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

Hi Paige, what makes you happy? Why?
I find a lot of happiness in creating unique-ness in the world and my life. I spent a lot of my life stifling my “weirdness” out of fear of not being liked. The past few years I have worked hard undoing that idea that one has to fit in and be “normal” to be happy. Having my business reflect my unique-ness and be a little “out there” feeds my soul. Life to me seems boring when I’m trying to be too normal!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I really feel that what sets me apart from others in the beauty world is my passion for learning all kinds of new things. I love mastering new techniques and passing the benefits on. I offer so many types of services and it has taken me over a decade to get there! I have worked in so many positions to be able to learn and grow. Life is dull in my opinion when you are stagnant so growing my knowledge is a way I keep myself stimulated.
Something I’ve struggled with is feeling like sometimes I don’t fit the typical mold of a beauty professional. I tend to lean more towards unique looks and unique lifestyles which isn’t everyones cup of tea. I love being the oddball but it definitely made me feel isolated in most salon environments. I’ve recently been invited to join a new collective that is owned by my close friend Lauren and I’m finally feeling at home and that my “weirdness” is loved and respected. I guess you could say I’ve learned to work hard to embrace who I truly am and that everyone has a crew they are a perfect fit for, but sometimes it takes a lot of time to get there, but don’t give up and stay true to yourself!

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?
When friends and family come to visit, I always recommend seeing a concert at Red Rocks, its such a unique concert venue and no matter who is playing there it’s such an amazing and spiritual experience. I would also take them to one of my favorite metaphysical shops; Lightening Horse The Healing Ground. Its a small shop but I absolutely love the energy there and its where I first started my journey to who I am now and opened my eyes to my true potential. My hands down favorite restaurants are Bawarchi and Hiratori Hibachi Express Ramen Yakitori. I love Indian food and Bawarchi is definitely my favorite place and I love taking my friends there. My husband and I absolutely love anime! Hibachi Express Ramen Yakitori is the perfect spot for our family because they have amazing food and brings us back to our time we spend in Japan.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would not be doing what I love without the support of my husband Morgan and my best friend Lauren. Morgan encourages me to try all the things my heart is lead to. Lauren is one of my closest friends as well as my mentor in my career in beauty.

Website: StudioAlkahestri.Glossgenius.com AND Theo-salon.square.site

Instagram: @PaigeIsNotNormal

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