Inspiring Conversations with Shaina Ramsey of Copycat Salon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shaina Ramsey.

Hi Shaina, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I hopped around jobs for a decade before landing a front receptionist job in a salon. I quickly fell in love with how you could literally give someone a boost of self-confidence. I also loved the flexibility of the career and naturally loved all things beauty. I quickly realized that I wanted to go back to school for Cosmetology this time. I wanted the best, so I enrolled in the Aveda Institute of Atlanta and committed to commuting to Atlanta from Chattanooga. Now I am almost five years out from graduation, and I have a successful salon, clientele, and a nonprofit organization, Cuts for Change. My salon is centered around my favorite part of being a hair & makeup artist which is connections and community. We provide the normal day to day operations of a salon with a unique twist. We provide free hair services and hygiene products to under-served communities in Chattanooga. We do this through generous monetary donations and a team of hairstylist volunteers. I feel so lucky to have my passion, purpose and career all in one.

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?
It has been anything but a smooth road, but I never gave up & worked hard. My professional struggles have been building clientele, funding, and renovating a new salon in 2021 with no prior experience. My personal struggles have compounded those obstacles with a bankruptcy, rebuilding my credit, and leaving a tumultuous relationship with a newborn. I can say that even with the struggles, I held on to that fact that I knew success was coming & the struggle was temporary.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Copycat Salon?
Copycat Salon is both a for profit salon and a nonprofit through our Cuts for Change program. We provide hair & makeup services along with event services and commercial work. We also travel! We have been hired anywhere from Jackson Hole, Wyoming to New Orleans. I am most proud of being a safe place for anyone to get hair and/or makeup services. We provide hair & makeup to our customers, under-served members of our community who are facing financial hardship and we are a safe place for the LGBTQIA. Our motto is “all hair, all skin, all humans.”

What were you like growing up?
I would definitely say as a kiddo I was a “little lady” as my granny referred to me as. I didn’t like to get dirty, couldn’t stand clutter, and lived to read. I was pretty shy but came out of my shell as I got older thanks to cheerleading but one thing that was always constant was my desire/ability to connect with people.

Pricing:

• Commercial Day Rate $750
• Hair Color starting $75-$225
• Haircut $45
• Bridal Hair/Makeup $125/$115
• Event Hair/Makeup $85/$75

Contact Info:

• Email: copycatsalon@gmail.com
• Website: www.copycatsalon.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/copycatsalon and www.instagram.com/shainaramsey