Today we’d like to introduce you to Shakira Poitier.
Hi Shakira, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my cosmetology journey 18 years ago, graduating top of my class in 2003 from FSCJ in Jacksonville, Florida. As a student, I attended numerous trade shows, which really helped to expand my horizons about the various opportunities a cosmetology career could actually offer. I had no idea, especially since my career choice was wanting to become an interior designer. Somehow, these worlds collided, and the creative ideas in my head had to shift from walls, rooms and decor to heads of hair. In my second year of working in the industry, I began to step out of my comfort zone and began taking workshops and applying to be part of professional product style teams.
In 2005 I began working with Revlon as an assistant to platform artists for products under their umbrella. Soon after, I was ready to take the stage. This was a major door that had been opened. Being able to now work behind the scenes, as well as on stage, was a dream come true. I always believe, “Go Big or Go Home!” I had now become a jet-setter, working shows across the USA, learning a plethora of information as to where this career could really take me. And that was from behind the chair. In 2006 & 2007, I began submitting my work to magazines and entering hair competitions. This is where the interior designer met the cosmetologist. Winning my first trophies was so exciting and came with a boost of confidence until my first magazine submissions were rejected, lol. Oh, we quickly corrected that and dominated a year straight in every issue of Sophisticate’s Black Hair Magazine, along with interviews and style step-by-step tutorials. Photoshoots were a great way to break up the monotony of everyday salon life.
By 2010, I had published works locally, nationally, and internationally. Salon Digest Magazine, which I also become the Florida editor for, Artistic Roots, Fabulous, and Hair’s How Black, was my first international publication, with numerous pages and landed one of my models on the front cover. At this time, I moved from the booth rental aspect of the business to an independent suite for the next 8 1/2 years. This was a terrifying move because I would be responsible for mostly everything now. It was a much-needed leap for growth and taught me a lot more of the business side of the industry. During this transition, I explored other professional product companies and worked with them as a platform artist. Somewhere, somehow I felt as though I was losing my ju-ju and drive. I wasn’t certain if it was the family atmosphere of the booth rental salons or it was time to branch out, but we all know fear is a paralyzer. So, stepped back into an open floor salon for 2 1/2 years in 2018, and it was so much fun until the pandemic hit and forced salons to close in March of 2020. Now I was considering leaving the industry completely, especially with all the imposed regulations. I took some much-needed time to reevaluate my direction, and when I wasn’t even looking, God had an entirely different plan.
All of the years I had entertained the thought of owning my own salon, I never moved based obtaining the EIN. Overthinking about finances, location, and just everything really kept me complacent. So, in the mist of a pandemic, the unthinkable happened in seven days of the Governor announcing salons could begin to reopen. A location dropped in my lap, licensing went through in hours instead of days, the right contractors and electricians were sent my way, friends and strangers contributed time and money because I had none. Totally exhausted savings during the shutdown and receiving no unemployment. This was definitely about to be a step out on faith moment. June 1, 2020, barely a month after being able to return to work, the doors were opened at Keynoa’s Innovative Styling Studio. Of course, the hiccups came rolling in, lol, only instilling more fear, but we snapped out of that real quick. I am so grateful, thankful and elated to be celebrating my one year anniversary this upcoming June 1, 2021! Although this is a cliff-note version of my roller-coaster ride in the beauty industry., I wouldn’t change a thing.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Managing your own earning potential was a struggle. I am a disciplined person, oh but you have to be very, very disciplined. There was service pricing struggles, proper marketing and advertising and understanding and accommodating the various personalities of the clientele.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I love color, color, color. I consider myself to be very creative and an out-of-the-box thinker. I’m known mostly for natural hair styling and color. I am most proud of my recent salon ownership. Finally having my very own creative space. My personality and visual styling interpretation set me apart from others.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was crazy! Lol. Very curious, a leader, which means I got everyone in trouble because they followed my direction, creative (drawing and writing poetry, studious and when I wasn’t being of those things, I was up a tree, on a bike, running through woods, playing chef, jumping ropes, and doing the neighborhood girls hair, which I got in lots of trouble about because I had undone what their parents had just paid for. I had to. It was a hot mess!
Pricing:
- Custom wig services $300+
- Natural Hairstyling Services $57+
- Color Services vary $30-$250+
- Haircuts $35+
- Chemical Straightening $75+
Contact Info:
- Email: Keynoas@gmail.com
- Instagram: Keynoas_hairgame
Image Credits
Fred Shin Alicia Hicks Rasool Kamma
