Today we’d like to introduce you to Whitney Purvis.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Ever since I was little, hair, fashion and horses were things I have always loved! I remember accessorizing my barbies and dolls just as much or if not more than playing with them. Had to make sure their hair and outfits, looked just right! When I would go to my church’s girls camp, I was often braiding hair for my friends. My younger sister has long thick hair and would box braid her hair for our trips to Lake Powell so it wouldn’t get tangled. It took a long time! I knew since probably junior high, that I would most likely go to hair school. I went to the Forum Academy my senior year in American fork, Utah. After I graduated, I worked at great clips, got married and we were able to get my husband through school without getting any loans. After, I worked at a few different full service salons. I was able to help with Miss Utah behind stage, photoshoots, and bridal hair as well. I had 2 sweet children during that time and started my working mom journey. I would work weekends when my husband was home, and really wanted to try to limit babysitters. We wanted to be the main influence in our children’s lives. Throughout all this, I think that there was a part of me that always knew the part of hair that I liked the most was styling, including bridal styling. Thats where I felt I excelled, and enjoyed the most! As I was worked in the salon, I did hair for a friend’s wedding business and did lost of brides hair for their special day! The company’s name is Utah Bridal Hair and Makeup. A team of contracted hair and makeup artists and can accomodate all sorts of weddings/events. As time when on, my friend wanted to retire and offered to sell the business to me. I had started helping her run parts of it beforehand so this worked out amazing! This came after covid had hit, I had decided to quit the salon, was just going to do brides and just had my second baby. This was something I could run from home, and even do less of the hair and be home more! We were so grateful! I sometimes miss being the one doing the hair and going to neat venues, but being home more is my priority and I can still take jobs whenever I feel the need! Running a business and being a full time stay at home mom can be hard, so I try to find ways to help lessen the load, keep organized, or simplify life. I have 3 beautiful kids now, and my family means the world to me! Sometimes I feel stretched and don’t feel like I’m doing great at either of my duties, but the great part is that each new day, we try again. If something isn’t working, then try something else! I love the thought of continual change and becoming the beautiful diamonds we were meant to be!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Just like for everyone out there, life brings difficulties. I have struggled with severe OCD/anxiety for years. I would say it started near the end of high school, but really came alive during child bearing years. Unlike our first child, trying for our second and third brought some heartache. I miscarried three times in a row before our second, and then thinking we had solved the issue, waited about a year and a half with no positives for our third. After the first miscarriage, my mental help started plummeting. Then throw in the Covid pandemic in and for someone with OCD that was not a good mixture. My OCD/anxiety became crippling. I avoided lots of things, had panic attacks, and the list goes on. Running a business was hard. I often felt like I was drowning. I have a brother who was able to overcome his OCD/anxiety. He was such a help to me and I was grateful to lean on his knowledge/wisdom. I found each postpartum got worse and worse for depression and anxiety. My third postpartum scared me the most. I knew something really needed to change, because my family needed me and I needed me. I have tried medication before and didn’t like it. I needed something else to regulate emotions. All I knew is that exercise was known for that as well. So after my 6 week appointment I started my fitness journey. Earlier, I had found out I had Hoshimotos and finally started to figure out what I needed to do for that. I have been really pushing myself in fitness, intensely improving my diet, and super focusing on health. I am glad to say it has completely changed my life! I am still not perfect nor has it cured all my struggles, but it has drastically improved my mental health and has given me footings to battle the rest! I have more motivation to do more with my business, and most importantly to become the best, wife, mother and me that I can be. I wish I could shout it from the rooftops to give your overall health some real priority! If your mental health is struggling, please so something to improve it! You are needed and are made to succeed!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Utah Bridal Hair and Makeup is a business with a team of hair and makeup artists. We can accommodate anything from one bride to large bridal parties. We often will have a team of two working on a bride. That gets hair and makeup done at the same time and lessens the get ready time. The best part is seeing the brides photos and see how beautiful they feel!
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Quiting the salon after I had done that for so long was a risk and buying this business was a risk! Getting married and having a family is a risk. LIVING LIFE IS A RISK! Now, Im preaching to the choir a bit, because I’m not always a risk taker and often I’m not a great decision maker either. But if we start to understand that life is a risk, then it doesn’t seem as scary. I like the thought, just try something and if it doesn’t work, try something else.
Pricing:
- The stylists travel to you! That is included in our pricing!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://utahbridalmakeup.com
- Instagram: @utahbridalhairandmakeup
- Other: utahbridalmakeup@gmail.com
