Today we’d like to introduce you to Keshia Patrick.
Hi Keshia, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve actually been doing hair for as long as I can remember. As a little child, all of my dolls had cute haircuts and braids. By the time I entered high school, I was doing my teachers’ hair. In fact, the entire high school referred to me as “the Keshia that does hair.”
I was 23 when my father died. My mom had already passed away when I was seven months old, so losing my father was not only heartbreaking but life-changing. By this time, I had two children and knew I wanted more for them and myself. That lead me to enroll in beauty school. After finishing all of my courses, I moved to Atlanta with hopes of being a platform artist and celebrity stylist. However, those dreams failed and I ultimately moved back to Florida. But I wholeheartedly believe that God can use everything, even our failures, for His glory. So the blessing in returning to Florida was that I was able to bring back all of the skills and techniques that I learned in Atlanta… and that’s when I really took off!
I opened my first salon in 2011 with two partners. After three years, I opened my own salon, “The Paisley Parlor”, in 2014. The salon thrived over the next several years and I started to be known more and more for my cutting skills and color techniques. I also started chronicling my hair artistry journey on YouTube, which has now garnered over 160,000 followers and over 18 million views. I knew that I wanted to expand beyond the four corners of the salon and include products, as well as business-to-business services, to other salon owners.
So, in 2017, I changed the salon name to “Mane Life Studios” and launched a product line called “Mane Life Collection.” The line features 14 products, including hair care and styling tools, apparel, and human hair units. We also offer beard wash and oils for men, as well. During the 2020 global pandemic, we added a special “At-Home Manetenance Kit™” to the Mane Life Collection. This curated collection of Mane Life products allowed our “Mane Chicks”, as we affectionately call them, to have everything that they needed to “MANETAIN” their gorgeous tresses from the comfort (and safety) of their home.
In 2021, I also launched a new coaching service for hairstylists called “Chair to Couch Coaching”, where I teach service providers how to make money online using video.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There are times when I struggle with self-doubt and perfection paralysis, believing that things need to be perfect before I can move forward. In 2020, I was diagnosed with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), a health condition that is similar to premenstrual syndrome (PMS) but much more serious.
While some people may have been afraid of receiving such a diagnosis, I actually embraced it. For so long, I had been struggling with bouts of severe irritability, depression, and anxiety. However, the diagnosis allowed me to finally address those symptoms through medication, counseling, and the support of close friends and family.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I own a multi-cultural salon. We have a natural hair specialist and a colorist. I’m known for coloring and shortcuts on relaxed hair. Our motto is “Where healthy hair is never boring.” We cater to women 27-55 years old. Giving trendy looks while still maintaining the integrity of their hair. We’ve built a community of Mane Chicks and have lots of women on the waiting list to join.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Most people don’t know that I am actually very shy. For a long time, people thought that I was mean or cold, but the truth is, I can get anxious and nervous in the company of other people. Thankfully, as I have gotten older and learned how to embrace every part of myself, I’ve also gotten much better at managing being shy. I now know how to show up for my friends and family, have fun and attend crowded events. But I’ve also learned how to listen to my body and when it tells me to take a step back, get some air or find some quiet space, I do that as well. It actually took me a long time to learn how to navigate having social anxieties, especially because I really do like having fun around people. But the more I embraced it, the more comfortable I became with developing solutions to manage it. I now discuss my social anxieties with others and have helped a lot of people by sharing my own journey.
Contact Info:
- Email: Manelifestudio@gmail.com
- Website: Manelifestudio.com
- Instagram: @manelifestudio @damasterstylist
- Facebook: Facebook.com/Damasterstylist
- Youtube: YouTube.com/Damasterstylist
