We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nicole Samuels-Shemwell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nicole below.
Nicole, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
My hair was not my hair before! What you see now is a true reflection of what self empowerment and self care can do when under the right care. Before I would always keep a fresh set of braids or a flawless extension install. Any style that could cover what was really happening inside of me, I wore. I suffered from acne growing up and I could never figure out why my acne would continuously pop up out of nowhere. So, I leaned on braids and hair extensions thinking I could hide my face. Overtime I begin to notice that my edges were very thin and my hair became really weak and fragile. I finally decided enough is enough and I began to do my own research to determine why I had began to suffer from hair loss. I found that I was suffering from Fraction Alopecia. When I made this discovery, I began the process of my own self care. Advanced Hair Care and Wellness Spa started with me and I wanted to share it with the world. I created a safe place for all individuals to come and discover their hair loss or scalp disorders in order to find a solution. Hair care is so important and can help other parts of the body become healthy as well.
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.
I am Nikki Marie better know as the Hair Loss Guru. I am from Houston, Texas but I have made Jacksonville my home. I am the proud owner of Advanced Hair Care and Wellness Spa. Where I provide a safe place for all individuals to discover their hair loss or scalp disorders, while providing services that help promote healthy hair. I began the journey of hair loss when I discovered that I battled with Traction Alopecia. When I found that there were many solutions to this I could not keep this news to myself. I realized that many African Americans deal with hair loss and ignore it. My mission is to make it know that hair loss is real and there are real solutions to help and solve this problem before it gets worse.
Advanced Hair care provides services such as hair detox, hair growth treatments, and scalp treatments. There are several products as well such as hair growth serum, rice water shampoo and conditioner, and tea tree shampoo and conditioner.
Not only do I solve hair and scalp issues, I sometimes discover underlying health issues that can be treated before it becomes worse.
My spa is one of the most therapeutic salons you can experience. Customers enjoy the aromatherapy and therapeutic environment. They may come in feeling discouraged or hopeless, but when they leave I ensure their confidence is through the roof.
I am most proud of my clients who have stuck through the process and have allowed the treatment to show proof of their consistency. Their excitement and dedication inspires me to keep going each and every day.
I would love for everyone to know that self care is most important. When we are able to focus and improve ourselves we as who we are truly called to be.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I was working in corporate America from the age of 18. Even though I was able to manage both career and business, I came to a point in my life that I did not want to keep giving my business 50% I realized that in order for me to flourish in my own business I had to give up my Corporate America job. The transition was not easy, but God pushed me out of my comfortability into my purpose and calling. Once I left corporate America, that’s when I was blessed to network, build clientele and create space for new opportunities. Due to the pivot in my business, I have seen a major shift personally and spiritually. In my personal life it has helped me to be more patient with outcomes and decisions, because before I had a security net with corporate America. From the spiritual realm, I am more faithful now than ever because God has shown me time and time again that he has my back.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I went into the hair business with a close friend and business started to thrive. However, when I begin to go more into the trichology side of the business. I begin to realize that my goals and visions were going into a different direction. At first, I ignored it and tried to do whatever I could do to keep the business together with my friend. However, time and time again things just didn’t collide like they use too. As much as we tried to mesh the two, it was almost impossible when both of us had different goals and visions for our talents. So as time went by I started to put my business on the back burner (giving up). But time and time again I knew I had a greater purpose and mission and I could no longer serve in the capacity I was in. The difficulty in this situation was choosing to stay in business with my friend or follow my purpose and the expansion of my business. What I came to realize is that making business decisions it’s important to go with facts rather than feelings. The fact was my business was expanding. I needed more space, I needed more tools and resources, and a safe place for my clientele dealing with hair loss. It’s been 9 months almost to a year that I have separated from the business with my friend. We both have our own separate brands and things for us have been really rewarding. 
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ahcwspa.com
- Instagram: Thehairgrowthguru__
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thehairlossgurujax?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-shemwell-a982722b
- Twitter: @NikkiMarie_00
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/advanced-hair-care-and-wellness-spa-jacksonville?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)
Image Credits
Kimberly Maxine – Photo & Makeup