We recently connected with Shantesheona Jennings and have shared our conversation below.

Shantesheona , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you share a customer success story with us?

A few times while working, I saw this young man walking by who would look into the salon but never said anything. One particular day he walked past my house and turned back around, and asked if I serviced kids, and do I think I could do his hair. I told him “yes, I service kids, but why did you say do I think I can do your hair, well that’s what I do?” We both laughed! He then stated, “everyone I’ve been to said my hair is too nappy to braid so won’t touch it, do you think you can do it?” I replied, “yes, it’s no such thing as your hair being too nappy maybe they just can’t braid or don’t have the patience, but I got you, just call when you’re ready,” as I proceeded to give him my business card. A couple days later he reached out and made an appointment. The day of the appointment he asked, “are you sure you can do this?” I told him “yes, just trust me and relax, I’m not them!” He continued doubting my ability to do the job based on what he had been told by other stylist! Regardless I knew what I could do! While giving his hair some tender loving care, we were in conversation and I learned he was a foster child and his foster mother, would not do his hair but would do his little sister hair. Knowing not only was he reminded of his coarse hair by stylists but also by the mother who is suppose to shield him from the negative comments about himself, all making my service to him that much more meaningful. I learned so much about him in one sitting ,it’s like he needed someone to actually talk to! This child felt out of place! I assured him that I would always be there for him! And although we got into a serious conversation, through the time, he repeatedly said “I can’t wait to see my hair, I just can’t believe you really doing it.” When I got to the last braid, excitingly he said “oh my god, you on the last one?!”
Upon finishing , I turned him around to the mirror and the smile on his face touched my heart. It was like he saw a new person and his face lit up! He rubbed his hands through his hair smiling, and said “dang you must have some magical hands or something, what did you use?” I told him nothing magic about it, it just takes someone who is serious and care about their craft. He hugged me so tight afterwards and said “thank you!” I felt his thank you in my soul!
Hearing his experience about being in the foster care system made me want to do so much more than just his hair, but that was the start. For the past 3 years, I have been like family to him. I have supported him, I’ve gone to his basketball games, gone to his champagne party, discussed college, scholarships, his talents and what to do with them, finding his purpose, etc. Even when he doesn’t need his hair done, he stops by on a weekly basis to check in with me.
Knowing I made a difference in his life by doing his hair was a success for me. Doing his hair was more than just doing my job, doing what I love, it was also about doing God’s work. I’ve been told many times that I’m always trying to save someone and I can’t save everybody. One thing about it, I will always do my best and let God handle the rest!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I started braiding when I was 8 years old, first practicing on my Barbie dolls; gaining more confidence with my craft at 9, I started braiding other people’s hair. Whenever I would braid it seemed as if my hands had a mind of their own as I would come up with different braid designs every time I did someone’s hair; it would never be the same hairstyle twice, and when I did try doing the same style, I could never do it the exact same way, something always seemed off. Furthermore, the more practicing I did I got better and better, never perfect because I don’t believe anything is perfect, there is always room for growth no matter what field you are in.
When focusing on growth, a huge part of my craft pertains to my mind set, being open to criticism and learning from my mistakes. Many people aren’t willing to accept criticism and make the necessary changes. I have heard of and witnessed stylists let go of a client because they spoke up about not liking their hair and what was done wrong. I not only accept criticism from my clients when needed, which has only happened twice, but I also criticize myself even when clients are happy about their hair. Along with accepting criticism, I make changes, thus allowing my business and skills to grow.
On the other hand, when speaking of growth, I promote hair growth! I speak with my clients about how they need to nurture their hair; growing hair isn’t always about keeping the hair braided so it can grow, you have to also hydrate the hair, refraining from constantly using heat, heavy products, and believing old tales, such as dirty hair makes the hair grow,or black people can’t grow long hair, it’s all genetics. Adding to my clients nurturing their hair, I have what people call “growing hands.” Not everyone can say that and have proof; like the elders would say “the proof is in the pudding!”
In speaking of elder clients, many of the ones I have encountered deal with balding, hair thinning, or both, so I help them by discussing protective styling, such as crochet. I have also been asked to make a wig for one and being she loved it so much, I decided to start making wig caps.
Moreover, I like other stylists look for products that helps my braids look cleaner, but I focus not only on what I feel is a better product but also my clients. I am not a stylist who focuses on for the moment clientele. Meaning, I’m going to change what needs to be changed for the benefit all parties, myself and clients, so my clients can keep coming back, rather than it being a one time thing.
Above all, my clients have told me I make a huge impact on them regardless of how they arrived to me, happy, mad, sad, whatever their mood is I am impactful. One client has stated when I service her, it’s my overall presence that keeps her coming and makes her feel comfortable; I always act accordingly, professional of course, but always a good time. Hearing comments like that makes me proud and lets me know I am living in my purpose!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

