Meet Shawnteria Wilson | THEHAIRFANATIC/Hairstylist

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

Hi Shawnteria, how do you think about risk?
Shortly after dropping out of college I attended a technical school nearby. Ogeechee tech lol what a name it was located in Statesboro ,Ga. I finished all my courses and was just starting to enter into the cosmetology program. life hit me hard !!! I was falling short on bills once I moved into an off campus apartment. Things weren’t easy at all. Then things really took a turn for the worst, my mom got sick and I returned home to Atlanta IMMEDIATELY. Once I settled back in Atlanta I started working in a salon close by my house on pointe south parkway , Jonesboro ,ga . The shop was run by this man and his father. The guy used the front like he owned it was hilarious ! I can’t even remember the name. It was sooooo ghetto. The man was selling all types of things out that shop , an old new yorker. He was hilarious to me because he was the worst barber ever. He had more complaints than money , although the shop had its cons it also had its pros i met one of my lifetime friends Kendra Barron (KENSMAGICTOUCH) she’s another dope stylist in Atlanta with her own salon in Austell so proud of her ! Once I left the shop I went to Empire Beauty School in Morrow and got my diploma Dec 30,2016. Things began getting slow for me so i found me part time jobs first it was the airport , then security and target. At this point I was doing security , target and still taking my clients . One day while at work I saw this girl and she always came into the bank where I did security. She would always be cute and bossy looking . So one day she asked who did my hair and I told her I do hair so every time she came in she would speak and tell me to take that leap , walk out on faith , trust god ! The location I worked at was Krogers on metropolitan in the plaza was the glam bar one of the most popping shops at the time in Atlanta 2017-18 some of the best of the best came out of this location . So me and the girl (AmberAllReal) exchanged social media info ,she would always encourage me to come to the shop , come give it a test run but i was so scared and doubtful i didn’t think i could do it. I woke up one day and said you know what, ima take a risk ! I quit this job and went full time into my hair career, From that day forth my life took a dramatic Shift . I started in Salon Ramsey for Almost 2years I built my brand by believing in myself and my girl Amber .We all eventually left Ramsey and I started my next journey at Cut Creators one Atlanta most know salons for all the celebrity stylist ( Tae , king jai & my girl chassidy autumn). Covid hit us in 2020. I left the shop and started my home base career and that was a major risk within itself . I’m
Not back in salon suite in North Druid Hills (Everything Beauty salon) after 4 years of trials and tribulations . Throughout these years I’ve learned that you have to believe in yourself no matter what nobody else feels or tell you , trust in God and stay disciplined.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m Shawnteria Wilson ( shawney , thehairfanatic) 30 years old born in Savannah Ga , hairstyling has always been a part of my family for generations . I began braiding and styling around the age of 9 years old . High school I moved to Atlanta ga , and it was just me and my mom and brothers , I wasn’t the wealthy girl so I would often always practice styles in my hair and I shortly began doing my friends and mom hair , her friends. I attended college and dropped out and began my cosmetology career. The journey for me wasn’t easy however I learned so much knowledge and met many influential people . What I feel like set me apart from others is I went through many personal life tribulations that many without faith would’ve given up . the journey is about consistency and becoming the best version of yourself I feel . Even without support you have to keep going often I would get discourage because at times I didnt have the support I needed. I learned as long as you keep going eventually you’ll learn and make adjustments to become successful or give up . I came up with the name THEHAIRFANATIC because I’m a jack of all trades in the beauty industry , I don’t just specialize in one hairstyling service . I do braids ,LOCS , weaves , natural hair care , hair color , and cut . I feel like that set me apart from most and the fact I NEVER took a class God just blessed my hands and mind ! I love what I do it brings me joy , peace and revenue . I feel like if we are all capable in the world to do the things we love as an occupation from pure talent its a blessing . THEHAIRFANATIC is not just a brand its a MOVEMENT.
Im always trying the new trends or creating them. A Lot of my people don’t know but I love doing natural hairstyles better than all the services i provide , yet i do natural hairstyles the least what a plot twist haha ! I would like to extend more classes for my brand to the youth to show them more than just styling but the business and personal side of cosmetology. I would also like to host some webinar classes giving detailed tutorials on some of my most popular styles . Fun fact i was making hair oil for my clients and they loved it , my procrastinating tail self never put the product out on the market ! Who knows it might be coming on shelves in the near future.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When the girls come into town, Friday !!! first thing first we definitely going to the mall Cumberland preferably grab a few outfits and necessities . I gotta stop by cheesecake for a slice of cake because it’s one of my favorite deserts , we would probably drink at the Tavern or VVS . Then we would hit the city and do a nice lounge cigar bar , bqe lounge . Saturday morning recovering because I know we had a long night . One of my other chill spots is suite food , CRU , Visions & 656 nice chill vibe good drinks and the lamb chops immaculate !Sunday go to my church New birth baptist , hit rum punch or cruise through the battery or ponce city market depending on the weather . Some more cool spots I love are ; sandbox vr , Harold’s ice bar , copper cove , opium , Ace atlanta ,ray on the river , main event , 3rd spot and tanger outlet.

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?
God

Website: https;//ThehairfanticExperience.as.me/

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Image Credits
photography by brandon adams