Meet Shanika “Shontell” Muhammad

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shanika “Shontell” Muhammad and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shanika “Shontell”, what’s the most important lesson your business/career has taught you?
In the 6 years I’ve been in business, the number of lessons my business has taught is actually one of the best parts of this journey as an entrepreneur. However, one of the most important lessons has been, one must be willing to be uncomfortable even when things are scary and unfamiliar.

Getting this far in my business as well as life, I often think back to all the times in life when comfort has crippled me and forced me to forfeit some amazing opportunities. Starting my business was the first time in my life I was willing to be uncomfortable in a season of uncertainty. Most people would call that “faith”. Comfort has kept myself and those around me stuck for years, but making the conscious decision to be uncomfortable and do things I’d never done, proved to pave the way to success.

Although I’m not 100% where I want to be or where I know I can be, being uncomfortable along the way doesn’t seem so bad after all.

What should our readers know about your business?
It was the summer of 2019, and I was a 31-year-old healthcare professional who had just become a first-time mother to a beautiful baby girl months prior. I was dealing with severe post-partum, overworked, stressed, and missing my baby during the day. I remember sitting in my office at the hospital on facetime with my baby and the nanny, crying because I felt I should be at home raising my daughter. At the time I was doing hair part-time in my mentor’s salon, however, that wasn’t enough.

One day a friend invited me to fly to Florida with her for the weekend for some relaxation, and to this day, that was the best decision ever. We spent the weekend on the beach meditating, praying, and relaxing. I remember asking God to show me my next steps because I honestly didn’t know what to do. The following week, I returned to work, returned to meetings, and the hustle and bustle of the hospital. I remember sitting in a meeting with my supervisor and just blurting out, “I’m going to put in my letter of resignation today.” And just like that, my idea to start my business was born.

Over the next few months, I experienced being scared and asking myself, “what if this doesn’t work?” I experienced a lack of support from family because they couldn’t understand why I’d leave a perfectly good job with benefits to pursue an idea that I’d ran from my entire life. I began to question myself and even my own sanity, but the second I walked out of the hospital for the last time, I felt like a weight had been lifted. For the first time in my life, I didn’t have a plan, I was scared and uncomfortable, and no one who supported this “leap of faith”. So of course, I felt as if I had something to prove, but little did I know it wasn’t about other people it was about me.

Within 30 days of walking out of the hospital for the last time, and Naturally You Hair Spa was born in Charlotte, NC. A place that helps men, women, and children fall in love with their natural hair and begin a journey of self-love. I had a business plan, a space for my business, and clientele that came so fast that I could barely keep up. Exciting right? Well two months later, the pandemic hit! Returning to the hospital was not an option, especially having a small child. So, what did I do? Pivot! All the money that I’d made so quickly in the first few months was enough to take care of my daughter and I during the shut-down. I had months to strategize and come up with new systems that would prove to be life changing in the years to come.

It was not easy during the pandemic, however, unlike so many other small businesses my business grew tremendously. I’d used the down time to rebrand my business which allowed me to create a space for men, women, and children to come and have their confidence restored and truly begin a journey of self-love while the world was seemingly falling apart around us. I created a system that not only created a safe environment physically but also mentally and emotionally, which proved to keep clients coming back. My self or clients never caught covid, they felt great about themselves even in the mist of one of most historic moments in human history.

After the pandemic ended, it was as if my clientele tripled, I had to hire help. For the first time in my life, I was mentoring others and pouring into others the way my mentors had me. This taught me the importance of paying it forward. For the first time in my life, I felt as if I’d truly seen the results of taking a risk, being obedient, and walking in faith despite what things appeared to be.

If I could teach other entrepreneurs anything, it would be, NEVER allow family, friends, or life’s obstacles to keep you from your purpose in life. Believe in yourself, invest in yourself, and always remember, being uncomfortable and doing it scared can truly change your life for the better.

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?
Considering I came from NC/SC, Houston would be a playground to my friends and family. All the amazing food and things to do has proven to even be overwhelming for me. I’m a foodie at heart and so are my friends and family. I’d more than likely take them to the infamous Breakfast Klub, because everyone must go there. Since being in Tx, Tex-Mex has stolen my heart, so I’d definitely take them to Candente. I’m not big on the nightlife but an evening at Joey Uptown is always a win for me. I also love all the fun things to do around the city such as the zoo, aquarium, and museums is always a favorite of mine.

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 entire life I never viewed my talent as a hairstylist/artist as something that was even worthy of someone paying me to do what I so deeply love. I believed this so much that I completely threw away my gift and went to college, but no matter how far I ran from it, it always found me.

After graduating from none other than the Winston-Salem State University in NC, I found myself still feeling as if something was missing. It wasn’t until I met Tika Mercer and Bianca Neal, both master stylist and salon owners in Charlotte, NC, that I realized the gift I’d ran from for years was a part of who I was meant to be.

I remember the day I met Tika Mercer. I’d been out of college for a couple years and was working in healthcare and decided to take a Natural Hair Care course, and in walked this beautiful bubbly woman so full of life. For months this woman wasn’t just my instructor, but she’d become the big sister that every girl needs. She poured into me in ways I don’t think she even realized at the time. Little did she know I was on this newfound journey of self-discovery, and she’d come into my life at the perfect time. She provided light on dark days, and words of encouragement when it didn’t seem as if the grass would ever get greener. She helped me realize my true love and passion again. So, to her I will forever be thankful.

Then there was Bianca Neal. Ironically, I’d been introduced to her by one of my classmates in the same Natural Hair Care course I’d met Tika. I needed a salon to start my journey, and she had one. Little did I know, our relationship would go beyond just business. She too became a big sister who quickly let me know, there are no shortcuts in life and if you want success you have to be willing to put the work in. See, it was more than just perfecting my craft, she taught me the business side of things. She taught me the importance of treating your clients like your family and not just money. She taught me the importance of integrity, not just in business, but in life. To this day she still cheers me on from afar, and that means the world to me.

These women set the bar high and challenged me while also encouraging me even when no one else did. They didn’t just talk the talk, they were the best examples. I’m truly blessed to have had such amazing mentors in business and in life.

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