Meet Shawna Carter | Licensed Cosmetologist & Business Owner

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

Hi Shawna, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My thought process behind starting my own business was simple. I wanted to have something successful to leave my child when I’m gone whether he decides to keep the business going or sell it to make a lucrative profit off it to set him and his family up for a while. Also, being my own boss doesn’t hurt. I wanted to be able to make my schedule and be more flexible while my son is growing up. My husband works a strict schedule as an airplane mechanic, so my schedule had to be more flexible for certain school events, doctor’s appointments and days he has no school. Another big factor to play into opening my own business was that I love all things beauty and love to help others with their beauty dreams. Making others feel better is why I do what I do and I want to make it more accepted to love yourself. Aloha ‘Iho means self love in Hawaiian and that’s is exactly what I promote,

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Aloha ‘Iho Salon Spa & Barbershop LLC is my salon/small business. Right now I am renting a suite just above the Z’ Abbracci Pizza, Pasta & Tap House, located in downtown Castle Rock, CO. At the moment I do all things hair. Cuts, color, treatments, extensions, perms, etc. I hope to set myself apart from the many other salons in my area and my industry by keeping reasonable pricing and an atmosphere that all can feel welcome in. Aloha ‘Iho is Hawaiian for self love and that’s what I love to promote to others. Even a simple cut and style can help transform the way you feel and see yourself. And in turn help you get your confidence back in yourself.

Once I got licensed as a cosmetologist, I started out in a chain salon and it helped me get my foot in the door of the beauty industry. It wasn’t easy but I was able to work on speed, hospitality, and quality of work. Also I was able to grow a decent base of clientele working there. However, the atmosphere there started to take a toll on me. It was very factory line oriented, meaning it was a constant get the client in, get the client out. Only 15-20 minutes with a client and then it’s onto the next. After about two years of being there, I decided it was time to get out and go off my own. I wanted to be my own boss and create a one of kind salon/spa.

When I branched off on my own, I found this amazing little salon to rent a chair in, Captivate Salon, owned by Aleigha Hans. This was an amazing place to start off on my own. It wasn’t an easy transition to do my own thing. I had to learn how to market myself and how to handle the business side of it all. I didn’t have the cushion of having a company do all that for me and all I have to do is pay and file taxes. This was a whole new experience that was both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. I had to learn about which licenses I need to properly run my business, how to file taxes for a small business, and the insurances and benefits I needed for myself because those were no longer being provided. I also had to learn what inventory and supplies I needed to have being on my own. Then there was figuring out how to get the finances I needed to get what I needed to get started. That’s where my family came in. They invested the finances needed to move forward and get started. They saved me from having to get a significant loan that would’ve put me in debt trying pay it off.

However, I believe above all the number crunching, taking inventory, expenses, taxes, etc., marketing is the hardest for a small business. It’s costly and difficult get the advertising and word of mouth needed these days. Everything is all digital and there are so many guidelines set for social media content, it’s hard to make posts without being flagged so for spam. Most everyone can be so sensitive and quick to shut someone down that they have made it very difficult to market anything on any platform. I really do rely on my word of mouth advertising and personal marketing such as handing out flyers to surrounding businesses and supporting those local business.

This journey wasn’t easy to start, but I have learned that in life nothing is easy. It’s a certain level of satisfaction when you see you have accomplished something you have planned years for and fought so hard to make successful. Im still on this journey and I am constantly learning as this world and industry is constantly changing. I will accomplish my one of kind salon & spa one day in the very near future. My confidence has wavered from time to time during this transformation, but my will and drive have never withered. Aloha ‘Iho Salon Spa & Barbershop will become the space all can come for some self-love and a little TLC.

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?
Colorado has a plethora of activities to do. If I had someone coming to visit for a week, I would make sure it was during the spring time or summer. Those are my favorite seasons to go out and do things in. I would start off with a simple dinner the day they got in and maybe hang out in a small local bar. The next day I would plan an adventure up to the mountains to a trail I would search up because I don’t know many trails arounds, and we would do a a small hike, nothing too steep. then we would have a picnic in the wilderness and enjoy the beautiful, peaceful sounds of nature. After I would make dinner at home for all of us and have movie night in. We would definitely be spending one day at the Cheyenne Mountain zoo and then another day at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Gotta have activities my kiddo would enjoy as well as us adults. One of the nights I would get tickets to a comedy show for some adult time while my son is with my husband’s parents. I would do most of the cooking at home but we will indulge in a dinner out a few of those nights. I’m not huge on big extravagant productions when I’m showing people my home. Yes the big tourist places are amazing to go to every once in a while, but I want to show the simple everyday wonders this beautiful state has to offer. Like nature and spending time in a local bar or shopping at our local store owned by fellow townspeople. I like simplicity and enjoy sharing that with ones I care about and love.

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?
There are many people who have played a part in getting me to where I am at today. My father has always been my biggest supporter in all my endeavors, even if they failed. He’s always picked me up when I fall flat on my face and loved me through it all. We had some incredibly hard times growing up and I was the definition of a troubled child who took it out on their parent. He was a single dad and did the best he could to give me what I needed. I cherish him and his love and support of me through all this time, and hope to give him as much as he has given me. Words will never express how thankful and honored I am to be his daughter.

Also, the help and support with child care from my in-laws is just beyond incredible. They are always available for me when I need them to pick up my son or watch him when he doesn’t have school and I end up having to work. My father in-law provided a hefty loan for the start up of me branching off on my own and I hope to make him and my mother in-law proud. Their constant love and support of me is beyond words. My gratitude for everything they have done for me, especially in my lowest point in life by taking me in and giving me not only a home, but a safe space to be, can’t be put into words.

Last but definitely not least, my husband. Aside from my dad, my husband has been my biggest fan, my rock, my #1 supporter, my best friend and my partner through this whirlwind we call life. He has constantly supported my dreams and goals and goes out of his way to make sure they happen for me. Without him, none of this would be possible. He has changed my life in ways I can’t put into words. He has picked up me when I was my lowest, helped me put my life back together, and has never given up on me even when he had every screaming sign telling him to walk away. His financial support through this all is more than anyone could’ve asked for. I can never thank him enough for all that he has done and continues to still do for me and our family. All I can do and hope for is to make him proud of me.

Website: https://alohaihossb.glossgenius.com

Instagram: @alohaihossb

Image Credits
Photos taken by myself, Shawna Carter.

All that are in the photos are clients.