Brown Sugar Suites is more than a Salon…It’s an Experience!
by Queenie McLean
Tucked away in a plush salon suite, 12509 Dillingham Square Suites 110 & 112, Woodbridge, Virginia 22192, off of Old Bridge Rd, is one of the most ambitious businesswomen in Prince William County. Ms. Tanishia Primm founded Brown Sugar Suites, formerly known as Brown Sugar Hair Salon. I stopped by Brown Sugar Suites for a quick chat with Tanishia earlier this summer and learned so much.
Why Brown Sugar Suites is so unique?
Stepping into Brown Sugar Hair Boutique, you know from the start that this is more than a salon; it’s an entire experience. But what stands out more than the illustrious hairstyling, the attention and care of your hair, and the jazzy style and feel of the salon is the experience you get when you meet the owner, Tanishia Primm. Tanishia is a whole vibe! You feel welcomed here. You feel seen here and you feel loved here.
Who is Tanishia Primm?
Tanishia Primm is a mother of three beautiful daughters, Entrepreneur, Licensed Cosmetologist, Hair Extension Specialist, Educator, and Hair School Founder and Principal. Tanishia earned her Cosmetology license in 1997 at the Buffalo Vocational Technical Center in Buffalo, New York. Ten years later, she relocated and opened Brown Sugar Hair Boutique Inc. After 15 years of owning and operating, she earned an honorary Ph.D. in the salon business. She has excelled BEYOND her wildest dreams and while learning from her mistakes along the way!
Tanishia is a natural entrepreneur and Tanishia credits that to having early exposure to other entrepreneurs as a young woman. She also shares that her first experience working in a hair salon was under a stylist named Barbara. Barbara taught Tanishia the importance of having excellent customer service, no matter what.
How did it all come together?
Tanisha shared that when she first moved to the DMV, it was a struggle to find a hair salon. After taking maternity leave from her 9-5 to give birth to her daughter, she decided to pivot into the hair-care business. After two years of styling hair in her basement, she opened a storefront salon. Sixteen years later, Tanishia continues to turn heads in the hair industry.
When I asked Tanishia about her most significant challenge to overcome since becoming an entrepreneur, she shared, “Leadership and management.” You may see the vision in this industry, but it may take a lot of work to articulate it to others. Tanishia admits she had to grow in this area to remain a successful businesswoman.
Tanishia formed a dynamic group of “sisters” or stylists who worked under her when she started her journey as a salon owner. Tanishia credits these women as her inspiration and motivation behind her new endeavor. The Primm School of Beauty is an up-and-coming hair school debuting this Fall 2023.
The Primm School of Beauty
The Primm School of Beauty is a learning center that offers a variety of information related to Successful Business Practices and Hair Extension Services. Tanishia has transitioned from styling behind the chair to standing front and center before aspiring stylists and future entrepreneurs.
While Tanishia inspires many women and girls, she shares that her three daughters are her biggest inspirations. They encourage Tanishia to consider the future and how her decisions will affect their lives. Tanishia shares that now is the time to pivot as her girls grow older. The salon can be challenging, but opening up this school will afford her more time with each of them.
Today we spotlight Tanishia Primm, and we celebrate her for all that she has accomplished and for all that she offers her local community. Hair Care is not just for the care of the hair, Tanishia has proven it to be care for the soul.
To learn more about Tanishia Primm see links below:
