Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shanell Monique. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Shanell thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

My mission in life is to be as authentic as possible, and express myself creatively. I have many talents. I have exercised most of them at some point in my life. I sing, I dance, I’m a semi retired Pediatric Nurse, a self Published Author (4 books currently on Amazon.com under my Pen name Sha Star.. “I Love You: A Comedic Novella, Moooooomm I Ate my Lunch Already, You Hurt Me: Thank You, Temptations of Chocolate), I’m also Personal Chef. So as you can see, I’m a woman of many talents. My salon is near and dear to me because that is where I get in my zone. But my cumulative experiences has shaped me into a more individualistic artist. Because I have been a nurse for 25 yrs, healing and nurturing plays a part, so I’m seeing beyond what underlying conditions exist for my clients hair and skin. I grew up in the Industry also because my parents owned the original Touch of Class Salon in the 1980’s, so it’s pretty much ingrained in me. I offer so much info about nutrition to my clients, due to my back ground in food service/dietary which has in turn pushed me into becoming a Personal Chef. Nursing/medical field plays a huge role as well. I’ve become quite a therapist over the years as well. I use a culmination of comedy and singing and pure listening skills and offer advice based on some of my own experiences that I have had. These processes usually soothes tensions that my clients may have upon entering the door.

Shanell, 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?

The original Touch of Class Salon was owned by my parents in NY in 1980’s. I started Touch of Class Phase II Salon in NY in 2006 and closed down in 2016 due to relocating to a new state. I reopened in 2025 as Shanell’s Touch of Class Salon in Lewisville Texas to restart my legacy. I’m a Salon Owner, & Licensed Cosmetologist (New York/Texas) with over 20 years of experience in editorial, wedding, and fashion styling, as well as salon management. I specialize in natural and chemically treated hair, Precision Haircuts, Silk Press, Blowouts, Sew-ins, Quickweaves, Crochet braids and illusion, Microlink I-Tips, Hand Tied Wefts, K-Tips, Tape-ins, Etc! Over 20yrs experience. I have a site that people can purchase human hair bundles, lace closures and wigs (www.Mayvenn.com/ShaMon). I have been published in hair magazines, I’ve worked with some notable fashion designers, hair stylists, model’s, photographer’s and videographer’s as well as some celebrities in the hair and fashion industry. I’ve worked shows during NYC Fashion Week, I’ve also had an opportunity to cross over into the Kawaii themed show, where I was invited by the Asian Rock band Nylon Pink. I’ve also been coined as a Bridal Hairstylist since 2011. I’m currently subcontracted as a Bridal Hairstylist for “Something Blue” by Lee Graves Salon as well.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I would have focused on learning Social media more. But I also came from the era of Oregon trail, Limewire and cassette tapes. I remember when the Internet didn’t even exist. Social media has been a blessing and a curse. When I started, we as stylists had to connect with clients by hitting the pavement. through business cards, hairshows, fashion shows and/or referrals from existing clients. We as hairstylists had to carry a portfolio of our work to be hired for a job. People were willing to get consultations and learn what would benefit the health of their hair. We didn’t have wigs as prevalent as we do today. It was actually shunned upon if people didn’t wear their natural hair.. at least until the 1990’s. Then the Women wanted a “Halle Berry” or “Toni Braxton” haircut because of watching the movie Boomerang..lol. The 1990’s ushered in the wave of weave ponytails and weave styles, sew-ins, then early 2000’s the quickweaves/wig caps, etc. Now, most people want weaves, wigs or braids. I will admit the resurfacing of the Pixie cuts and soft waves, but just like fashion, hairstyles never really go out of style, they just resurface and evolve years later. It’s so funny speaking to a younger stylist about the trends in hair today, I have to remind them that the styles are not new, they have evolved, but not new. To prove it, I often pull up pictures of styles that I’ve done 15-20 years ago to show that it’salready been done. Not only done it, I’ve also taught the techniques to students in a hair school for a short stint. Even the names of some of the techniques have changed over the years, for example K-tips.. not a new process. I’ve done Keratin fusion for over 20yrs. New name, certainly not a new process. The techniques have been tweaked a little, but still not a new process.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I left the Beauty industry for a few years to focus on my nursing career. Coming back after almost 10 yrs and seeing how customer service on both sides have declined, is most disturbing. The education is lacking and the prices have gone up, but quality of natural hair gone down. So relearning myself and where I fit in between all of that is where my resilience lies. Trying to build a foundation without the need to have over 1 million followers on social media to do so, is challenging. I have lots of field experience, but I’m also just regular folk..lol.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hairartistshamon.glossgenius.com
• Instagram: Shanell_Monique_Hair_Artistry
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HairArtistSM
• Yelp: Shanell’s Touch of Class Salon
• Other: www.Mayvenn.com/ShaMon

  (For Human Hair Bundles and Lace Closures, Wigs)