Meet Julia Spraggins | Wraptician

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

Hi Julia, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The thought behind starting “It’s A Wrap Project, LLC” was conceived as a result of my medical diagnosis of Alopecia Areata. I had been on a three-year journey of trying various options to regrow my hair (without success). My journey had been difficult, painful, and embarrassing. I started wrapping my head with fabrics and scarves to camouflage my hair loss. This strategy wasn’t foreign to me, as I had adorned my head with fabrics since my college days. Head Wrapping was paramount in my healing and restoration of my hair challenge. During my medical appointment on the day I was formally diagnosed with Alopecia Areata, the Physician informed me that fifty percent of women of color are suffering from some type of hair challenge. At that moment, I decided to start a project to let other women know that there is beauty, restored confidence, and peace after hair loss.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My career has been exciting and rewarding! I’ve worked in the following fields: in retail as a department manager & buyer, outside sales representative for fashion brands, worked in sports & product marketing, in public relations as a communications practitioner, taught fashion on the college level, owned a fashion consulting/stylist business, worked as an event planner for major events in various cities and currently I’m the Owner and Founder of “It’s A Wrap Project, LLC.” To date, my current project has made me the proudest and I feel the most accomplished and whole doing this work. My business is my ministry and I’m very passionate about the project and my clients, All of my positions and experience have comminated to bring me to this time in my professional career and life. I’ve been afforded the opportunity to work for and with people and organizations that I’ve shared an affinity and true interest in the work and the mission of the companies.
I can truly say that my career has not been difficult, it has actually been exciting. Have I made all the right choices and decisions in reference to my career, no I haven’t? However, I’m proud of myself and my journey. I wouldn’t trade any of the experiences and positions I’ve been afforded. Once a dear asked me: Why do you always have fun jobs and my reply was because I only apply for jobs that resonate with who I am. I must say this philosophy has worked for me.
The lessons I’ve learned along the way are to always work smart, be committed to the work, to be open to learning and unlearning, to treat all people well, to ask for what I need or want, to be kind, smile often, and bring your best and authentic self wherever you go. And life will take care of the rest.
I would like the world to know that my brand is my “ministry” and the work that I’m doing is to bring peace and healing to individuals who are suffering from hair challenges. Know that a hair challenge does not always mean a lack of hair, a bad hair day can bring on a hair challenge. With that said my products and services are available to all individuals that would like to learn the “Art of Head Wrapping!” My personal thought is that “every woman and girl should know how to use fabrics to wrap and adorn their head!” Headwraps are a beautiful art form, very fashionable and they hold cultural significance to many people around the world.

We sell beautiful custom-made headwraps and offer headwrap tutorials.

In the past five years, my project has reached thousands of individuals in schools, organizations, churches, festivals, sponsored events, home parties, hospitals, corporations, foundations, support groups, and government agencies. We are available for virtual and in-person events, workshops, vendor opportunities and we are always willing to tailor our project just for you or your organization.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend was visiting me here in DC for a week we would eat, hang out and have a fabulous time. We would check into a boutique hotel in the city for a few days.
Day 1- Check out a few museums and sightseeing in DC, hang out and have lunch at the Museum of African American History and Culture, while there we will check out the exhibit that I am proudly featured in at the museum. Dinner may be room service or delivery.
Day 2- Rent bikes or scooters and hang out in the city, grab some fresh seafood from the wharf and eat it at Haines Point. In the afternoon we would go to the Kennedy Center to the Millennium Stage for live exertainment. Dinner would be at Old Ebbits Grill in the city and we will end the evening going to listen to jazz at Mandarin Oriental Hotel in DC.
Day 3 – Relax day spa treatments, body care/massage, hang out at the pool, and relax. Dinner at the hotel or nearby restaurant and a meet-up with friends.
Day 4,5and 6- We will board Amtrak early morning to head to NYC. Arrive in NYC and check in to brownstone (Airbnb) in Harlem or Manhattan. While in NYC we will SHOP & SHOP, sightsee, visit friends & family, see a play on Broadway, check out Jon Batiste at Carnegie Hall. We will eat delicious food and of course, dine at “TOA” my favorite restaurant in NYC. On day 6 we will head back to DC.
Day 7- We would go to Sequoia’s for a delicious Sunday brunch and check out a street festival and then head to the airport for her departure.
In my opinion, the best places to hang out in DC are the historical sights, street festivals in the summer, the theater, concerts, enjoying good food, and of course, hanging out with friends ( is always the best).

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I owe the credit to “My Creator” for placing the idea in my spirit and trusting me to make it happen and to “My Beloved Mother” for sharing her love, kindness, hard-working spirit, creative talents with me, and for being a true renaissance woman. My Mother is the wind beneath my wings!

Website: www.itsawrapproject.com