Inspiring Conversations with Shanti Brown of Lady Butterfly Hair

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shanti Brown.

Shanti, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
First, I am TIA. A mother. An entrepreneur. The owner and operator of my business Lady Butterfly Hair. I have been in the hair industry for over 25 years braiding and styling hair. I am a licensed Master Cosmetologist and Barber Educator and a licensed Master Cosmetologist and Barber. God has put me here to inspire others around me to BE YOU, BE UNIQUE, AND BFLY, my slogan for my brand.

In my lifetime, I have walked with many generations of Legendary People who have helped mold me into the Legendary hairstylist I am becoming everyday.

I was born from a Legendary bloodline. My mom was “Blondie” Ms. Debra Seabrooks Brown known from my family’s owned and operated legendary restaurant BEA’S BONTON ran by sisters Beatrice Oliver (my aunt), Mildred Duncan (my grandma), and Minnie McCarr (my aunt). Once located in the heart of the hood on 34th and Waters in Savannah. Operated almost 30 years with three generations coming in and out helping to keep the doors open. Finally closing down in 1999.

I am a sister, auntie, cousin, best friend, friend, associate, a mentor, a role model, a therapist, a healer, a spiritual advisor, your trusted secret keeper, and a host of other positions that help define me as a human in this lifetime.

THEN, there is BUTRFLY!

The beauty and the brains behind this whole operation!

She is a beast! She is beautiful, confident, intelligent, strong-willed, determined and most importantly driven!

Spelled BUTRFLY because scientifically proven NO TWO BUTTERFLIES IN THE WORLD ARE ALIKE. Unapologetically, I’m me. So be you!

I got my name Butrfly from my mother. She was not only my mother but my best friend and my biggest supporter. She would always tell me how beautiful to her I was and how my life was like a butterfly always flowing with the wind. One day she said to me “You’re just like a butterfly, beautiful to see and hard to catch! Do not let anyone dim your light. Always Be you because you are so unique and girl you know you stay fly!” I loved every word and it stuck with me like glue! She passed away December 18, 2020 from Kidney failure so this year has been rough without her physical vibrations but spiritually she has given me the strength I have needed to continue to be great!

There was never a moment in my life that I was not surrounded by THE GREAT LEGENDS of this city. God created me to lead just like those who came before me.

I grew up all over Savannah, Georgia. Manchester Apartments (LaRouche Ave) as a youngster, which is now Savannah State Apartments for their students. (I’m that old, lol) Bee Road, Waters Ave, Oak Forrest to name a few. I’ve always loved watching some of the hottest stylists coming out of the city. I, first off, never thought that I would then turn out to be one of those HOT stylists. I always said I was going to learn everything I could learn to give my knowledge back to the city. I want to give my knowledge to the next generation of cosmetologists after me.

Growing up I was always with my big sister Nicky (@_lyricsworld5) at the salon getting her hair done from one of the hottest salons I could remember. It was called The Perfect Look on Bullstreet. It was ran by a trendy stylist named Malika and she had a bad crew working with her too! Some are still here in Savannah, I can’t remember them all. To me, it seemed like my sister was in the shop every other week getting these high, bomb hairstyles and these long nails from @PoochiezNails, Legendary nail artist and educator known all over the world for her nails today!. Talking about a beginning of a great experience to life!

When I was younger, maybe somewhere around nine or ten years old, my Auntie Margaret, our family’s restaurant legendary Sous Chef and my mom’s awesome baby sister taught me how to be braid. At first, it was just a hobby. I was always creative so I would try all kinds of designs in my friend’s hair. I would time myself to see how fast I could finish a head. I remember playing basketball in high school at H. V. Jenkins and having to take a few hour drive to our game. I was able to braid my best friend’s hair, Kim J (@kimjluxuryslay) , and completely braid the heads of the girls on the team with nice and neat cornrows before we were to get off the bus. I had their braids so tight it was hard to turn their necks but baby their hair was laid to the Gawds!! Lol

I pushed myself beyond limits I really believed could or would happen. I would tell myself what I wanted to do and stick with the ultimate goal and before I knew it BOOM, GOAL ACCOMPLISHED!

