Meet Karissa Burkee | Onsite Bridal Hairstylist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karissa Burkee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karissa, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I went to hair school and got my cosmetology license right out of high school. I worked behind the chair in a full service salon for the first year of my career. I learned a tremendous amount and fell in love with hairstyling for weddings and being a part of so many special events. After a while though, the salon environment that I was working in really burned me out. I was losing passion for my craft, and I knew I needed to make a change. I left my salon job as I was shifting into a new season of life during that time with becoming a mom. I still loved doing hair and especially had a passion for pursuing my own onsite wedding hairstyling business, but I wanted to be able to design my life as a mom first, that has always been the most important job to me. I’m from Michigan and co-owned Blushed Beauty with my best friend who is a makeup artist and also a mom. We loved being able to be at home with our kids during the week and do what we love on the weekends. At the end of 2020, we parted ways as I made South Carolina my new home. I launched k.b. glam in March 2021 servicing brides In Columbia and surrounding areas and it has been an amazing journey. I feel so blessed to be able to have a job and business that provides me a living, but also one where I am meeting so many people and networking with other extremely talented vendors in the area. One of my favorite instructors in cosmetology school use to say, “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
When I worked in a salon years ago in my small hometown, onsite hairstyling wasn’t really heard of. Salons would charge a hefty fee to come onsite to wherever the bride and her ladies were getting ready. I’ve always been honored to be a part of one of the most important days in someone’s life and I wanted to continue pursuing my love for wedding hair, while also making it more convenient and stress free for the bride and her bridal party to be in the comfort of where they are staying and having fun getting glammed at the same time. I take a lot of pride in not only delivering pretty hairstyles, but making the experience fun and enjoyable for everyone that sits in my chair. Moving from Michigan to South Carolina during COVID and starting over by launching a new business where I didn’t know anyone was a humbling experience for sure, but looking back at the growth over the last few years, along with the amazing people I have met along the way, makes me smile and keeps me eager to learn and grow for the love of my craft that I have am blessed enough to call my career.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Being from a small town, I love living in Chapin. It’s quaint and there are a few local, casual spots that I love to take my kids to and hang out with friends. Lazy Creek Taphouse and Higher Ground Char House are a couple of my local favorites. If I’m venturing into Columbia, Cantina 76, Blue Marlin, Market on Main, and Bourbon are my go-to’s for lunch or dinner, and I always love to take family or friends that are visitng to Soda City Market on Saturday’s. Walking the dam across Lake Murray and checking out the beautiful riverwalks in the area are perfect for some fresh air. A trip to Riverbanks Zoo is always on the agenda as well!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
To my family and friends between Michigan and South Carolina, I wouldn’t be where I am without the amazing community of people I am privileged to have in my life. The support, referrals, and endless encouragement is always immensely appreciated and so heartwarming. I have also connected with so many other makeup artists, hairstylists, photographers, florists, etc. that have become friends and I always appreciate how we can refer each other and build each other up, sharing our love for the business of weddings!

Website: https://www.theknot.com/marketplace/kb-glam-chapin-sc-2045835

Instagram: @k.b.glam

Image Credits
-Group photo and blonde updo: Ely Lynn Photography -Featured photo (me putting veil in): Dan Stewart Photography (danstewartphotography.com) -Me pinning the brunette updo: annielauraphoto The other 2 photos were ones that I took on my phone.