Meet Cierra Chaney of Studio Ci Hair Salon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cierra Chaney.

Hi Cierra, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started doing hair back in 2013, working out my mom’s kitchen, not knowing all the ends and out of the hair industry to fast forward to 2021, owning my own salon here in Tampa, Florida. My journey has definitely been a good one knowing I went from being overlooked to overbooked! I went from not knowing how to even put a comb to my hair to really out here putting my hands in OTHER people’s hair; crazy, I know. I found myself studying other stylist and watching patterns and then to me adding my own pattern and now I own my own salon and now offer Loc classes. Like, wow I’m teaching someone else how to do hair, when I didn’t know how to do hair years ago. SUPER CRAZY!!! I am forever thankful because being in the hair industry can be tough but its worth it. It’s truly my passion.

Born and raised in Tampa, I worked for USF as a custodian for 7.5 years till I learned what I wanted to do. Once I learned it was OVER (in cardi b vc). I will say working at USF made me a team player which made me such a great business owner today. I absolutely Love my staff. They bring me so much joy in knowing I created a space for them to blossom into AMAZING business owners as myself.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Smooth??? Oh no! My grandma always used to say “nothing worth having comes easy” and I stick by this! Moving shop to shop trying to find myself was crazy when all I had to do was stay at my mama house lol. My mama always told me to stay doing hair at her house till I found where I really wanted to go but hey I didn’t listen lol. I made it and I can truly say I started something that’s going to help other stylists, but 100% smooth? No because I had to weed out some negativity in my process in order for my journey to blossom and here I am today. Loc’d & loaded “get it ” haha.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Studio Ci Hair Salon?
I own and operate a hair salon in south Tampa that primarily specializes in Natural Hair care & Loc maintenance. What sets Studio Ci hair salon from others is just that. I am Studio CI hair salon. Remember that what makes you different makes you dangerous! Me and my stylist brings stylish yet professional hair care to the Tampa bay area. I am most proud of my brand “Studio CI” because this brand has made my business flourish in ways I never thought and the fact I created a space for my staff to flourish with me brings me so much joy.

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
I learned to never take your stylist for granted. Thirty-two days I sat home, no income, no clients, no interaction, just BORED! Lol, Good thing I’m pretty good on saving money but just having no interaction was crazy for me. I had clients begging and pleading to come back to work. I even had clients willing to sit on my front lawn for me to do their hair lol. Biggest lesson in the hair industry is to never take it for granted one day, you can have 10 clients and the next day 0!

Contact Info:

• Email: studiohairsalon@gmail.com
• Instagram: studioci_hairsalon
• Facebook: Studio Ci Hair Salon LLC

Image Credits
Photographer: Holly K IG: HollyKPhotography