Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsey Shaw
Hi Kelsey, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Well, when it came down to what I wanted to do for a living, all I knew is that I wanted a tray. Yes, a tray. I don’t know why but the thought of having tools all lined up on a tray really excited me. So it came down to being a dental hygienist or a hairdresser. I chose hairdresser because there was way less school involved. My laziness strikes again! Luckily, I ended up being really good at it. I have relatives in the industry and I believe it runs in the family.
Every morning in beauty school, you start with “theory” which involves studying, book work or a guest would come to the class and teach or put on a presentation. Well one day a woman came in and taught a keratin method extension class, and my mind was blown. I’ll never forget it. I knew that’s what I wanted to specialize in from that day. That was back in 2005, and the passion and excitement for the art of extensions is still the same for me now if not more.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Hairdressing is the farthest thing from a smooth road. Starting out as an assistant is exciting but also depends where you work. I remember crying a few times because of how people would treat me and I wondered if it was just part of the “hazing process” of being an assistant and if every salon was like that. I knew in the back of my head when I got to a point in my career when I would need an assistant I was always going to give them grace and be kind.
It can be challenging taking on the weight of whatever your clients open up to you about ontop of making sure their hair turns out good. I wouldn’t trade these last 20 years of hairdressing for anything though, I’m lucky to be a safe place for my loyal clients to land, some of which have been with me the entire 20 years! At the end of the day it’s not just doing hair. It’s so much more and I love it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an extension specialist. Over the last few years I’ve pulled away from the cuts and colors and I mainly just do extensions now. I prioritize my family time over working too so my time is limited. After 20 years I really just want to spend my working time doing what I enjoy most, and that’s always going to be installing extensions and changing peoples lives with simply adding more hair to their head. It’s so simple but it really is just the best. Only people that wear them will understand this though. Becoming a freelance extension educator is just the cherry on top. Getting to share my passion with hungry stylists is the most gratifying thing I’ve done so far in my career.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was and still am very talkative and I always took an interest in doing hair. My grandpa, grandma and an aunt were in the industry and I loved visiting them on set.
I used to cut my friend’s hair in grade school. The fact that they all trusted me to do this at such a young age told me everything I needed to know about how my career would go in hairdressing.
Contact Info:
- Website: @thehairshawp
- Instagram: @bigweftenergy
Image Credits
@rikkifilmsthings
