair needs didn’t matter,” she added. Carr did her research and got feedback from her community before launching Bougie Hair Care in 2020. She wanted to meet a supply need specifically for African American women in Cambria County.
Carr says that there is a tremendous need for this type of shop in the community. “I’m seeing a lot of people moving from bigger cities to the Johnstown area. City life right now is terribly dangerous. People are looking for something calmer and where the kids can be outside and safe.”
She says that Bougie Hair Care is more than just hair care. “No matter what is going on in the world, we women want our hair to look good. I want the people in my community to be able to get what they need to look beautiful.”
Photo: Provided
Making people feel special and worthy of feeling beautiful is what Carr says drives her company. She is in the practice of paying attention and listening to their needs and wants her shop to be known for kind customer service.
“We don’t know what people are going through. They might be smiling but that doesn’t mean they are ok. We want to treat them kindly,” she says.
With help and guidance from Startup Alleghenies coach Blake Fleegle, Bougie Hair Care has seen steady growth since opening. Fleegle says, “Sylvia has continued to expand her company and offer an ever-increasing supply of quality products. Startup Alleghenies has been there with her every step of the way to make sure that growth has been as smooth as possible.”
Sylvia says that she was discouraged a lot before finding Startup Alleghenies, but she knew people needed what she had to offer. The negative turned positive when she connected with Fleegle. “He has been my rock,” Carr said. “I didn’t know what I was doing. He has been so attentive and will come into the shop if I have a question.”
In addition to hair care products her shop also offers wigs, ponytails and toupees. She offers products for men including beard care items. With the help of Fleegle, she is working on adding a gentlemen’s line and a second location.
Carr’s advice to other aspiring entrepreneurs is not to give up on their vision: “If you have a dream, no matter how big or how small, don’t give up on it. You never know who needs what you have.”
Startup Alleghenies helps startup and emerging small businesses succeed by providing free coaching to entrepreneurs in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon and Somerset counties. To access personal, one-on-one support from a coach in your county, including guidance, resources, tools and networking opportunities, sign up at startupalleghenies.com.
