One-stop beauty shop: Top Notch Essentials & Beauty Boutique opens in LaPlace
Published 12:20 am Wednesday, January 9, 2019
- St. John the Baptist Parish officials and community supporters join Kita Harry for a ribbon cutting and grand opening of Top Notch Essentials & Beauty Boutique at 1317 W. Airline Highway Suite G in LaPlace.
LAPLACE — Kita Harry of LaPlace was inspired to open a one-stop beauty shop when she noticed friends flocking to Jefferson Parish to stay abreast of the hottest beauty trends.
Realizing there is a large market St. John the Baptist Parish wasn’t servicing, Harry opened Top Notch Essentials & Beauty Boutique at 1317 W. Airline Highway Suite G in LaPlace.
Top Notch opened Oct. 20 with a breast cancer survivors’ sip and paint event. A ribbon cutting was held in December, and Harry said the new business is already a popular stop for microblading, hairpieces, makeup, teeth whitening and other cosmetic needs.
The view inside Top Notch Essentials & Beauty Boutique along West Airline Highway in LaPlace shows a comfortable space where patrons can go for microblading, hairpieces, makeup, teeth whitening and other needs.
“The beauty industry is booming right now,” Harry said. “The community has really opened their arms, and they’ve been coming in support. It’s constant, it’s steady and I’m looking forward to it booming as I add more services and do more advertising.”
One of the most popular services is eyebrow microblading, a process similar to tattooing that uses semi permanent tint to create tiny, hair-like strokes for fuller looking brows.
According to Harry, the results last one to two years.
“Some people have no brows because they may have thyroid problems or suffer from stress or hair loss,” Harry said. “It’s beneficial to breast cancer survivors who have lost their hair to chemo.”
St. John the Baptist Parish President Natalie Robottom, Top Notch Essentials & Beauty Boutique owner Kita Harry and Sheriff Mike Tregre take a picture at the location’s ribbon cutting party last month.
Harry trained with licensed professionals in Dallas to earn certifications in microblading and ombre brows, which are also offered at Top Notch.
“Ombre brows give you more of a makeup look for those people who want to go to sleep looking like they have a makeup brow and wake up with a makeup brow,” Harry said. “Microblading is more natural because it makes hairline strokes with small blades.”
Client Iris Bergeron wanted to get her eyebrows done so she could feel her best day-in and day-out without applying makeup, but she was scared there could be negative impacts.
In a polite voice, Harry explained to Bergeron any negative reaction is an isolated incident and allowed her to watch as she worked on another client.
“She was doing such a neat, professional procedure,” Bergeron said. “She was talking to me and educated me. Do you know I went back and got mine done? I have even gotten the follow-up, and I’m the happiest person ever.”
LaDonica Gordon holds up a breast cancer painting on Top Notch’s opening day. Owner Kita Harry has hosted fun breast cancer awareness outings for survivors for the past seven years.
Bergeron said Top Notch is successful because of Harry’s spirit.
“She is so warm and inviting,” Bergeron said. “She’s offering services no one else is offering here. It’s a one-stop shop. You can get everything you need for your spirit as well as your appearance.”
Top Notch also offers teeth whitening, makeup, eyelash extensions from an eyelash technician, body waxing by a licensed esthetician and body massages by a licensed massage therapist.
Harry plans to offer laser lipo body contouring by the end of January.
Top Notch also offers a variety of affordable wigs and hairpieces for pre-order.
Harry, a Wallace native and West St. John High School graduate, runs Top Notch while working a full-time career with Shell Chemical.
An upscale atmosphere makes Top Notch Essentials and Beauty Boutique a unique experience. Services are expanding, with laser lipo body contouring set to be added by the end of January.
Her vision for Top Notch Essentials is to expand the storefront and hire more employees. For now, she and her team of four staff members are focused on giving each client individualized attention.
“Everything is by appointment only,” Harry said. “That way, we take our time with each client and give them 100 percent.”
To make an appointment for any Top Notch service, call 504-655-1072.
