We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shantel Collins a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Shantel, appreciate you joining us today. 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 in life was not looking back.
I was raised in a household that pushed for independence and respect. I am sure those qualities gave me more confidence in areas that I thought I was weak in until I was faced with having to conquer them alone. I was seperated from my siblings and alienated because I was so much like my dad. No looking back; Confident, firm, and opinionated, and goofy; I loved my dad so I seen no wrong in his behavior. Until I was forced to leave his house for those same characteristics we shared my entire upbringing. I could not look back, taking the risk, I dedicated my studying and love for education and to beat the odds to be great regardless of the past I had growing up. So when I got pregnant for the first time, I was a full three months and didnt get to carry it to term and look in my babies face. I knew there was one thing I could never do again!
Not looking back took a greater toll on me while in college, not having the disclipine to be independent but the attitude to show off. I fell into an imposter syndrome. My original article talks about me finding my identity but this will do more for the backstory of it. I created a personality to be liked and people please in everyway. But I could not communicate my own needs and wants and I had no social skills to network or find the resources to workout my lack of ablilty to navigate a world I presumed to be ready for.
At 19 years old about to turn 20, I dropped out of college returned to my high school state with highschool friends and didnt look back. Taking every risk from sleeping in abandoned homes to vehicles, or random strangers rooms in the city. I was determined not to look back at how life would have been if I would have stayed that obedidnt sheltered child through college. When you are pursuing a dream that you created it comes with no book or guides if you get stuck. I tried to work jobs and get ahead but the strife at home with my High School friends was getting financially distrurbing. As they were twins, I was only friends with one and so there was a lot of conflict over me actually needing help or being in the way. So I packed my things once more and never looked back! Entered a very distrubing situation with a GROWN man that is 17 years older than me. I took a stand to take a risk and let this man do everything he said and was doing because I had seen it in 6months why look back I was involved in all the wrong things (addictive behaviors). While in his “care”, because I was still a child; became impregnanted twice. My children are now 10 and 8 years old and I dont regret one minute of their existence. I live for my kids regardless of the nature and difficultlies, as much as I wish I could have picked a better partner to share kids with its the only risk in life I would do OVER AND OVER AGAIN!
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 whom never heard of my business, I want to first thank you for taking your time to make me apart of a journey one set far ago. I am, Shantel Collins, Professional tags are AZDRSHELL across all socials. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, graduated HS in Little Rock, Arkansas, and first generational student at Spelman College; my hair hobbie$ started in 2011 when I realized after the dorm hall closes you are S.O.L for food. So as a first generational student with the experience and the gift to presuade someone to trust me to do their hair correctly, naturally and healthy. In those days posting your work was far from what people were posting. But twisting hair, and braiding was starting to consume my days and nights and I was no longer prepared for my mission at Spelman College. It was all money at one point then I realized my gift was better on another level if I didnt chase the money but the dream of having the freedom of finacial responsiblitiy would always be in the future for my family to show for, since I dropped out of a really great College. I have a website that is created for my most prized skill set. Locs are referred to as deadlocks most often. Coily to straight hair can be twisted and maniupluated with tools to form this intented style or I love to refer as a “journey”. I love having my hands in CLEAN hair. As a child, in a big family with not a lot of money I was forced to create all my hairstyles. Due to finanical hardships, I couldnt pick my clothing when shopping because I had first dibs to hand-me downs. So I learned that I could control my hair for identity. I am still looking for my voice but my image has handled the challenges life continues to throw my way. My biggest impact I have that stands out amoungst other stylist are that my hands and touch are very light. All my products are natural and gmo free, hand made and locally sold. Many clients when I resided in Wisconsin were either verbally or physical had a challenge that required extra time, patience, sensory or even interaction while serivces were provided. This is where me solving those issues for clients succeed, no matter who you are or how different your life was when you were born. With the right preparation and loving what I do money isnt how I scale my clients on a budget. For example, You have an adult with childlike understanding but he wants this picture he is showing you and communicating how we can get there no matter how young the mind or body may be but compromise. A little cliche as simple as put EVERYONE DESERVES TO LEAVE THE SALON FEELING THEIR BEST.
My Number ONE thing I want my clients to know is that I know its hard to find natural stylist that are a master at being in a natrual state and understanding products as a cosmetologist. I want to reintroduce my self as a MASTER stylist. I interned at a barber shop in Waukesha,WI (Forever Faded babershop 2years) 2020- 2022 so I had all those times to learn the core skills of what the huslte behind the chair means as far as time management, hygiene,customer serivce, and professionalism. Tim RETIC a beast. Outside of the shop I was kitchen twisting/braiding ONLY. While researching herbals and oils and health affects of skin and hair. Some are not aware how they are not the same and shouldnt be treated as such. My salon got shut down in 2022 for unmaintenced liscensuring. We were washing hair and in wisconsin you need a certificate to do so because you change the hair with water. So in 2023 I vowed to my most prized possessions that their resilence and agility to make this leap of faith and keeping up with all the big and small changes that I owe them my loyalty PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE!!!
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
THE ULTIMIATE PIVOT IN MY CAREER was when i realized that
I was a daughter and a student before being a mother and a buisness owner so; while maintiaining a household alone, I had to make ends meet before thinking about marketing. I was faced with getting laundary detergent over hair product. I remember the days and months I forfieted being evicted to keep my salon doors open and functioning. THE LIGHTS were on but the paranoid feelings of coming home to LOCKED and BARRED doors, I was about to loose my mind. I packed up my house and put it in the storage after being told I couldnt keep waiting for something to give my landlord told me it was the house or the shop. I chose the shop!! Getting clients were the only rewards I didnt buckle down on them coming back I was cheap and their loyalty was with their stylist. I was open 24/7, working construction 6am to 5pm. Our evenings consisted of picked up food to microwave to having the kids sleeping in my storage room doing hair all night to pay my landlord back and keep the shop open, NOT KNOWING my nightmare was about to wake me up the morning of november 13th 2021. As I grabbed my belonginings and things for the day I could hear noise from my front door. I didnt have weekend sitters but had cameras in my shop so I figured it was a client or uninvited guests! When I say a pivoted life, never in my life have I grabbed all my most precious possesions and made way for the door with no inention in stopping. By the time the doors flung open I was in full run to my car at the next corner with a car seat and 6 year old in tow. I had realized I hit rock bottom. Everything I worked so hard for was gone and all I had was my 99′ Sentra and my two young hungry boys and i was 1 hour late for work. I stopped doing hair. went to reside in tranistional living for 2 years saved every dollar, crying my self to sleep everynight, and not looking back I packed my 14′ nissian rouge full of my most prized possessions and took off to phx arizona. In February 2023, I enrolled in cosmetology school, worked as a food delivery driver and a hobbiest for locs. I made enough to land a little trailer and AINT NO LOOKING BACK!
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
The one lesson I had to unlearn in life was to not believe anything you see. In cliche dont judge a book by its cover. I am the complete opposite of what most think I am and I switch my appearance with the seasons because I love dressing up!. Life is to be experienced and enjoyed for all!!! My backstory was when I was growing up as the middle of seven kids and the oldest of four in a very tight pentacostal and baptist religion ran homes. I couldnt say, do, act, go, or even think some of the things I wanted to do and heard stories of. (NDA)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.drshelllocd.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azdrshell/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AZDRSHELL
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shantel-collins-4a1901319/?trk=public-profile-join-page
- Youtube: @drshelllocdAZcos
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dr-shell-locd-chandler-2?osq=Loc+Stylist+shell
Image Credits
all pictures were taken by me of my clients over the course of my career