Today we’d like to introduce you to Shawna Parvin.
Hi Shawna, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Growing up on a horse and cattle ranch in Kansas I never thought I would travel the world doing hair.
Fun Fact: I can rope a steer.
I have always loved working with my hands and creating. My hair career spans over 30 years and I have trained with and worked alongside some of the best hairdressers in the hair industry.
I started my path working as a salon coordinator In Wichita, Kansas. Working for a world-renowned hairstylist, educator, and photographer. I traveled to Chicago to my first hair show in 1992 and watching the hairdressers creating incredible hair looks on stage I was hooked. I knew I wanted to be on stage and share knowledge with alongside these talented hairdressers. I began taking classes at Vidal Sassoon in London, Santa Monica, and Toronto. I had a goal to enter and win The North American Hairstyling Awards. Around 1999 I began educating for a national beauty brand. I was taught how to present inspiring hair looks while providing education to hairdressers. During my time with this company I traveled across the country cutting and styling hair live and for educational DVDs. I worked alongside some of the most awarded and talented hairdressers in the business.
In 2001 I moved to Austin for a chance to explore life in a new city. I was honored and elated when an Austin music legend’s team contacted me to travel with them to White Sands, New Mexico to style hair for her new Album.
I have worked at several different salons across Austin and there is a lot of talented hairdressers in Austin that I know and admire. I have done hair at salons, on big stages, on cruise ships, at festivals, at fashion shows, in backrooms, in kitchens, and In RVS.
In 2009 my dream came true to win NAHA in the texture category and in 2010 I was nominated for Hair Dresser of the Year. My texture collection took about a year to complete and I am sure I have a pound of hair in my lungs to prove it. NAHA (North American Hairstyling Awards) is the hair industry’s Academy Awards and is a hair photographic competition that invites America, Canada Mexico to enter collections in a variety of categories.
I fulfilled another dream when I began educating for an international beauty brand in 2016 and began traveling to teach hairdressers in their New York Academy. I worked alongside more beauty industry greats that helped me elvate my skills in cutting and styling hair. Another dream of mine was to educate internationally and with this beauty brand I preformed on stage in Stockholm, Sweden, Barcelona, Spain, and Vienna, Austria.
When the pandemic happed I (and everyone) was forced to reset. In July of 2020 I created Motive Hair with Drea Russolillo. Motive is a cozy space providing an intimate atmosphere, that allows us to make every client feel welcomed and safe.
I stopped traveling to focus on Motive and spend more time with my wife and fur babies.
In 2017 my wife and I moved to Lockhart for more space. There is a growing artist community in Lockhart that has inspired me to explore acrylic painting. I have always loved how much Texas idolizes the cowboy and I wanted to paint the cowboy culture. My paintings are bringing me back to my cowgirl up bringing and its fun to challenge myself in a different medium than hair.
I am currently taking new clients at Motive Hair. I specialize in short hair and I am proficient in cutting all lengths and textures of hair. Hair has no gender and all are welcome at Motive Hair.
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?
The pandemic was an obstacle for everyone in the world. It was scary and exciting for me and my business partner to open Motive Hair in July of 2020. We wanted everyone to be safe and feel safe. We all wore masks, took temperatures outside the door before clients could come in, worried about whether or not using a blow dryer would increase the chance of spreading Covid, and got tested to ensure everyones safety. We made it through and are proud to say that it taught us that we are capable of surviving and thriving.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in short in short haircuts, precision, and classic looks. I have proficent barbering skills. Personally I have curly hair and enjoy cutting and showing clients how to love their curls. I enjoy creating haircut shapes with all hair textures and can advise a hair care regime that fits with a clients lifestyle and time.
What’s next?
My future plans are to grow my salon business and continue to pursue painting.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.motive-hair.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parvinatrix and https://www.instagram.com/motivehair
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShawnaParvinHair/
