Meet Shamika Williams of SadeStyledMe in Southside

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shamika Williams.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Shamika. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
A few months into wearing extensions the first time I experienced a heavy load of disappointment. I would describe in depth detail how I would like for the hairstylist to style my hair and would look in the mirror full of disappointment. It wasn’t until I decided to alter the install myself to desired look. I then noticed I was gifted. I begin installing and styling my own extensions. Surprisingly, my shortcoming of being homeless paid off when I was approached by a lady inside of McDonald’s. She asked who did my hair and I told her “I did my hair” we talked for about 6 minutes and she left to return back with an intown suites key. She paid for the intown suites for a few weeks for me to live there. When she arrived to get her hair done by me along with her were 5 of her friends. I completed everyone hair, they all paid and left. I never seen that lady or her friends after that encounter ever. I was uncomfortable and but God sent angels to my rescue. I decided to launch my Instagram account a few weeks later and begin using hashtags with city and hairstylist (#houstonhairstylist #sadestyledme) so that potential clients could view my craft. People would tell me ”hashtags were so embarrassing, makes you look desperate” I ignored those comments. I knew in my heart that hash tagging my craft was major key to marketing my craft to the world. Here I am today, expanding my craft day by day.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I personally struggle daily with my craft. I am currently enrolled in Texas Southern University. Approaching graduation completion for May 13th 2017. Field of study: Administration of Justice, minor concentration Forensic Science. Trying to balance my schoolwork and branding is externally difficult. Often times I become extremely depressed behind the fear of “I’m just not doing enough or doing it right” but I somehow come out. I visit depression frequently and it’s not easy to overcome. I battle with consuming hate mail, hate phone calls, hate comments and impersonation. Often times I turn the left cheek but sometimes I’ll be caught in the moment and stumble across hate and feel discouraged. I don’t personally have connections to others in my field that I can express the joy and fear of what comes with being a hairstylist. So often times all I have is myself to help cope. I am extremely strict with my services and many potential clients do not know how to function with someone who is organized within their craft. Clients sometimes don’t make it inside the door to receive services based on not following protocol. However, I have a high percentage of clients that understand why my protocol is so strict. Ultimately, if it don’t challenge me it won’t change me. I am thankful for challenges.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about SadeStyledMe – what should we know?
I am a Hair Artist who specialize in natural hair care and sewing extensions. My service is standard: deep condition, shampoo, blow dry, trim ends, braid foundation, sew extensions and style extensions. On average a client is with me between 3-4 hours during appointment time. I am known for caring for client’s natural hair before installing extensions, knowing how to revert natural hair damage, counsel clients on what works for their hair, knowing case by case how to handle each client’s crown and most importantly installing installs with longevity grace of 3 to 4 months. All while growing and strengthen the client’s natural hair. I am proud that my craft is trusted by so many women across the world, the inspiration I bring about, the significance of my craft that can be identify by others who know my craft and most importantly how far I’ve come within my craft. My craft is all self-taught and I have never been to any trade school to learn hair.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My Mother Priscilla and Aunt Rhonda has been the biggest mentor throughout my journey. My Mother was a local hair braider throughout my childhood. She would braid hair frequently after work and braid my sibling’s hair. My Aunt Rhonda invited me over to her house to watch her sew one of her client’s hair one day. I sat on her sofa about 9 feet away from her client to avoid stepping over boundaries and watched her. From that day I went home and just winged my first sew in on my own hair. My mother instilled hair braiding and my Aunt introduced me to sewing hair.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sadestyledme.com
• Email: infosadestyledme@gmail.com
• Instagram: Sadestyledme
• Facebook: Sadestyledme
• Yelp: Sadestyledme