Meet Chelsea Shaw | Hairstylist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chelsea Shaw and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chelsea, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I think good customer service skills are extremely undervalued when it comes to doing business now.

Though I try to connect with each of my clients on a more personal level, I’m not always the most talkative person. Despite that, I always try to make sure they understand I value them and their business by listening to their needs and concerns while also respecting their time. I feel like in today’s world it can be more about the aesthetic than the business or service itself.

I try my best to deliver with both and my clients tend to appreciate that.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I enjoy the transformation that comes with a good hairstyle. I love that hair gives you an opportunity to show all elements of your personality. I also love how much it can brighten someone’s mood to see their hair done.

I’ll have moments where clients tell me they’re having a bad day and just wanted to pamper themselves, or they haven’t had their hair done in years because so many people can’t handle it. Though it can hurt to hear and experience firsthand how much Black hair can be viewed as a burden, it’s a beautiful thing to see the reactions as I’m hyping them up.

Growing up, there were many points when I experienced insecurity attached to my hair. If it wasn’t the condition my hair was in, it was the struggle of finally embracing my natural texture. My goal became to help others grow to love and embrace their hair and no longer see it as “too much”.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Honestly, it depends on so much!

I definitely would take them to Snooze for breakfast or Soirée for good vibes and a quick coffee stop. Afterwards, I’d love to hit the Trinity Overlook or Klyde Warren just to walk a bit. While we’re down there, maybe move around Deep Ellum and stop by Picolé for popsicles. Depending on what they were feeling for dinner, I would probably recommend Kitchen + Kocktails for the selection, or Hall’s for quality Southern chicken. We would wrap up the evening with a glass of wine at Distinctive Vines Wine Lounge and good music at Sandaga 813.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My shoutout definitely goes to anyone who has ever trusted me with their hair.

From the women that sit in my chair laughing and telling stories, to my 7th grade classmates that allowed me to practice braiding their hair after class. They all have definitely helped shape me into a better, more confident stylist!

Instagram: @chelsdlaine