After high school, I got a full academic and basketball scholarship to college to attend their veterinarian program. Once I got to school I was like mommy this is not for me. She said, “ Baby why don’t you get your license for hair?” I didn’t think at that time that was something I wanted to do but I enrolled into the program at Moultrie Technical College in Tifton, GA. I was the only ethnic girl in my class and the only one who knew how to braid. When we got to the ethnic hair subjects I taught my fellow classmates around me how to work with our textures. I loved their reactions when they accomplish their task and even more exciting to see them braiding! As I continued in my program my mother fell ill and I ended up dropping the program and moving back home to help. I started braiding hair at home but my mother hated all the hair being everywhere and in the carpet so she told me I had to go to my clients in that is what helped to jump start my ‘traveling braider’ career. I would come to my clients’ homes and service them within the city of Savannah and with word of mouth my clientele grew.

Then one day after only being back in the city for a couple of weeks I got a call from Fred Nunn (@nunnfred) to work at one of three, of his hottest salons in Savannah at that time called Epiphany Hair Studio this one was located on Skidaway Rd. This salon was filled with all types of trophies when you first walked inside. I was overwhelmed with the idea of even working in any salon besides now this one seemed to have been the top tier of stylists and barbers. I was so nervous because this salon was huge, it had eight barbers and eight stylists. Over 20 people worked inside, and this was a huge step to take in taking just a hobby to the next level.

I stepped into the salon meeting the first hairstylist, Shardayvia (@StarStruckHair.), international educator and stylist in the game today. I watched this young lady slay heads effortlessly. I admired her drive and it pushed me even more to stay outside of my box. I wanted to learn the game inside and out. I was terrified because all I knew how to do was braid. Then one day I met a Vet in the game, Fatima (@fatimathegreat). She said to me “I’ll show to how to style hair but I’m not going to put the shears in your hands!” THAT was my break-out moment.!! She started showing me the ins and outs of styling, what products to use and how to charge my worth. Baby, I took off from that moment on!!

Even in learning the game and gaining popularity, I felt like I was missing something. After a while, I got bored with Savannah and wanted to explore. I began to travel again and do hair in other cities. I moved to Chicago, Illinois and then to Madison, Wisconsin where I met Vernee Nycole (@verneenycole) of Vernee Nycole’s House of Beauty. I enjoyed the experience and took off even more from there. I then started to travel the east coast meeting new people and creating memories and gaining clientele along the way. All the places I’ve been I moved solely on faith. I had no idea where I was going or what I was doing I just followed my heart and did it!

In 2008, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. I then returned back to the city to be with her. In 2009 I found out I was pregnant with my daughter. Best gift ever. She opened my eyes even more to the possibility of creating the life I’ve always wanted. I then started to take my craft a lot more seriously.

I went back to work after my daughter exploring every opportunity I could find. I worked in the industry behind the scenes with some up and coming artist at that time. One I worked with over the course of the years is K’ Lene (@therealklene) based out of Los Angeles. I was her hairstylist for a couple of years throughout her career. I’m so thankful she gave me an opportunity because it open other doors for me.

In 2012, I moved in a new salon home with a couple of friends, Monica (@monica_m_roberts) she serves in the US ARMY, Michelle (@michele_a_adams), ADAMS FUNERAL HOME, Shannon (@iam_vanityshan) OWNS PRETTY ME NAIL COMPANY and our bomb assistant, Tanisha. It was called WILDSTYLE Beauty Salon once located in East Savannah on Pennsylvania Ave. These women bought out their A games when it came to weaves. Monica was from Miami so the flavour she was bringing hit differently in Savannah. The girls wanted the weave to their butts just like her! We worked at one of the hottest weave shops in the city. $65, $75, and $85 sew-ins. Before you know, it took off and we became a household name for slaying weaves in the city. Had the girls lined up and ready!!

As life started to pick up for me, I wanted to solidify my career. I then re-enrolled myself into The Cosmetology Institute formerly located on Pennsylvania Ave. I was determined to get to the next level. So I wanted to do whatever steps it took. I paid for school out of pocket telling myself “IF YOU WANT IT YOU’LL PAY FOR IT!”

Life in the industry took off faster than I could imagine and I ended up dropping out of school again.

After a couple of years of the same routine, I moved from that shop and started working with Brandise (@the_btaylor_) formerly BTOUCH HAIR STUDIO with a different creative level of hairstylist. I worked with Clara (@hair_is_clara) and eight other amazing stylist. This salon was the night to my day that I needed. These women brought out the heat when it came to creativity on a whole other level. This was exactly what I was looking for. I started soaring. The mixture of stylists that worked together made the atmosphere energetic and fun. That was another piece to add to my hair puzzle of life. We rocked parades, and hair shows, and rocked the city with our creativity. I was able to learn what I knew from my previous stylist friends and add the sauce of flavour from this group. IT MADE ME EVEN MORE OF A BEAST!

