Meet MaKeia Warren | Owner, CEO,

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

Hi MaKeia, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
When I think of a quote that holds a deep-rooted meaning to me, I instantly am reminded of “You Got This!” It was something my beloved sister, MonSheldra, who passed away from Lupus in 2016, once told me as tears ran down her face, and she pleaded with me to keep going when I first started WarHaus, LLC. I will never forget the look in her eyes and the intensity in her voice; she believed in me and the brand I was creating, at a point when I was unsure of myself and my abilities. That moment has rung in my ear ever since and indeed was a pivotal point in my entrepreneurial journey. “You Got This” is a quote of affirmation and an encouraging quote. When I am unsure of what to do, I hear her voice tell me, “You Got This,” and that difficult decision instantly becomes clear. “You Got This” reminds me that I possess ALL the things I need to turn my wildest dreams into my reality. “You Got This” reminds me that though she is not here with me in this world, somewhere, her spirit is guiding me and telling me, “I got this.”

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?
My first love is fashion, high fashion, to be exact. I love editorial photoshoots and creative concepts, and at one point, I was a personal stylist. When I think about my company, The Warhaus, I view it as an extension of my aesthetic and my naturally drawn imagery. I strive to incorporate and infuse a high fashion aesthetic into my branding. I believe this approach is the thing that sets my company apart from any other hair company in the market. If you shop with your eyes first, I want to sell you based on the images I create and followed by a well-sourced product that meets consumer expectations.

Another thing that differentiates me in the marketplace is that I AM the girl I am selling to. I was unsatisfied with the quality of hair I was buying from other companies for various reasons, mainly because the hair did not live up to the promise made. The marketplace needed my vision; it needed The WarHaus. As a consumer, the void I was encountering forced me to search for top-tier grade hair that justified my spending. I wanted hair that lasts. Ultimately, the thing I searched for became the thing I am most proud of. I am elated every time a customer tells me that the hair they purchased from my company is the best hair they’ve ever had.

My greatest challenge may sound trivial, but it was and still is overcoming my fears and self-doubt. Some things are to be expected when you are building a brand, and I have experienced them all; In my first year, I spent more than I earned, and every penny I made went back into my business. I often struggled with wondering if I was doing it right, am I making strategic choices? And am I leading my company in the right direction? The truth is, I don’t think one ever knows the answer, you keep going, and on the path, you learn valuable lessons that you apply—the power in pivoting, learning to adjust, and keep moving forward. This agility in your course, in my opinion, is the key to success. It’s never easy building a brand. If it were, everyone would do it. It honestly takes guts to step out on faith and try. That’s what I’m doing with every second of the day; I’m trying, and if that doesn’t work, I pivot and try a different approach. I keep trying. There is a difference; owning a company is not the hard part. The actual hard part is the willingness and fortitude to keep trying when you’re not making money or when you do not see the likes and shares on social media and when people don’t know your brand yet. You keep trying when you’re discouraged because you understand that there is a time for everything— there is a time to plant seeds and a time to reap the harvest. The roughest time you’ll experience is planting seed, but the joy of your bounty is on the other side of that; keep going.

What I would want the world to know about me is, I’m just a girl who was encouraged along the way by a few people to turn a natural gift and passion into a brand. I am no different from you/them. The only thing is, I tried. Too many times, we are too scared to bet on ourselves. As cliche as it sounds, I would say to the young girl or the 30-something that is reading this article to believe in your gifts and talent. The only thing that the market is missing is your voice, vision, and dopeness. Don’t be fooled; being an entrepreneur is scary, but what is terrifying to me is not trying. The reward outweighs the fear; commit to your vision, stay focused.

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?
As a child, I lived in enchanting locations, from Copenhagen, Denmark to Myanmar, Burma; it instilled a sense of adventure and appreciation for exploring and experiencing new things. I value creating memorable moments. Like many artists, I draw inspiration from my culture, keeping my eyes on what’s now while honoring the past. I would begin a long weekend trip at the Trap Music Museum and Gurl Mobb Selfie Museum. Later, I’d visit Poor Calvin’s for dinner. I would visit Parimeter Mall for a good shopping adventure to round out the weekend, but I would also go to the thrift store, Rag-O-Rama, Lost-N-Found, and Out Of The Closet. If we’re not running around the city, you can find me and my girl posse indoors enjoying a great bottle of wine and karaoke; because you cannot have a karaoke night without wine.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am nothing without God and the love and support of my family, the originators, for without them, there would be no Me, My parents Randy and Tonyia Warren. My nephew, JaéDairen Warren, is part of why I strive to succeed. My friends who have encouraged and motivated me, Tanikka Massey and Kaneisha Smith. Lastly, to my beloved eldest and only sibling, MonSheldra M. Warren, my biggest cheerleader, greatest inspiration, and the reason why I keep going.

Website: www.thewarhaus.com

Instagram: thewarhaus_luxuryhair

Other: personal IG is @thewarhaus