We were lucky to catch up with Shamere Lee recently and have shared our conversation below.

Shamere, appreciate you joining us today. Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

If I could go back in time I definitely would have done a few things different as I’m sure so many people would say the same. Im a firm believer that everything happens the way it suppose to for a reason but with that being said I would have started my business earlier. I was a single mom of two daughters & working two jobs wasn’t gonna cut it.

Starting earlier would have had many great advantages…not struggling as long as I did as a single mom. I believe prices for products, hair classes, & a salon suite would have been less expensive. So by the time prices would have increased I would have already had a great clientele & can afford everything I needed for my business.

I always knew how to do hair so why not go to school for cosmetology! After graduating & getting my license later down the road I decided to work at Phenix Salon Suites in March 2016. I thought it would be the perfect set up but unfortunately I didn’t have any clients so I had to start from scratch. Everything worked out so well in the end because I was consistent & stayed in the same location for 6 years. At this point in my career my clientele had grown so much it was time to move into something much bigger than a suite.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

For those who don’t know me I’m a salon owner & natural hairstylist at The Curl Bar Salon in Sugar Hill, GA. I recently moved out of my salon suite & reopened my salon at a bigger location about 5 months ago.

Doing hair has always been a gift but I didn’t know it would one day be my passion. I’ve been doing hair professionally for the past 7 years & loving every minute of it! My salon is a natural hair salon specializing in naturally curly, kinky, textured hair for all ethnicities. At the salon clients can purchase natural hair products to use in between salon visits as we know hair care is top priority these days.

What sets me apart is that I operate & run my salon in a professional manner, with no long wait or overbooking. Most of my clients would say I’m down to earth, silly, & organized. It also helps that I specialize in kids hair which has always been a big plus because most hair salons choose to not service kids.

I’m super proud of how far I’ve come & some days can’t even believe where I am today. Truly thankful for my client’s support over the years it wouldnt be a salon without them. I think its best to always encourage others to get in tune with their gifts…follow their heart, dreams, & stay focused.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Google has honestly been one of the best sources for new clients throughout the years, especially this year. Searching for any business online has always been a great way to find more information on services offered, to see pictures & read reviews to determine if you’re still Interested in trying out that hair salon.

Instagram has been the next best thing these days! With social media being such a vital part of business marketing, the hashtags have definitely helped clients find my salon. Its such a blessing because sometimes its hard to filter through certain hashtags because theyre used so many times. I’m so glad the hashtags have been working out!

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Word of mouth, being consistent on social media, keeping my business updated on Google with new pictures, & client reviews has played a big part in my reputation. Gwinnett county is so big with a lot of other amazing hairstylists who refer clients to me. They may not know me personally but they see on my ig page that I service so many kid clients week to week. It is a blessing to have gained clients just from other hairstylist referring them.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.vagaro.com/thecurlbar
• Instagram: Thecurlbarsalon

Image Credits
Photographer Victor Rodriguez Ig: vmr_lifestyle