Exploring Life & Business with Shalonda Smith of Hair Journies

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shalonda Smith.

Hi Shalonda, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today. 
I started dabbling in hair at a young age, around middle school. It was something that came natural to me. Starting with myself, I learned what worked for me, as far as hairstyles, and how to achieve those styles. I can remember back in high school is when I starting doing my own relaxers, and then flat ironing and making the “swoops,” as we used to call them. I had to learn how to do my hair because it was so thick and the kinkiest of all my siblings. That’s where, I believe, a passion for hair began in me. In high school, I braided my cousins, nephew, and family hair & for a small period in college, I braided hair. Then, in 2019, I pivoted from corporate America, graduated from Natural Hair Care School, and became a braid stylist specializing in kids’ braids. As a braid stylist, I am fluent in box braids, knotless braids, feedin braids, and kid braid styles. Starting in Rocky Mount, NC I later moved to Raleigh in 2021. Since then, I have expanded as a stylist and became an AMCA-certified Hair Loss Practitioner and a Twelve12 Beauty Pro Stylist. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road at all. LOL. It’s crazy because I thought it would be, but in hindsight, I am glad it hasn’t been smooth because that’s where my real character has been built. A couple times over the years, I have taken a break from being a stylist and pursued a regular job because things have not been so smooth on this journie. I have “gave in” but never gave UP! Some struggles along the way for me include regular life LOL, being a mom, being impatient, being unsure, and believing that everything comes easy or just comes. And that is not the case at all. When you REALLY want something, you have to REALLY work for it. AND you have to know what it is you REALLY want, so you can work towards that. I started out as a stylist but didn’t really know what it was, I was working towards as a stylist. So, I fell into it being like a job to me. Wake up, take clients, make the money for the bills this month. & repeat, & repeat. Every day was looking the same and I had that same feeing from working a job. I had no direction on what I wanted to do in the industry, who I wanted to be, and how I wanted to do it. I just knew that I could braid and could make money from it. But being an entrepreneur comes with so much more than the talent/skill. To do it and do it right there was so much knowledge that I needed, and at times, I struggled with grasping it all. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
Hair Journies have been my name from the beginning. We, as people, go through journies with our hair as we get older, change careers, go through life, and I wanted to reflect that in the name of my company. I am known for braid styling. However, as of January 2024, I will be a retired braid stylist, virtual claps, specializing in silk presses and natural hair care for black women. It has been a time to get here but I am super excited about this pivot in my career. As a braid stylist, I have noticed that some black women do not know how to care for their natural hair or their child’s hair. Some just know that braids can make it look good and give them a few weeks to where they don’t have worry about what they are going to do to their hair. And I want to fill that gap. I no longer want to be the person that just “braids your hair” but cares for your natural hair. I want to help black women and girls get a better understanding of their hair and how to care for it so that they can see their hair at it healthiest, strongest, and longest! What sets me apart from others is ME. Lol, no one can be me and do what I am doing exactly how I do it and vice versa. I am most proud of the trust that I have built as a stylist. I’ve learned that people really have to trust you to allow you to do their hair and on top of that continue to come back to not only do their hair but hear their stories about life, their secrets, and allow you to see them/their hair at it rawest form. I pride myself on my integrity, so the fact that I have people who put their trust in me in more ways than one is what I am most proud of. I want the readers to know that I am accepting new clients (kids and adults) LOL, tell a friend to tell a friend. Clients who are interested in caring for their natural hair and committed to the journie however it may look for them! 

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up I was shy, quiet, and had my own sense of style. Personality-wise, I would say an introvert but friendly. I was interested in hair of course, biology, arts and crafts, how things work, and how things grow. In college, I will say I really found my sense of style and being a little fearful but very free-spirited, and walked my own path. 

Contact Info:

• Website: hairjournies.as.me
• Instagram: Hair.Journies
• Facebook: Shalonda Smith

Image Credits
JRPhotoz