Today we’d like to introduce you to Shanita Clarke.
Shanita, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’m a hairstylist for over 10 years now. I started cosmetology school after graduating college with a BS in Legal Studies and Criminal Justice. I worked in the legal field for 2 years, realizing practicing law was not a goal for me.
Throughout college I hustled doing people’s hair on campus, so it made sense when I decided to go to cosmetology school. I quit my job when I received my cosmetology license and never looked back. Although at times, I remember wondering if I made a mistake and if I’d ever actually be successful, I knew there was nothing else I felt right doing besides being a stylist. I stuck to it and invested in my career and now I have clientele and a business that help support my dreams.
Has it been a smooth road?
What’s a smooth road? Lol. This journey has been a bumpy one, full of start and stops, but after a while, I got to a point where quitting just was not an option.
My advice to young women is to have a clear vision of WHO and where you want to be in the future. The plan will adjust as you go but if you’re committed to your destination you won’t give up. If you’re a detailed person, try to brainstorm and write down EVERYTHING you want to do with your business. Be as detailed as possible with your vision and dreams so that you can make it a reality. You have to be able to see it in your mind before you can create it physically, or else you’ll just work aimlessly for a longer time. Get laser focused and watch things come to life.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Salvaged Roots Hair and Beauty – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I specialize in natural/healthy hair and am best known for my loc styles and designs. Recently, I branched into hair and body products with my brand Salvaged Roots Hair and Beauty. Our mission is to provide quality handcrafted products with minimal ingredients.
I began creating my own hair oil as a solution to the scalp conditions and needs of my clients. Most people complain of dry, itchy, and tight scalps, so I created a blend of moisturizing and stimulating essential oils.
Since then, we’ve added more products like the Babassu Whipped Body Butter, Healing Scalp Balm, Bourbon Vanilla Beard Oil and more. One of our newest products, the Loc Bomb Detox Cleanse is a natural product designed to release debris and buildup from the hair and scalp. It was tested and adjusted for a year before released, to ensure the proper pH balance for minimal damage.
I’m proud of my growth AND the growth of my brand because I remember the moment I set the goal for the kind of stylist I wanted to be. And now, I am setting the goal for the business I want Salvaged Roots to be. A lot of people think that stylists just “do hair” but you have to develop true business skills and work ethic to become a successful entrepreneur.
Who have you been inspired by?
Growing up, my mother reassured me that I can do anything I want to do and that I am just as smart as my peers (I was a METCO kid and sometimes comparison seeped in!). But I always kept that in my head along with never taking no for an answer. I believe where there is a will there is a way and that no one can ever tell me I don’t have a right to everything I want. Both of my parents, especially my dad, had crazy work ethic. My father worked a full time job and had side jobs and placed a strong emphasis on saving more and spending less, something that instilled into his kids.
Sometimes, it was and still is hard because there is a lot expected from us, but I know that my ambition and goals are high because of my parents. At the end of the day, I want to make my family proud.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shanitaclarke.com
- Email: info@shanitaclarke.com
- Instagram: @salvagedroots @knottygirls @thenknottynation
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/salvagedroots
- Twitter: @salvagedroots
- Other: www.salvagedroots.com
Image Credit:
D. iRvin
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