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

Alright, Shikyla thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start big picture – what are some of biggest trends you are seeing in your industry?

Some of the biggest trends I see in the braiding industry are the different styles people come up with. Staying relevant in this game you have to be consistent and always keep up with the trends because the people always want something new.

Shikyla , 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?

Hello, my name is Shikyla but I’ve grown to be known as ShyMoney, a mom, master braider, CEO & entrepreneur. I started Braiding hair when I was in middle school. This has literally always been my passion! I grew up in a small town in North Carolina called Enfield and lived in poverty in a single-parent household. I didn’t grow with much so braiding hair was my way of making my own money. I lived in the hood (Black Bottom) so it was always somebody wanting their hair done. By the time I got to high school, I had a small clientele of friends and family. I mostly did hair just to make a little extra money to take care of myself because I always listened to people around me tell me how I wouldn’t make money or it wasn’t a real job. I never thought about making this a career until after I had kids. I hated working for other people and I was barely making any money even though I had good jobs. So one day five years ago I decided to walk off my job & chase my dreams. I was enrolled in cosmology school in the next two weeks!

Before I graduated, I got a job in a salon where I started my career. I focused on perfecting my craft and building my clientele and it took off so fast. I was only there a year before the pandemic hit but that didn’t stop me. I started my own product line and one of my best friends asked me did I want to go into business with her and open our own shop and of course, I said yes! We signed our lease and We used our own money and did most of the work and decorating ourselves, we had our shop up and running within two weeks! Six months later I moved to Georgia to further my career but we still kept our shop open. When I got here I was grinding so hard every day to build my name and clientele in this big city and within two months I went viral on IG and my clientele has been nonstop. For our one year anniversary, my bestie and I expanded our shop into a salon/day spa and we hired a team of six! I made my first six figures last year just off braiding hair alone but over the last few months my product line has been growing rapidly and I can’t wait to see how far it goes. This journey has not been easy at all but it’s all worth it to see my dreams come true right in front of my eyes. I’m so thankful I never gave up.

Let’s talk M&A – we’d love to hear your about your experience with buying businesses

Okay so this is one of the hardest things I’ve done in business! So during the pandemic in June 2020 my childhood friend/Bestie called me and asked did I want to open a shop together! I had just left the shop I was in due to all of the restrictions of covid-19 and building my clientele so of course I was down to work in my own salon. We had already looked at a couple of buildings so I sent her half of the money immediately and we started planning! We chose the one we wanted and signed the lease. we used all of our own money and had help from her family. So for the next 2 weeks we stayed in that building from sun up to sun down, decorating, painting & putting together furniture! That was some of the hardest work lol but we stuck it out even when things didn’t go as planned. We had our grand opening and it was amazing! I didn’t have many people show up for me but my sister and my niece came to show their support. our business was doin great. Exactly a year later we expanded our shop into a beauty bar/day spa and hired a team of 7 girl who all do different services so its basically a one stop shop for the ladies and gentlemen too! Business is doin very well and I cant wait to show the world what we have in store next.

We’d love to hear about you met your business partner.

Okay first let me say this, that’s my girl for life! We actually are family and we grew up together like from elementary school! I used to stay with them a lot when we were younger to the point when her parents get her and her siblings out of school they got me too lol. We stayed close over the years and in school but we started getting closer in high school. She has always been that friend that was always there. I was the less fortunate friend, I didn’t come from a family with money or a lot of resources so I had to make a way of living on my own and whenever I needed a ride to job interview she always took me or whenever she seen an opportunity that she thought was good for me she always let me know and vice versa! I definitely couldn’t see myself goin in business with anyone else. I absolutely love her as a business partner and we work so good together! I can see us accomplishing so many goals together and becoming rich boss friends.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.braidsbyshymoney.com/
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/Braidsbyshymoney
• Facebook: Shawt Jewuan
• Twitter: Bigbag_Shymoney
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCftVEaydIm-XRj8ksdvzKxg
• Other: http://www.tiktok.com/@bigshymoney

Image Credits
Jr_photoz