December 9th, 2024, I received a phone call at 1am from a client! When looking at the phone and noticing the time and who it was, the first thing came to mind was to ignore it. However, being that this particular client had become more like family, I had a feeling it was urgent. I picked up the phone and the way he said my name, I could hear it in his voice, something was wrong and immediately I sat up. He said “my dad died!” I told him I was on my way. When I got there the police were sitting outside so I knew from experience, the body was still inside the house, but I did not know the condition in which it was in or if he was covered. Regardless, I was there for support so it did not matter to me! Yes, his father’s body was still there, not covered, but as if he was in bed resting. After some time, because of my experience with my own family members, I knew his body needed to be prepped before it set in, so I called my mom for assistance. She helped me over the phone to prep his body, having to tie his legs together at the feet, tying a towel around his mouth to the head so his mouth can close, and crossing his hands the way the family wanted them to be crossed while in the casket. The family had no idea that these steps had to be taken, but I did, and they were grateful, as I was grateful I have a mother who prepared me for such situations.
By the time his father’s body was picked up, it was 5 am and I had to be up at 6:45 to prepare for the day, taking the kids to school and servicing my clients. When I got home the young man and I got on the phone so I didn’t get to sleep until about 6am. Only getting 45 minutes of sleep, I was overly exhausted and ready to cancel the 3 clients I had to service. I contemplated on cancelling them but my loyalty to my business wouldn’t allow me to and I found myself behind the chair crying and braiding. My clients couldn’t tell that anything was wrong because I laughed, and still engaged in conversation like nothing was wrong.
The young man called me a couple of times during the time I was braiding, each time taking it harder it seemed; I felt so helpless, my heart was heavy and I felt every bit of his pain. The loss of his father caused me to think about me losing my father at a young age. I knew what he was facing in the moment and would be facing later down the line!
One of the clients I was servicing that day asked why was his death bothering me so much, and I had to explain that some clients turn into family and this was one who did. This young man had and has my heart!
The passing of his father left me feeling somewhat depressed and broken all over again. As if I had just lost my own father! I could not wrap my head around what was happening,I wanted to shut myself out from the world as it seemed I was having to grieve and grow at the same time but through all the tears, weakness, brokenness, and grief, I pushed through; I kept moving and continued to service all of my clients and continued to be that shoulder for the young man who lost his father. My clients needed me and so did he!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

How to compose myself in every situation and understand not everything deserves a reaction; learn to let things be! In the past, I was very short tempered and did not care who it was I was dealing with, if you had an attitude with me, I had one with you, if you spoke sarcastically, expect the same in return. That attitude of whatever you do to me I can do it back and probably ten times worse, kicked me in the butt. When I was a teacher, I was known as the cool teacher; my students and I were all very close, which other teachers and staff disliked for whatever reason. Being the only black teacher made me feel it was about race. I would walk into the school and laugh at them staring at me with disgust! The job became very uncomfortable once incidents started occurring, thus having meetings after meetings with the principle. A couple of the staff and I bumped heads consistently and every time they would talk crazy to me, I was all for it, my attitude was unmatched!
However having that attitude did no good for me! When we started having constant meetings about the altercations, the principle was on the other teacher’s side and I could not understand why when she knew I was doing my job; going above and beyond to do it. One particular meeting we had, I did not keep my composure once again, but this time, my boss asked to speak with only me after the meeting. She noted, ”you know, you are right in every meeting and have a valid reason for what you are doing and saying, but because of how you handle the situation, yelling, your body language, and your verbiage, all puts you in the hot seat.” At first I still ignored her because of course I thought to myself, well she’s white so she’s on their side, I’m in this alone. So, I decided to look for another job.
I went to an interview at another school and when I walked in, there were two African Americans present to interview me, making me feel at ease. My relationship with my students, work ethics, and teaching skills were top tier, so I had no reason to think I would not get the job. The interview was going great and then it got to the last question about my relationship with students. I just knew this school had already been in contact with the other school, and that changed my entire mood. For a moment I kept my composure, although I was boiling inside, but I answered it professionally. At the end we were all smiling and the principle said, “I’ll be in touch, can’t wait to work with you, do you have any questions?” I knew I had the job, I could feel it in my bones until I opened my mouth and asked, “what’s your issue with teachers having a strong bond with their students, especially when it’s not an inappropriate relationship?” Why didn’t I just let the interview end on a good note, their was no need for me to even ask that question, but because I couldn’t let it go, that cost me that job; I would have been at a school with better pay, mixture of ethnicities, better benefits, and other perks. I got in my own way and did not get hired!
Sometimes we don’t realize we are in our own way and our attitude can either take us a long way, short away, or no way at all!

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