Today we’d like to introduce you to Shawna Parvin.
Hi Shawna, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up in Kansas as a ranch kid, I never thought I would be a hairdresser. But as I ventured into the industry, I realized that the cowgirl in me cared deeply about style, hard work and a love for innovation – making me a natural fit to be a detailed, creative hair artist. While I began my career in Kansas, I soon expanded my portfolio to include work in other salons across the country. I learned from some of the industry’s best, and I signed on with national hair companies to continue my growth. I knew my career would include cutting amazing, detailed, creative, and commercial haircuts, but I also gained invaluable experience with companies that focused on the industry and the clients that benefit from stylists at my level. When I moved to Austin, my career was elevated to another level as my interest was not simply in cutting hair (working at such amazing salon as WET salon, Vain Salon and Propaganda Hair Group) but helping others realize the broad space of our industry and the amazing creativity within it. I joined the company Goldwell to fulfill my dreams of working internationally.
In that capacity, I served as a National Stylist educating in the New York and Toronto Academies and was also involved with projects from New York Fashion Week to International Hair Conferences in Stockholm, Barcelona, Vienna. To name a few. My career path began from the bottom up from a hair salon receptionist to a national and Global hair artist. There were many steps and many years along the way that took my path to where I am now. I didn’t become a national stage artist instantly. It took many years of training and teaching in salons and working with beauty brands to create my unique education style. Through salon work, networking, and knowing where I wanted to take my career next meant aiming for more elevated and more high profile projects. In Austin, I have worked at the WET salon, Vain salon and finally Propaganda Hair Group, all the while continuing to be a national and global educator. Thankfully these progressive hair salons allowed me to be in the salon but also venture out to educate across the globe. While here in Austin, I was contributing to styling hair for some of our Austin’s icons, including Patty Griffin, Shawn Colvin, Carrie Rodriguez, and Sarah Jarosz and many, many more. In 2009 I won the North American Hairstyling Awards for texture, and in 2010 I was nominated for Hairdresser of the Year in the North American Hairstylist Awards. My journey has brought me many accomplishments, but one goal I have always had was to be a salon owner. In May of 2020, my salon home, Propaganda, decided to close its doors after ten years. Through that hardship, the opportunity presented itself and in July of 2020, I opened a MOTIVE Hair Group in downtown Austin with business partner and stylist Drea Russolillo. I now have the opportunity to teach my salon stylists my passion and craft while continuing to serve the Austin community we love.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
While my career was taking off in Austin and Nationally, I thought it would be fun to get a motorcycle in 2005. In August of 2006, I was involved in a serious motorcycle accident, and while I had a helmet on, it slipped off and I had a severe head injury along with a compound fracture of my left tibia. Part of me thought my life was over because my brain was damaged, and I had difficulty recognizing people in my life. It took me two years to recover. I went from a wheelchair, crutches, walker to a cain and after that, I was physically ok, but my brain wasn’t working. The best thing I have ever done is hiring a personal trainer because getting my body back helped my brain get back. It was a long road and I am happy to say I feel like my memory and my body has fully recovered.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a personal hairstylist, the goal that I have for anyone in my chair is to create a custom and wearable look. I want to create something that incorporates their personal style while complementing and enhancing their features. I personally specialize in precision/creative cutting, short hair, and traditional styles. As a salon, we’ve built a team that can answer any request – Natural “lived-in” highlighting and balayage, Vivid colors (pink blue, etc..), shag haircuts, and even specialty/wedding styling. Beyond the physical act of providing the service, we’re here for our clients as an outlet for self expression relaxation. We strive to create an experience that leaves our guests feeling cared for and empowered.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
In my many years of being in the industry, I have crossed paths with many up and becoming hairdressers and the one thing that stands out to me is a lot of stylists that are new in this industry this is their second career, meaning they have already achieved a degree and then went back to hair school to get their license. I admire that greatly because those stylists have the thing that I am missing in my career, and those stylists have a business background that will help them succeed. I have always focused on the craft, and while I am learning the business aspect of the beauty industry, I am envious of people that got into hair for the opportunity to create a business. I got into hair because I loved the art and craft of it. It is not good, bad, right, or wrong, but my hindsight is that I should have looked into the business side more. My advice is to find great mentors who help you with your hair skills and financial skills because the beauty industry’s craft can be very profitable.
Contact Info:
- Email: shawnaparvin@mac.com
- Website: www.motivehairgroup.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/parvinatrix
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/motivehairgroup
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/motive-hair-group-austin
- Other: www.instagram.com/motivehairgroup
Image Credits
Personal Photo – Credit: Catherine Davis @catherinedavisart Other photos – Salon Image, Group Photo, Shawna & Drea Photo – Catherine Davis @catherinedavisart Editorial Work (Bird, Branch, Nest) – Photo Credit Holly Bronko
