Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelby Ayres.
Shelby, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I always say I didn’t choose the beauty industry, it chose me. I grew up loving transformation, creativity, and connection, long before I ever realized those things could become a career. I was the kid coloring everyone’s hair including my own, teaching myself techniques from YouTube before YouTube was even “a thing,” and obsessing over the way confidence shifts when someone feels seen.
I officially stepped behind the chair at 18, and from day one, I knew this was where I was meant to be. What I didn’t know was how many seasons, pivots, and reinventions it would take to get me to where I am today.
Over the years, I built a clientele not just on good hair but on trust. I became the stylist people called when they needed a transformation, a correction, a safe place to talk, or someone who genuinely cared about the health and longevity of their hair. Education became a natural part of who I was: teaching each client about proper care, blending formulas, explaining techniques, and eventually stepping into the role of a formal educator.
That passion eventually opened doors I never imagined.
I became a four-time Best of KC winner, a finalist eight times, and even got to train in Italy with Demeral Beauty, deepening my love for color theory, formulation, and advanced techniques. Those experiences lit a fire in me to elevate my local community of stylists, encourage growth, and share what I’ve learned.
In 2024, I took the biggest leap of my career and opened The Hair Salon & Co. in Belton, Missouri my “Pink Palace.” with Rebekah. What started as a dream quickly became a safe haven for clients and stylists alike. Within our first year, we were voted Best Hair Salon in KC, a moment that made every late night, every risk, and every setback worth it.
Today, I split my time between running the salon, taking clients, educating stylists, and building systems that support both the business and the beauty pros inside it. I also work alongside Amazingly Ageless Med Spa, offering advanced scalp treatments, head-spa services, brows, lashes, and skincare, blending the worlds of beauty and wellness.
My journey hasn’t been perfect. I’ve navigated obstacles, self-doubt, leadership challenges, and the growing pains of entrepreneurship. But each step taught me something that shaped who I am now: a stylist, educator, coach, salon owner, and someone fiercely committed to helping others rise.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this:
Success doesn’t come from doing hair. It comes from building people, building community, and building the kind of business you needed when you were starting out.
And I’m just getting started.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The short answer? No my road has been anything but smooth. But every bump, every setback, every “starting over” moment has shaped the stylist, educator, and salon owner I am today.
I started in this industry young, driven, and wildly ambitious, but like many artists, I had to learn everything the hard way. I built my career while juggling motherhood, long hours behind the chair, financial struggles, self-doubt, and the constant pressure to prove myself. There were seasons where I questioned everything my talent, my direction, and even my place in this industry.
Owning a salon added a whole new layer. Suddenly it wasn’t just about hair anymore it was payroll, leadership, repairs, city permits, late-night cleaning, and making the kinds of decisions no one prepares you for. I’ve dealt with staff changes, burnout, and moments where it felt like I was pouring from an empty cup. And stepping into the world of education came with its own challenges. Navigating brand relationships, lack of transparency, being overlooked, being called the wrong name, and having to advocate for myself over and over again it required thick skin and stronger boundaries.
But here’s the part I’m proud of:
I never stopped showing up.
I kept learning, kept growing, kept building a brand rooted in hard work, community, and authenticity. Every hardship taught me something about business, about people, about leadership, and about myself.
The road wasn’t smooth, but it was necessary.
And I wouldn’t trade the struggles, because they made me the stylist, educator, and entrepreneur people see today.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a hairstylist, salon owner, educator, and mentor but at the core, I’m someone who believes deeply in the power of helping people feel seen, confident, and at home in their own skin. I specialize in dimensional color, blonding, lived-in techniques, and corrective work, and I’m known for creating healthy, customized hair using advanced color theory.
I’m also an educator and coach, teaching stylists across the U.S. how to understand formulation, foil strategy, branding, and social-media growth. Education has been a huge part of my story, I’ve taught look-and-learns, hands-on classes, Sip & Swatch tours, Social media courses and many others.
What I’m most proud of is building The Hair Salon & Co., the Barbie-pink dream salon in Belton, MO, and growing a community of stylists who support each other, not compete. What sets me apart is that I don’t just “do hair” I teach the why behind everything. I help clients understand their hair, and I help stylists understand their craft. My brand blends technical skill, elevated education, community, and a little bit of chaos-into-magic energy. I’ve built a space where people feel taken care of, understood, and empowered… and that has been the most rewarding part of my work.
How do you think about happiness?
What makes me happiest in my career is the transformation that happens far beyond the hair itself. I get to watch people walk in carrying their day, their stress, their insecurities and leave lighter, brighter, and more confident. There’s something incredibly special about knowing that my hands, my knowledge, and my energy helped create that shift.
I love the blend of art, science, and connection. I get to create beautiful color, teach stylists across the country, build systems inside my salon, help other artists grow, and still have those one-on-one moments behind the chair where I get to make someone feel seen.
I’m happiest when:
• I’m creating something customized and dimensional
• I’m teaching a stylist a technique that finally clicks
• I see a client fall in love with their reflection
• One of my team members steps into their potential
• Someone tells me they feel “safe,” “heard,” or “understood” in my chair
My career makes me happy because it’s not just about hair it’s about impact.
It’s about building something that supports my family, inspires my community, and helps other stylists realize that they, too, can create a career they love.
And honestly?
Nothing makes me happier than knowing I get to wake up every day and do exactly what I was made to do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://squareup.com/appointments/book/9B33G2DSFQ7BS
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelby_ayres_stylist_educator
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19ragbyasX/
