We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Chelsea Shea Hodges. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Chelsea Shea below.

Chelsea Shea, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

The biggest risk I took was leaving the salon world and starting my own hair and makeup business. My career starting growing out of the salon into tv, editorial and to on-site weddings. I was having to block out days on my books in the salon and that was hurting my salon clients and the salon. I realized for me to expand in my career the way I wanted to I needed to be on my own. It was extremely scary but the best thing I did to move to the next level. Haven’t been in a salon now in 7 years.

Chelsea Shea, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I grew up in the beauty industry in a way. Every summer I would live with my nana in Vermont. She was a hair stylist. I would go with her and help entertain the client/help hand her perm rods etc. I always loved the beauty industry. I was the friend that did everyone’s hair and makeup for events in high school. I went to college for a bit but then realized I needed to follow what I’ve always loved. I went to Paul Mitchell cosmology school and learned all the different avenues you can take in the beauty world. It’s not just cut and color work. From then I knew I’d love the glam side. I started getting involved with anything I could outside of school and got in contact with anyone in the industry

Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?

In the beginning of being my own boss there were times where I had to call my parents and ask for money to pay rent. I hated doing that. I was learning how to control my money still. The beauty industry is a lot like the food/beverage world in the way it can come in at big amounts and then not. Also when you work a lot of editorial and tv gigs you don’t get paid til a month or so later.. so budgeting was a thing I had to learn. I wasn’t getting a paycheck for a certain amount every two weeks. There are also slow seasons that i learned

Let’s move on to buying businesses – can you talk to us about your experience with business acquisitions?

I have been working on a cosmetic line called PADEN. It’s been in the works for 2 years now. It’s so exciting but I’m learning a lot! Finding investors and putting myself out there in that way is a whole new vulnerable world for me. But I’m in love with what I created

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Chelseashea_hmua