Major Harris commands more than hair
Salon owner helps others set up shop
By Louise Holland
Elaine Steven Beauty College
Major Harris, owner of Hair Commanders Salon for more than 23 years, is not one to rest on his laurels. After attending beauty college while hardly having enough money to pay his tuition, he persevered, worked hard and applied himself to make the most out of his chosen field. He has kept his salon open for all those years serving clients with cuts for men and women, styles and other beauty services.
While working in his business, his interest and passion has always been to assist the next generation in taking part in the American Dream. This led him to his second business venture of opening and running A Outlet, selling new and used salon equipment.
He does so much more than that. Harris helps any interested person, whether experienced or newly licensed, to design and plan the dream salon they have always wanted but didn’t know where to start, as well as furnishing it with quality equipment at a low cost.
Harris attends hair shows and is involved in all aspects of the profession to try to reach the stylists which may benefit from his services. It is not a job to Harris, but a calling that he answers with excitement and passion. He pressures the beauty schools to teach today’s students the importance of understanding the cosmetology business and stressing the importance of being prompt and on time. He is all about making a positive difference in people’s lives.
Major Harris is living a dream that was even bigger than he could imagine for himself. He never believed he would be meeting with presidents of large beauty equipment manufacturing companies all over the world and interacting with them on a one-to-one basis. His dreams never included setting up salons and shipping equipment to other states, and yet that is now the reality. He even ships out of the country with some clients in Africa. He is able to meet and mingle with many different celebrities when he travels to California to conduct his business.
Major Harris attributes his success to tithing his 10 percent to his maker. He advises everyone to “pay that 10 percent and go to your post.” He goes on to explain, “You can’t just tithe and sit back and wait. You have to be where you are supposed to be and do what you are supposed to do and God will supply your effort.” This has happened in his own life as through the cosmetology field he was able to send his son through law school and now his son specializes in wrongful death law suits and owns his own firm. His son’s business is established in Tallahassee, Florida and is now the second-largest black-owned law firm in America.
Thoughts For Life:
“When the student is ready the teacher will appear.”
“A wise man can learn more form a fool than a fool can learn from a wise man.”
“A wise man can learn more from a fool than a fool can learn from a wise man.”
Email me with questions or comments to louise@esbc.edu. Send in a short biography of any local hairdresser you would like to see highlighted in this column who has contributed to the community by building a successful business in the beauty field or as a result of their involvement in cosmetology.
