We were lucky to catch up with Sharla Fagan recently and have shared our conversation below.
Sharla, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
I have always been passionate about helping people see a positive outlook on life. As a hairstylist for almost 30 years, I have been able to create a positive experience for my clients through the services I provide and the quality time I spend with them. It’s an amazing feeling to see them transform into more relaxed and happy individuals right in my chair. The hair transformation is not the only reason for this — it is also the energy that I emanate which reaches them. I have been giving them energy healing without even realizing that I had this gift.
People have more day-to-day stresses in this fast-paced world, and they need to pause and take time for themselves to practice mindfulness. This is important for health and wellness, both physically and mentally. Creating a positive mindset also raises one’s vibration to achieve their dreams of happiness and success. My idea was to add these practices to the salon experience, along with creating a relaxing self-care environment. These holistic practices are complimentary and provide a spa-like experience.
The health and wellness industry is expanding because people are becoming more aware of its importance. We have brought health and wellness into the salon. We use aromatherapy, massage, and soul stone healing with crystals to provide a positive and relaxing experience. We also focus on clearing the aura and chakra system. Emotions and stress can stick to our energy field throughout our body, causing health issues and impacting our physical and mental well-being. We store everything in these energy fields without even realizing it. Creating awareness and clearing what doesn’t serve us is an important routine to have.
We have added these routines to our self-care services and educate others to continue these routines at home. These routines include grounding oneself and setting intention at the beginning of the day and releasing what needs to be released at the end of the day, so that you can sleep better and wake up feeling refreshed the next day. It is also important to take time throughout the day to practice mindfulness by feeling gratitude and looking at your day in a positive way. We all have those days where things don’t go as planned but learning to let go of those emotions of frustration can uplift the rest of the day. It’s the perception of the situation that can turn something negative into something positive.
My idea of bringing these practices into the salon started with my desire to help people take care of themselves both inside and out. I want to create good karma in the world, and that starts with self-love and self-care. Positive energy within oneself will expand to others. It’s a ripple effect that can change how people treat each other and themselves. I believe that you can be the change you want to see in the world. My purpose is to help heal others so they can live happy and purposeful lives on this earth. The mantra of Shear Karma Salon — “Changing lives one hair at a time.” — embodies our commitment to provide an experience that goes beyond just a salon visit, and instead leaves our clients feeling beautiful, restored, rejuvenated, and ready to take on the world.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My hairstylist journey started at the age of 17. My expertise in the industry including being behind the chair involves working as an educator, sales and business consulting, and stylist mentor for top haircare companies in the industry. Throughout the years, I experienced how the industry influenced others on fashion and trends but not a lot about self-care on the inside along with the outside.
In 2011, I had an opportunity to open up my own salon and created Shear Karma. I knew that karmically, I was meant to start my own business, help change the beauty industry, and put out good karma into the world. My salon concept came from many aspects of my life. We use only non-toxic clean products, recycle 95% of our salon waste and provide energy healing while in the chair.
What sets us apart is most salons focus on outside beauty. We believe that beauty on the inside is equally important as the outside. Our brand is about self care, self love and giving love to others and the earth. The ambiance is very relaxing and cater to client’s needs. The experience we provide will give you a refreshed and positive feeling from when you walk in to the salon to when you leave. We encourage to let go of the outside world so our clients can fully recharge and rejuvenate their soul with our salon services and holistic practices. The world needs more people to take notice of how we should take care of ourselves and the earth. Our passion to help people creates awareness that change can be small, but also can make a big impact if you practice it everyday.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I have had to pivot my life and career a few times being a single mom. I raised her on my own without child support and being a sole provider. At times I was building my business while working a second job to make ends meet. Maintaining a business and raising a child was my main focus but was a lot harder than anticipated. I had nights I would cry myself asleep in exhaustion along with stress and worry of becoming homeless. I realized I was stretching myself physically and mentally. I was spending time taking care of others and not having the energy to take care of myself. My hope was to build my salon the way I always wanted and be able to take more time to spend with my daughter and for myself so I sought help to relieve some stress and brought in a business partner to help with ownership tasks. Within a few months of partnership, he stole thousands of dollars from the business and burned bridges with venders which caused me to have to start my business all over again.
The universe had put this situation in my life to pivot into my purpose. My biggest life lesson was to stop giving my power away and be in self-worth. I knew that this challenge and all the challenges that I had was for me to learn, grow and to prepare me for my purpose. As soon as I allowed that awareness to come in, opportunities started flowing into place for me. I was no longer in resistance and within the flow in life. My pivots in my life were only to direct and redirect me back to purpose. I’m now grateful that I experienced these pivots because it made me a stronger person and can help people become stronger with themselves. I hope that my stories can inspire people to never give up and have gratitude with everything experienced in life.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
Creating a positive experience and customer service are the two most important strategies for growing clientele. In my industry, there’s many talented hairstylists and artists. Clients will connect with the experience and the feeling they feel associated with the experience. Having a solid niche and brand will also attract the right fit for the brand is also important.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shearkarma.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shearkarma
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShearKarmaGreenSalon/