Meet Shayda Bakhshian of Shine By Shay

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shayda Bakhshian.

Shayda, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I could say I started back when I was 2 years old and one day was left alone for enough time to manage to cut my own hair. Which led to cutting, coloring with food coloring and the by accident curling/ melting of my Barbie around age 9.

While getting my bachelor’s in business management, I attended Paul Mitchell and assisted in a salon. After about almost a year of assisting, I started renting a chair. I spent about 8-9 years of growing , learning and expanding my talent in all aspects of hair. I love that I get to be creative while making my clients feel beautiful. In 2012 I found Butterfly Loft Salon and Spa where truly blossomed and finally felt at home! I learned so much from the owners, David and Alexis Thurston,as well as all the amazing stylists that work there. Then March/April 2015 I took a big leap and decided to follow my dream by going on my own and opened my salon SHINE By Shay in a private suite at the Ubungalows by Butterfly Loft. It’s such an amazing feeling to be able to cater to each client, make them feel at home, play with hair, play music they like, make them a cappuccino and hang out.

Has it been a smooth road?
In the beginning, it was a big struggle for me. I was going to Cal State Northridge (CSUN) to get my BA in Business Management while going to Paul Mitchell, which was then followed by assisting in two different salons while finishing up CSUN. I was getting over my shyness, new environment, constantly juggling between working hard, learning my passion and studying for business. Many stylists and salon owners gave me a very hard time and would constantly tease me for doing both at the same time. I am so grateful I somehow zoned out the negativity and persevered. thankfully I did have my parents and sister for support. After 3 years of juggling, I received my BA in Business Management while moving into renting a chair. I somehow learned to find the right balance between work and fun. I had to learn the hard way how to stand up for myself and not let certain negative types bring me down.

When I found Butterfly Loft in 2012 I thought wow, this is what I have been missing. After 5 years of doing hair, I found stylists who support each other! It wasn’t a competition, it was a family. There was always someone to talk to or ask for advice if needed. So much to see, learn and do. The owners, David and Alexis Thurston taught me so much of how an amazing salon actually works, how to treat your employees and most of how to always make sure a client leaves happy! I am so grateful to them for providing this beautiful work home right next door at the Ubungalows.

My most recent struggle I would say is getting used to the idea that I am completely on my own now. after a year and a half I think I have sorta found the balance between client scheduling, salon cleaning, enough time for each client while doing hair, going to hair classes, side creative projects to keep me fresh, and maybe a day off here and there for me time.

I don’t think it has been smooth at all, however, I also don’t think the best things in life come easy! Also probably would have been too boring if it was easy.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
SHINE By Shay is owned and run only by Shayda Bakhshian

I do all aspects of Hair: Coloring, Cutting, Styling, Extensions, Updos/event hair , as well wigs and extensions. In my private suite, I can also do Eyebrow waxing/styling as well as full body spray tans. I think my specialty is finding a way to make each client feel at home. I try to cater to each client in any way that I can. Either with a cappuccino, tea, music such as their favorite soundtrack for their mood of that day, and if I had time that week a little treat that I may have baked. And some days all they need is a longer head massage with a conditioning treatment followed by a little therapy session in the chair to brighten up their day.

As a company I am proud that my clients leave happy, relaxed, beautiful, rejuvenated, refreshed, new, glowing, and most of all they just SHINE! I still pinch myself and think wow 10 years of doing hair has flown by so fast, looking forward to the next 10!

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yes, I do! There are many many salons out there, seems like there is a lot of competition. My advice would be for them to assist at Butterfly Loft or a salon with that teamwork/ family atmosphere and work your way up! You gotta go somewhere surrounded by amazing talent and that has room to grow.

Contact Info:

• Address: SHINE By Shay
  Located at the Ubungalows by Butterfly Loft
  Encino, CA 91316
• Website: www.shinebyshay.com
• Phone: 3235107429
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: ShineByShay
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/shinebyshay
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/shine-by-shay-encino