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

Shanyse, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

Phenom Muse… Muse Society… both names say so much in one breath; a monostitch if you will. As a child I’ve always loved words and their meanings and how some words just FELT good without explanation. When looking for a name for my brand my goal was to create a name that is not only unique but artistically and intentionally layered. Take the definition of each word and you begin to peel back the first layer of “Artist meets inspiration.” When you think of a Phenom you think of someone who is extremely talented in their craftsmanship. But what is a Phenom without a source of inspiration? It needs a Muse to even exist and approach mastery of its craft. Because without inspiration nothing would be because everything in the world is inspired.
But let’s think of the word Muse, as a noun it’s a source of inspiration but when used as a verb it becomes a call to action, demanding the Phenom to reflect deeply to oneself.
So whether the inspiration is external or it comes from within one can’t exist without the other. Peeling back more layers it becomes a poem that expresses the relationship between stylist and client within Phenom Muse salon. Where the roles seem to be interchangeable, the stylist can be the master of haircare and the client being the inspiration for a new trend, but then reciprocating the inspiration to the client educating them and inspiring them to reflect on their own personal haircare journey awakening the phenom that lives within them.
Two words can describe a connection that brings totally different worlds together, creating a society. A society being a community, group or union of likeminded individuals. I knew when naming my haircare line it needed a name that made whatever muse using it feel like if there wasn’t anywhere else in the world that allowed them to show up authentically they could always do so within the Muse Society. Whether a novice in their at home haircare journey or a pro, with every use it gives you the opportunity to reflect on how you pour into yourself so that you go out into the world and inspire others to seek the same feeling. It’s a cliche statement when they say “when you look you feel good” but looking good is a conversation starter. “Wow your hair looks amazing! What do you use?” Then The recruitment process begins as we share our community with someone who likes just the appearance of being a muse. Because who wouldn’t want to be amongst a group of people who inspire you and vice versa? Phenom Muse has potential to transcend the beauty industry due to its versatility. But the message still stands and speaks volumes when said in any space.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Shanyse, I’ve been a licensed cosmetologist for over 12 years but my journey in haircare started at the tender age of 8. I’ve owned Phenom Muse Salon since 2018 and it’s affectionately known as ‘The Healthy Hair Headquarters’
As a child, I found myself loathing getting my hair done by my mom which prompted her to get me a mannequin so I could learn how to do my own hair. My dad was a barber so I was exposed to the hair world at an early age and I like to say the talent was just engrained in me. With so many years of being inquisitive about how hair worked, specifically textured hair like mine I intentionally researched and tested theories over the years. This was the foundation of me being a Haircare and repair expert.
With so many hairstyles and products it can be overwhelming and sometimes damaging to navigate Haircare alone. I saw how many people who needed not only a stylist but someone who could guide them through their unique haircare journey because after all, your hair is as unique as your fingerprint and you regimen should be tailored to not only you hair type but your lifestyle.
Knowing that I could only provide help in the salon just didn’t sit well with me knowing that many of my Muses would go home and still not know what products to use prompted me to curate a haircare line that took the guesswork out of the at home maintenance process and make wash days effortless. As the line grows they remain the source of inspiration for each product. My proudest moment in business is knowing not only am I making the world a more beautiful place externally. I’m empowering others and that creates a different internal kind of beauty. One thing I’d like any future muses to know is that the key component to haircare is that you have to actually CARE, patience goes a long way and that is how I continuously provide quality products and services. Everything I do within Phenom Muse and Muse Society is intentionally done with you in mind.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Nothing is more effective than authenticity. Showing up authentically as myself and confident in what I know and humble enough to learn what I did not know has built me not only a stable clientele but amazing relationships out of that clientele. With me being myself it gives them permission to be their authentic self and in a world of smoke and mirrors my only expectation is to connect with the real you. I don’t try to fake the funk or be someone I’m not to fit in (or stand out) my clients resonate with the real me.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My first time needing to be resilient was back in 2008. I was 17 years old a senior in highschool expecting my first child. Essentially a baby having a baby. It wasn’t uncommon for teen moms to drop out of school but I knew that wasn’t my story. In that moment I felt like the family disappointment, but I knew my story would serve as a testimony to the next person who needed to hear it. I left school on maternity leave the end of November and returned after new years in 2009 ready to prove the world wrong. My daughter was the catalyst for me to not only finish high school but to legitimize this hair thing and go to cosmetology school. I started cosmetology school a month after graduating highschool and due to the lack of support I had to drop out. In that moment I felt like I was proving the role right and that a baby truly was going to stop me from doing what I love but I destabilized found a reliable daycare an overnight job that I absolutely hated and returned in 2011 to finish what I started. Since then this has been my main source of income. Each chapter of my life has not only tested my resilience but strengthened it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.phenommuse.com
• Instagram: https://Www.instagram.com/muvaofmuse

Image Credits

K.D.Morris at Candlelight Studio in Philadelphia