Meet Shannon Stafford

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Stafford.

Hi Shannon, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am a biracial woman who begins going to the beauty parlor as a child because my grandmother who was raising me wasn’t familiar with my hair texture. I can remember spending hours in there looking at how individual’s beauty was enhanced and how their self-esteem was much higher once they saw themselves. That part I found amazing how a hairdo could have an impact in that way. I begin to practice on my dolls and my own hair mimicking on how my beautician created different looks. After my grandmother passed, I was put into group homes and foster homes where it was really tough for me but I never lost the passion for hair.

Having my first child at 15 dropping out of school, I eventually went to a cosmetology institute. I had to put that on pause due to life circumstances. Determine to pursue my dreams, I found a salon to work as an apprentice. That didn’t work out so after years later, once my children was older, I made the decision to go to cosmetology school. After obtaining my license, I managed a salon. A year later opened my first salon in 2015 with only two stations. Three years later, I expanded with a seven station salon. Two years later, I was able to again relocate into a new shopping center with eight stations. I was blessed to discover one of my gifts God gave me, stayed determined and dedicated, I was able to see my dreams come to life and now I have one of the top hair salons in the Savannah, ga area.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
There were some bumps in the road along with a few wrong turns. I wasn’t given a blueprint so I had to learn so much through trial and error. It was very difficult obtaining my license.

No knowledge on the importance of a business plan.

Financial hardship.

Those are a few major key components needed to start your business.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Currently in the beauty industry for 18 years. I am a licensed cosmetologist, certified Hair Loss Practitioner and a salon consultant. My clients love that I am a diverse stylist that is well-rounded with my skills. I am definitely proud to be able to create opportunities for individuals in this industry along with helping salon owners revamp their business helping things become much easier to run along with becoming more successful. I have to say what set me apart from others are my unique ability to help someone explore change, building a relationship of trust and caring not only concerning hair but personally as well.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I am definitely a risk taker. When my spirit prompts me to move, I jump. I am driven by my aspirations. You have to take that leap of faith if not you can miss your blessings and possibly your purpose. I fought for to not only my dreams of owning a salon but the person I have become. I was the first to graduate college on my mother’s side and the first to become a business owner on my dad’s side of the family. You cannot live in fear. If you make a mistake, take a loss it doesn’t mean you are not headed in the right direction it simply means you need to approach it differently. If you can vision it, it’s already yours. When I first enrolled in an eight-month cosmetology program, I would have never thought that the road ahead would of cause me to finish ten years later. I can remember waking up one morning and saying to myself, I’m going to open a salon. Seven days later, I had the keys. With so much excitement and anticipation, I didn’t think about what it took to run it and sustain the business. Doubt, fear and uncertainty kicked in but, I knew everything was going to work itself out. If you don’t push yourself, you will remain stagnant. Being a risk-taker, you will always climb higher and higher. No one has the ability to stop you but you.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.newerahairstudio.biz