But even tho I was doing so well in the hair game there was still something missing…

After working there for a couple of years, I was offered an opportunity to work with my good friend Aquillah in my own salon setting with her hair company formerly Hollywood Beauty Bar now Honey Kouture Hair (@honeykouture_hair) of Atlanta. That experience lasted for a year helping me to focus on getting back into school and achieving my goal as a licensed Master Cosmetologist and Barber while opening even more doors, gaining more popularity, and meeting even more moguls in the industry. Some of my faves at that time were Darryl (@darryl4hair) Savannah’s Award winning battle hairstylist and Ada of Beauty in the Beast Hair Studio (@beautyinthebeast._)

One day, while I was in school, Ada approached me about tickets for a class to see one of my faves at that time, colourist/wig designer Ms. Willa (@ms_willaworld). I was known for wearing crazy colors in my hair and social media was just starting to take effect in the city so people knew my work for my clients and their colorful, trendy hairstyles. I was offered the opportunity to come meet her one on one before her class. That was the beginning of me noticing YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHOS WATCHING YOU!

The day of her class was nerve-wracking because although Butrfly is a Social Butterfly, Tia isn’t.

I walked into the class very shy of being with people I was unfamiliar with. The class was fairly large sized and I was VIP so I set to the front. I kept to myself until the class started to fill and people were asking questions so it helped with breaking the ice. I sat in my chair and the camera guy came in to talk to us. I took a picture of him and posted it on my social media. All of a sudden I hear “SHE’S HERE!” Everyone started looking around and I started looking around too because I thought Ms. Willa had arrived at the time. Finally, I said “who are we looking” to the team of women by me and one said “LADY BUTTERFLY HAIR”.

That was the BEST FEELING EVER!!!!

That amazing group of women was the team of Satin Dolls (@satindollz_hairsalon) at that time. Felicia (@hairbeast912), Shannon (@selfmade_the_stylist) and Shaneka (@weakendz_off). These women were amazing! They made me truly feel appreciated for my work in the industry. They had no idea how they inspired me doing what they were doing in the city and they actually watched my work! Also that night, I was invited to meet the up and coming stylist of that time. I then met and became industry friends with hair mogul, Twan (@the_hair_extraordinaire)

At the end of 2014, I graduated with one of my sisters in hair Friend Trelle (@trelles_way_braids) from the Cosmetology Institute of Savannah and was licensed by the state with my Master Cosmetology and Barbers License.

**ONCE THE STEP UP… IT WAS TIME TO LEVEL UP!**

That year I started working with the youngest salon owner at that time doing her thing, Savannah stylist, Rell (@iamrellstyles) of RellStyles the Salon. This was at the time the largest salon in the city. I worked with some of Savannah’s Hottest in there like Beaute (@Beautethebrand) of House of Beaute, Khadijah (@hairbydeesign) Hair by Design the Salon, Gary (@sauce.dr) of Legends Barbershop, Kathy (@kateyesthebrand) of Kateyes the Brand, the late Jeremy (@theheadhunter), Roz (@bossyhairstudio) of Bossy Hair Studio, Tina (@thatdeevadidthat_) of The Girls Room, just name a few.

The notoriety in Savannah was amazing. I was traveling making money and was being noticed for my work near and far but even through all of my accomplishments, I was still missing something.

I decided to leave RellStyles looking to expand in 2015. I then moved to Pooler to a Salon called ICONS. EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE. The owner there was Olga “LOTO” (@owilliams001) is what Savannah calls her. Amazing hands down!!! God knew exactly what I needed to kick me into gear of becoming a successful businesswoman. This woman was the inspiration I needed. She showed me avenues I didn’t know about and pushed me in directions I never thought about. In the midst of feeling like I was missing something, she opened my eyes to understanding my missing piece, EDUCATING others.

I started to remember that feeling I had when I was back in cosmetology school teaching my fellow classmates how to braid hair. I always loved to see them accomplish their goals and that was the missing piece I needed.

I then decided in 2016 I was moving out of Savannah following my dreams. I didn’t tell anyone until it was about time for me to leave. I did inform my clients what I wanted to do and ensured them I would be back to style their hair on the weekends. I then enrolled myself in the educator’s program at Empire Beauty School of Kennesaw, Georgia June 2016.

