Today we’d like to introduce you to Shaylie Stephens.
Hi Shaylie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Began cosmetology school as a junior in high school. Graduated cosmetology shortly after I graduated from high school.
I began working at a salon out of high school and took a lash course 3 months in to help build my clientele quicker and diversify my skills. My clientele wasn’t building as quickly as I had hoped and I began working at one of the beauty supply stores.
I shortly after a got a job at one of the beauty supplies nearby so I could juggle both the beauty supply and salon. Two years into my career shortly after I felt like my clientele was consistent I started Master Aesthetician school. While I was attending aesthetics school I purchased my first home with my now husband and to help make ends meet I picked up other jobs stocking shelves, styling hair for a photography company for dance studio pictures, donated plasma a couple of times, anything that would basically help me get extra income.
With juggling full-time school, working full-time at the salon and random jobs my health began to suffer and I gained about 50 pounds and began to get migraines daily, had appendix surgery, and then got engaged in the midst of it all. I felt like I wasn’t in control of my life. My mentor/salon owner Lynne Wade could see I was struggling at offered for me to come to assist her which offered me the opportunity to quit the beauty supply allowing more time in my schedule to be at the salon, I got to assist her two days and then soon realized my schedule filled up and my clientele was where I needed it to be okay financially. I owe a lot of my success with my beauty career to her for believing in me, helping me believe in myself, and providing so many opportunities for me to grow as an individual, I learned a lot about how I wanted to treat my team and what kind of team I wanted from watching her I will always be grateful for having her as my mentor as I began my beauty industry journey.
I eventually finished aesthetics school, quit stocking shelves, and went all in with my business. After I finished master aesthetics school, my clientele was going strong I began working 10-14 hour days Monday through Saturday. As my wedding began to get closer, my now husband sat me down and I’ll never forget the words he said “I would rather live in a box than have you work as much as you are” and it was hard for me because I had my vision of the life I wanted but wondered at what point do I set my boundary and put that work into my relationship? I promised him I would cut back and we got married. I began taking a couple of days off a month, having clients pre-book, worked shorter hours, and began delegating the time off to my relationship. Covid came about 5 years into my career and I was beyond scared. I didn’t know how long salons would be shut down but used this time to start reading personal development books, exercising, personal growth/ development by teaching myself simple things like how to grill, mow, and all the things I relied on my husband for since I had been focused on my career since I was 18, I didn’t develop these little tasks. This was an important piece of my journey it showed me how capable I am and taught me independence and trust in myself which I would need for what was to come.
About 6 months back to work I felt like I was ready to grow more and take a risk but wasn’t sure what that would look like. I began looking at putting a salon in my house, getting my own studio, possibly starting a salon when I was getting discouraged of the price of real estate and began questioning if my dream of owning my own salon would ever be possible the stars aligned and I was presented with an opportunity to purchase a salon I later would re-brand to what is now Evergreen Beauty Haven in Farr West, UT. By purchasing a salon, it came with a lot of good but also its own set of challenges. One thing I feel like I’ve always struggled with was the fear of fitting in or being enough.
By purchasing a salon it came with its own team. As my schedule became busier my friend time became limited, my co-workers at the other salon I had to leave to set on my new journey had become my friends but now I couldn’t connect with them daily in person. During this time my husband also left his full-time job to go all in with his own metal fabrication business which he then began working endless hours, and all of this ultimately ended up leading in to one of the loneliest times of my life. I began to have a few members of my team leave and I questioned my worth and ability to own a business but kept going, learning, and growing. I began really focusing on my mental health and was diagnosed with ADHD and bipolar from a doctor. I was devastated. I felt crazy and validated that I wasn’t going to be able to do this. I began medication, it felt like a roller coaster and seemed like there were good and bad days (and honestly there still is it takes consistent appointments and trial and error with medications and is a journey within itself). I was lost, confused, and frustrated with the uncertainty of what my future looked like, if I was going to ever get stable, and feared I would fail my team by running my salon to the ground. It wasn’t until I attended a retreat hosted by Nafe Latu my eyes were opened to my potential, my vision, my purpose and what I want in life. I began to build my confidence, I began to heal, and I began to focus my energy on what was important not letting my diagnosis and frustration with medications control my life. It took a lot of time to navigate the relationships with my team as a leader, mentor, but also a friend.
Through determination, grit, personal development I have been able to form relationships with my team and will always cheer for them and guide them to help them build successful clientele that they are proud of and build them up as individuals. I am currently working on retreats with one of my stylists for cosmetology students and stylists wanting to elevate their businesses, an apprenticeship program for cosmetology, & hosting events to encourage and build confidence in others. I also have a huge passion for helping young girls find their voice, allow them freedom to be themselves, and build their confidence and I have begun hosting retreats helping them. I understand not everyone has a female figure in their life that helps them learn the things I was able to learn from my mom and that is what I want to be for them.
I work insane hours and miss activities with family and friends because I have a vision, I know my why, and I also know the impact I want to make. I know my life will expire one day and I want more than success, I want significance.
My why is my mom. My mom has multiple sclerosis and it has progressed quite a bit over the years but I am still blessed to enjoy experiences with her even though it looks a little different than I would’ve envisioned at her age of 49. At night when I go to bed, I think about the possibility of my mom being taken care of by a stranger and it lights the fire in me to get up and do more. My mom is my drive, my purpose, the reason I can’t fail. I want to be able to take care of my mom. I don’t want to miss out on the last years of her life. I want to be able to support her however that may look financially or emotionally. I am working hard now not just for me but to help give her the life and care she deserves. I want to live a fulfilled life and to me that looks like making a difference, empowering people to follow their hearts and to never give up. I strive to live a life for what I want to be remembered as “someone who walked humbly and loved genuinely”- For me life isn’t just about success it’s about making an impact & helping others grow “success is about you and significance is about other people, you have the chance to be successful but to also leave a legacy in people”-Tim Tebow and ultimately that’s what the beauty industry has allowed me the opportunity to do one client, stylist, nail tech, and aesthetician at a time and now that what hosting the retreats will help me do one girl at a time.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not, struggled with work-life balance, mental illness, moms struggle with ms, team leaving after purchasing salon, and fear of not being enough/capable.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Beauty Salon Came up with the name because I grew up going camping in the mountains and I feel at home in nature as I looked into meanings/symbolize I loved the name even more: evergreen trees symbolize determination and are the only Trees that can stay green year-round and withstand any storm and then haven came from wanting it to be peoples safe place where they feel loved, empowered, and accepted. I personally specialize in facials, hair extensions and hair color. The salon as a whole offers Hair: hair cuts colors extensions perms, nails pedicures, gel nails, aesthetics: facials, Dermaplaning, spray tans, lash extensions, lash lifts/tints, eyebrow wax/tint, and fine line/single needle tattooing coming soon Sets us apart because it feels like an escape but feel at home all in one. We want guests to leave feeling empowered and know they are capable of overcoming hard things and they are not alone. We will give our full attention, continue our education/stay up on trends/new techniques & technology to guarantee the best quality and service.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Not too far from the freeway, and not many small businesses (restaurants).
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/shaylie.beauty?igshid=NDc0ODY0MjQ=
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/evergreenbeautyhaven/
Image Credits
photosbytayn
tiffany_mariephotography
