Daily Inspiration: Meet Shaunda Ridgell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shaunda Ridgell.

Hi Shaunda, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My loc business came into my life at a time when I wasn’t expecting it at all. In 2021, while pregnant with my fourth child, I decided to get microlocs of my own. Shortly afterward, my son, Jream, was born stillborn.

In the months that followed, as I navigated grief and began healing from such a tremendous loss, I found myself searching for things that could occupy my mind and give me something positive to focus on. During that time, I became increasingly interested in the art of locs, specifically microlocs.

My longtime friend and loctician, Karen, began teaching microloc classes, and I became her very first student. What started as curiosity during one of the most difficult seasons of my life slowly grew into a passion and, eventually, a new purpose.

In March 2022, I officially launched my business. Naming it *”Jream Locs** felt like the only choice. It allowed me to honor my son while building something meaningful from a chapter of my life that had changed me forever.

What began unexpectedly during a season of grief became a business, a creative outlet, and a way for me to carry Jream’s name forward. And the rest, as they say, is history.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Absolutely not! LOL. While this business has been an incredible blessing to me and my family, it has definitely come with its share of challenges.

Building a business from the ground up is hard work. Building and maintaining a full clientele is hard work. And in the beauty industry, you’re working closely with people every single day, navigating different personalities, expectations, and requests while still trying to provide a great experience for each client.

Over time, that can take a toll, both mentally and physically. Beauty professionals pour so much of themselves into their work, and I’ve learned firsthand how important it is to recognize when that begins to affect your own well-being.

I’ve definitely gone through seasons of uncertainty, exhaustion, and questioning what my next step should be. But through every season, I’ve continued to grow, evolve, and find a way forward. The road hasn’t always been smooth, but every challenge has taught me something about business, boundaries, and myself.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize exclusively in microlocs and currently service women with microlocs. Microlocs are a type of loc, that are very small, typically about pencil-size or smaller. At one time, I also accepted clients with traditional-sized locs, but I quickly realized that my true passion was microlocs and decided to focus specifically on that area of the craft.

More recently, I’ve expanded my expertise into alopecia care and cranial prosthesis services. My goal is to combine my years of experience with microlocs with my new knowledge of hair loss and hair replacement to care for women who are experiencing thinning, alopecia, hair loss, or other health-related hair concerns. I especially want to serve women who already have microlocs, as well as women experiencing hair loss who still desire the look and freedom of microlocs.

I believe what sets me apart most is my caring nature. I genuinely care about the work that I do and the women who sit in my chair. I take a great deal of pride in my craft, but beyond creating beautiful hair, my goal has always been for every woman to leave my salon feeling a little better about herself than when she walked in.

I jokingly call myself an **“esteem builder” rather than a hairstylist**, but there’s a lot of truth behind that. Hair is deeply connected to how many women see and feel about themselves, and being trusted to play even a small part in helping someone regain that confidence is something I’m extremely proud of.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I’ve learned along this journey is that I am so much stronger than I ever thought I could be. I’ve learned not to underestimate myself or put limits on what I’m capable of becoming.

There have been so many moments when I’ve stepped back and thought, “Wow, I really did that.” I’ve learned that I can take an idea, even one born during a difficult season, and turn it into something meaningful and successful.

More than anything, I’ve learned that I am capable of blowing my own mind. Every version of me that I’ve grown into has shown me that there is probably still so much more in me that I haven’t even discovered yet.

Pricing:

• Microloc Installations $1200 and up
• Retightenings $225 and up
• Microloc Consultations $30
• Alopecia Consultations $40
• Alopecia coverage units $50 and up

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jreamlocs.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jreamlocs/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JreamLocs