I traveled every weekend for a year back and forth from Atlanta to Savannah to keep my promise to my clients. This allowed me to meet all the up and coming stylist in the city as well. I traveled to a different salons each weekend I arrived. Forgive me but I can’t remember everybody. After a constant year it was very stressful trying to stay afloat. Life began to take its toll on my energy and I decided I had to let go of school for a while until I could get back situated.

The following year, 2017 my mom was diagnosed with Kidney Disease and she wanted me back home. I told myself at that very moment I had to finish school while she was still alive.

I took the opportunity to create, develop, and master my craft. I prayed every day and ask God to please allow me the opportunity to go back to school before I lost my mom. The reboot made me stronger when I returned home. I was able to focus on my brand and my company. I then since have created my hair brand Just Us Hair and Boutique (@shopjustushair) along with my original brand Lady Butterfly Hair (@ladybutterflyhair).

Through all my prayers and tears, I continued to focus on my craft. One day, I got a phone call that I would have another opportunity to return back to school in 2019.

Talking about blessings!

My educator in Kennesaw, Mrs. Sonya Palmore, was promoted to director of the Savannah campus and contacted me to return to the program. This was the blessing I was waiting on! I was destined to educate because all of my credits from three years prior was still available to me and I was able to finish the program as a transfer student. I was the first of two students to enroll in the Savannah program. I was a transfer student and my good friend Monique (@I_am_uniquelybeautiful) was the first full-time student to graduate from the program in Savannah! Boy, did we buddy system that thing!! Lol, many days we wanted to give up but we kept each other level headed! Lol.

I enrolled in August and was finished with my transfer credits by November. I was able to have my mom see me finish! In December I went to state board and scored in the top percentile of my program coming out of Kennesaw.

By February 2020 I was walking the stage as a LICENSED Master Cosmetologist and Barber Educator!! By this time, my mom was bound to a hospital bed but I was able to see her after graduation.

Now, remember when I kept saying I was missing a piece of me. I had found it. I then applied for and was granted my dream job as an educator at the school. Everything I always wanted…

But then on December 18, 2020. I got a phone call…my mom stopped breathing.

Her death took a lot out of me. I quit my dream job and sunk into deep depression removing my feelings from everything. I was unable to connect to the world and went into solitude for months.

I had to find a way to pull myself back together to mentally and emotionally regroup my life. I wasn’t sure where life was about to take me now but I solely did what I always did, MOVED ON FAITH.

FAST FORWARD…

In June 2021 I found the courage to opened my FIRST salon LADY BUTTERFLY HAIR LLC. Where you are able to BE YOU, BE UNIQUE AND BFLY!!

I knew this was my blessing from my mom. It was the jump start to the next level that I needed to reboot and rebuild my life.

I speak with you today, healing.

Thankful that God has brought me through it to see me to it.

I continue to want to share my journey including the many positive stops and people I have met along the way. I continue to share my blessings with the world as not only an educator but inspiration for many of those who may have wanted to give up in their lifetime. IT’S TOO MANY PEOPLE THAT NEED YOUR LIGHT!

I continue to say to those people KEEP GOING! I thank the ones that have entered in my life in this lifetime and those who have helped me grow and mold into the inspiration I am today! THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My struggle along the way was having discernment. I’m such a free-spirited person. I always want to see the glass half full so whenever I meet people I can see them for what they are lacking in their life. Love, friendship, loyalty, etc. I’m always that friend that no matter what I want everyone around me to succeed. I’m that “IF I GOT, YOU GOT IT” type of friend. That’s when people, family, and friends use your kindness for weakness and use me up for all they want. Me being the nurturer I am I gave until I depleted my own energy. IT ALWAYS DELAYED ME ON MY PATH TO SUCCESS IN THE END.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Master of my craft. I specialize in GIVING YOU LIFE! There is nothing that I will not attempt to achieve for my clients. Natural, relaxed, straight, curly, short, medium, long. Hair cuts, braids to extensions! Any race and any gender. I’m known for my coloring skills. I love the color wheel and love when my clients allow me free range to color their natural hair to their extensions. What sets me apart from other stylists is I am unapologetically myself all the time.

My brand has been around for over 10 years in the industry elevating and evolving everyday. I stand on my integrity as an Educator and a Master of my craft. So I always allow my work to speak for itself.

I truly believe without my clients there will be no me!

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
“LIFE IS LIKE A COIN, YOU CAN SPEND IT ANY WAY YOU WISH BUT YOU CAN ONLY SPEND IT ONCE” -ANONYMOUS