Shanda Wallace Hairstylist

Important question here for my fellow stylists and salon owners, those on the journey and planning to be behind the chair - What happened in your gut when we were forced to close again in CA last week? Did you get angry, knowing that our work is both safe and sanitary?... Feel disregarded after shifting and making big moves to be able to do your work for others and your own livelihood? Did your passion for what you do rally when we were shut back down with ZERO evidence of being a cause for increasing Covid-19 cases? Yeah, me too. SAME. If you’re angry over the many salons announcing their final closure with this second shutdown, you’re among us who are proud of what we do and the integrity of our industry. The fire behind our fight to speak out, the purpose that’s driving our will to work in safe conditions -it puts meaning back in the drivers seat and it is a force to behold. You know your work is meaningful and worth it. Every post of a stylist + salon owner standing strong behind this industry and our roles, here’s the answer, YES your work is worth it. You are one strong bad ass cosmetologist and this will NOT break you. You’ve proven that with the fire in your belly this week. #saveoursalons #betterrepresentation #maskonsafesalon @govnewsom @castateboardofoptometry

At the end of our last salon shut down, I shut down and for a really good reason. I felt like I was being robbed, so much was being taken; confidence, joy, hope, purpose, trust, friendships, team members... I had to turn in to take care of myself, to heal and to find my ground again.... In an instant all of that had to pause when we learned we could re-open. We fired on all cylinders to rebook hundreds of apts for our stylists and prepare @theharborsalon for the new normal, protecting our clients and our team we love. After 4 weeks of being open and behind the chair, I realize now that inward work didn’t pause at all- it was happening while my clients poured out their love, my team shared their gratitude and some needed change took action. We’ve been transformed through this time. So often it takes distance to see it all and even though the last closure is still so near, what it grew in me is becoming more clear and I needed it. I’m nowhere glad about this second shut down for our salons, I have feelings ranging that terrify me. But when I take the insight of how I was forced to grow through the crazy, disappointment and pain of this before... I know where I’m heading this time too. I know where your heading and I’m so very confident that in every time loss you’ll soon find ; new life, new wisdom, new perspective and new strength to follow. Xoxo

Next week I’m getting back behind the chair after 12 weeks away. (There was some version of a maternity leave in there too) With our safety guidelines, it doesn’t look exactly like this at @theharborsalon, I’ll miss serving our signature salon coffee set up, wine, tea and open mouth smiles. But I know what is the same-... Connection Care & great hair Stylists, How are you feeling behind the chair?? Clients, what are you looking forward to??

I’ve deleted this caption 4x now. I’m going to go with this simple-ish truth right here. This week brought back some LIFE. Sometimes I can’t believe I own a salon and I have to make decisions that effect so many. At hard moments, I’ve wanted to run from this role, especially when navigating through these unprecedented times... (Anyone else ready to never hear that one again) But not this week. While we re-opened, our stylists had their first days again, our clients sat in our space again, they had their hair taken care of, while our salon assistant and receptionist were busy about taking care of the details that make being a stylist and a client wonderful - this week made all of the hardest salon owning times worth it. With only two years of running this thing, I know there is much more yet to experience. However this one, coming back to life from a scary time of closure with only the unknown ahead, it’s pretty chart topping. Sure, it’s layered and I’m sure I’ll share about that later but for now, it’s the end of our first week open, and I’m happy. Happy that our 8 stylists have a work home again and that we’re in this together. It can be so hard, it has been! So when you’re feeling the light of day break, take it IN! It’s ok to be happy when there is still unknown.

I see you, it’s been harder than hard. The waves can feel like endless crashes so disorienting and even devastating. And you don’t have to lay it all out here on social media. You don’t have to show up when you’re breaking down.... The messiness of working in the trenches of your hearts is laying a new foundation -the one you need. So here me, it’s not the end, we’re not done, there is hope for something better, stronger.