We recently connected with Shanna Brailford and have shared our conversation below.

Shanna, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I knew I what to pursue my craft when people started to notice my skill and said I should go to school for hair.

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.

Hello my name is Shanna (Shannae). I was born in Baltimore City. Some would say I’m very live and vibrate. I live my life like it’s my last. I love hard and I play harder. My mother moved me out of Baltimore city at a young age because she wanted more opportunities for me plus I was getting in trouble. Around the wrong people. But once we moved my life changed for the better.

I started my doin my friends hair in middle school. Shortly I start realizing that the parents were asking me to do their daughters hair on a regular. Which was great for me because I was making money on something I didn’t really think I was good at but others thought I was pretty good for a child. Fast forward to highschool I took up Cosmetologist. The first day I got a real reality check. Doing hair was not as fun as I thought it was going to be. I never knew how much WORK went into this craft. How much studying I had to do. It was the longest 3 years of my life. But I did it and I graduated with a job!

My first job was at a Day Spa. I learned so much there. My managers were the best at would they did. I wanted to be them. Busy busy busy.
Only problem was I didn’t do color services. Why? Because I was scared of burning someones hair out. Lol. My manager came in one day and I had just turned away a color client. She asked me why I did that and I was very honest on why. You know what she said… Your not goin to learn unless you make the mistakes you need to make so you can be successful. Those words stick with me. Even til this day. So needless to say she went and found that client and from that day color services came natural to me. It’s one of my favorite thing to do. Till this day I still thank her for pushing me the way she did. It changed me for the better.

I have been a hairstylist for over 20 yrs. I have had the pleasure of being very successful in my craft. I’m booked 4 to 6 weeks out and I only work 4 days a week. I do everything from hair cuts to specialty fantasy color. I specialize in color corrections and extensions. Color corrections is taken a client from one thing and get them to were the need to be to start their new hair journey. I love it. Wella was one of the fast color lines I feel in love with and I still use it still tell this day including anything new they come out with. To me it’s one of the best color lines out there. Our products are under the same umbrella. Sebastian is light weight and easy to use. I do a lot of extensions and color. I probably do that more then I do anything else. Extensions are my favorite. I love how they can change someones self-esteem. As soon as I turn that chair around and see their reactions. That is priceless for me.

Some of the problems I have had with this industry is it’s constantly change. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up. But in this business you have to or you will be left behind. Social media has also cause an issue before client don’t realize that sometimes what they want can’t be achieved in one day. Sometimes it’s hard to tell someone “no” “that’s not goin to happen today” but we can start working towards your goal. They don’t wanna hear that. But once they get there I then understand why it’s takes time to achieve hair goals. I take pride in my work and I want the best for my clients. So I have learned over the years that patience is a virtue.

I’m most proud of how much I STILL love what I do for a living. This is not a just a job for me it’s a career and I absolutely love my career. I want all my clients to feel beautiful and heated when they leave my chair.
I just want to enhance the beauty that’s already in them.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish there was more hands on classes earlier in my career. I feel like there’s so much information out there now. Social media, YouTube, and Google. You can get any information through those outlets. We did have that when I was first starting out.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My mission in my creative journey is stay in the loop. Always know what’s in for the season. Know what trends are popular and be the best you can be at all of it.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: hairbySVB
• Facebook: Shanna Brailford at Mallia Salon and Spa