Meet Shendona Cole of Wellness By Shen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shendona Cole.

Shendona , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey is defined by the statistics I shattered. At 14, I became a teenage mother, and by 17, I was responsible for three children. While my peers were focused on prom and graduation, I was navigating survival, relying on social assistance, and enduring domestic violence. For years, hopelessness felt like my only constant.
In the late 80s, cosmetology lit a fire in me, but life kept pulling me elsewhere. Throughout the 90s, raising six children as a single mother without financial support meant part-time jobs and the welfare system were my reality. I eventually entered the corporate world, but reached a breaking point when I realized my hustle was being undervalued. Two days behind the chair earned me more than a 40-hour corporate week, and that realization changed everything.
I returned to cosmetology, failed the state board exam twice, and refused to quit. On my third attempt, I passed. I earned my license, launched my business, and never looked back. I am no longer what people consider a statistic. I am proof that you can build the life you were meant to lead. With God, all things are possible.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No way has this been smooth! Not even close. Every season of this journey came with its own brand of hard.
The earliest weight was psychological; being a teenage mom meant constantly fighting to be taken seriously. Layer domestic violence on top of that, and you’re not just building a business, you’re rebuilding yourself while trying to hold your family together. That kind of survival takes everything out of you.
Even after I chose entrepreneurship, the road didn’t get easier; it just got different. Leaving corporate wasn’t glamorous. It was a leap of faith with no safety net. Failing the state board exam twice forced me to have an honest conversation with myself about whether I truly believed in my own potential. That old voice of self-doubt is loud when you’re already exhausted.
And then there was the everyday grind, being a wife managing a blended household of nine children, while building a business from the ground up, requires a level of discipline most people never have to develop. I learned that grit isn’t just about working hard. It’s about choosing to try a third time after failing twice, and having the courage to walk away from anything that no longer aligns with who you’re becoming. It was very evident that God had/is having his hands on me throughout my journey.

As you know, we’re big fans of Wellness By Shen . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Wellness by Shen, based in Orange County, is the culmination of my 30 years in the beauty and wellness industry. I am an author, licensed cosmetologist, trichologist, nutrition coach, and menopause coach, a combination that allows me to address beauty, vitality, and well‑being from the inside out. My work goes far beyond surface‑level services. I help clients understand the internal shifts that influence their external appearance, especially the health of their hair and scalp.

I specialize in identifying the root causes behind hair thinning, scalp issues, and changes in overall vitality. Many women don’t realize that hormonal transitions — particularly during perimenopause and menopause- can dramatically impact hair density, texture, and scalp health. By integrating trichology, nutrition, and menopause coaching, I guide clients through these changes with clarity, compassion, and science‑backed support.

When someone sits in my chair, they enter a space of holistic care. This is not just a salon appointment; it’s an educational, restorative experience designed to help women understand what their bodies are communicating.

I am also the founder of The Resilience and Wellness Collective, a community where women come together to learn, share, and deepen their understanding of their internal health. My mission is to empower women to advocate for themselves, not just in beauty, but in overall well‑being.

What sets Wellness by Shen apart is this intersection of expertise. Whether I’m analyzing scalp health as a trichologist, supporting hormonal balance as a menopause coach, offering nutritional guidance, or styling hair with decades of cosmetology experience, my brand is rooted in transformation. Wellness by Shen is a judgment‑free, knowledge‑driven sanctuary where we don’t just focus on how you look; we prioritize how you feel from the inside out.

What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is legacy through empowerment. For many years, my life was shaped by the choices I made. Today, I define myself by the knowledge I share and the strength I help other women build.

I care deeply about shifting the narrative for women who feel stuck, overlooked, or unsure of what’s happening in their bodies. Whether I’m helping a client understand the internal health factors affecting their scalp as a trichologist, providing nutritional or menopause coaching, or leading The Resilience and Wellness Collective, my motivation is the same: to give women the tools they need to understand themselves better.

I know what it feels like to navigate challenges without guidance or to feel reduced to a statistic. That experience is why I’m committed to creating spaces where women can learn, ask questions, and feel supported. When a woman leaves my chair or one of my sessions, I want her to feel more than relief about her hair or her symptoms; I want her to feel informed, confident, and capable of advocating for her own well‑being.

Helping women move from confusion and struggle to clarity and strength isn’t just part of my work; it’s my purpose. It is the purpose behind everything I do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.byshen.com
• Instagram: @shen_does_hair
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShenDoesHair?
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@byshen
• Yelp: https://yelp.to/Lu40cGjmrt
• Other: https://www.byshen.store