Today we’d like to introduce you to Shayna Matthews.
Shayna, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My name is Shayna Matthews and I was Born in the Bronx NYC, and raised in the suburbs of GA. As a child during my elementary years, I started to take interest in hair and makeup . My mother said I was eight years old, to be exact. I started practicing on myself, as well as using my younger sister as my mannequin lol. As I got older, I would sit and watch make over shows and experiment with make up and hairstyles. I started with ponytails, braids, then curling irons by middle school. I graduated to relaxers, color and extensions by High school. Even after all that experience and experimenting, my senior year of High school came and I was actually considering joining the military.
My mother was the one who actually challenged that thought. She said to me, “You’ve been doing hair your whole life. Why not consider beauty school?” “It’s a natural skill set you have.” I never saw it as a career and at the time, it wasn’t well respected as a career choice as it is today. I took her advice and went on to beauty school and that’s where my passion grew!
In addition, I was exposed to entrepreneurship. My mother was an entrepreneur outside of her full time job and a single parent making a way to support myself and my two siblings.
Fast forward to my adult years after beauty school, I gained experience working in corporate salons and booth renting. I even started a mobile salon business when I resided in Atlanta! It was in those experiences I realized I wanted to work for myself. I wanted something different. I noticed segregation within the industry. You had your “white salons,” predominantly “black salons,” and so on but here I was, someone who had a very diverse clientele. I wanted my clients to feel welcomed and comfortable when they came to my place of business, so I decided to officially go out on my own, after ten years of experience in the beauty industry in Atlanta, GA. Once I moved to Houston, Shay BeYOUty was birthed my first year living here! I built a new clientele and have spent the last five years building my business! I currently operate a salon studio located in the memorial city Area. This year I am celebrating 15 years in my industry!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Absolutely not! It was hard moving to a city I wasn’t familiar with. I was a newlywed, had no friends or family located here at the time. When I started having visions for my business, I didn’t even have the clientele built or the funds to do so. I set a date anyway, started the preparation process and stepped out on faith. My goal was to start the new year off in my own mini salon and in Jan 2015 that dream came true! I have been going strong ever since!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
My company is called Shay BeYOUty. Shay is my nickname and BeYOUty (Beauty) is my gift just spelled differently! I encourage my clients to “Be YOU,” meaning owning their own style. I am a person who enjoys being different and standing out. I think it’s so freeing just being who you are.
I am a multi-cultural Hairstylist. I specialize in all textures! Color, Locs, Natural/relaxed Hair Care, cuts and styling. I am proud of the integrity in my work and the atmosphere I provide for my clients. I like to customize each experience to my guests. You can follow me @shayBeYOUty on Facebook and @shay_BeYOUty on Instagram.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was a bossy little kid! I am the oldest sibling. I guess they call it “older sibling syndrome lol.” I felt like a second mom or at least thought I was their second mom lol. My mother said I been that way since a toddler. As I got older, I developed that into leadership traits. I was a little Tomboyish. I enjoyed running track and competitive sports within the JROTC program, I enjoyed getting dirty, as well as, being cute and girly when I needed to be. I got along with my classmates and easily made friends. I didn’t have cliques or anything like that; I was polite for the most part. A protective friend that didn’t tolerate bullies. I enjoyed standing up for others.
Contact Info:
- Address: 14520 Memorial Dr #20, Houston, TX 77079 Suite #6
- Website: https://shaybeyouty.
as.me/schedule.php - Phone: 630 803 5654
- Email: spmatthewsii@gmail.com
- Instagram: @shay_Beyouty
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.
com/ShaybeYOUty/
Image Credit:
Photos Taken by Lois Rico
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