Today we’d like to introduce you to Shamaeia Royster.
Shamaeia, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In 2016, after battling mental illness and almost losing the battle; I decided that I was going to live life by my terms! I let my personality shine through, shared my thoughts, side quests, music and sense of humor on social media. Doing so, I gained a following rapidly.I lost myself again, losing my oldest brother sent me in a manic episode with self medicating that lead to two children by two different men, a random wedding in Vegas to someone I knew for two months. While birthing my youngest child, my vitals dropped on the operating table, and it was a 3 week fight to get out of the hospital. I lost my job in this process; which was all I knew. Having a premature baby, being hospitalized, and not having daycare, I had to figure it out. I went to school for cosmetology and I always relied on styling hair when I needed additional money; however I had no one to watch my baby. So I started mixing hair growth oils, that works for hair and beards. Every weekend, my mom, my baby and I would go to the flea market, sat up a table and sell my oils and her pies. My oils gained some traction and attention. Once my baby turned a few months, I started taking clients, I turned my living room into my hair studio. I posted the styles I did, day in life videos, mixing my oil on camera, and even made translation videos of myself doing my own hair. This got a lot of attention, one being an old friend that was cutting hair in a barber shop. He reached out and invited me to a booth there, I took it. While there I met a few connections, one being a barber that was going back to his original shop. While there he called me and asked if I could come do one of the barbers hair. I did, which ended up being a whole day there and me moving to that shop. It fit my brand better, better environment, quality, location and visibility. Being the only Braider there originally, I gained clientele super fast! I was able to give my clients great quality at a fast pace. I was able to service multiple clients in a day because of that. My clientele grew to over 100 consistent clients over the course of a year and a half.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
This has not been a smooth road, I guess I already mentioned a lot in my “brief” story, but although I was able to make it through that, it wasn’t easy. After getting settled in the shop and building my clientele, things still took a turn. I was overworking myself, barely getting sleep.. When you try to multitask or do too much, you lack quality in something. Not getting proper sleep, or proper nutrition (sometimes you don’t eat during long shop days) not only affects your health but your mental as well. This sent me into a manic episode, which lead to me spending large sums of money on what I can’t even remember to tell you and even going without sleep. One night I couldn’t sleep, I decided to do Uber eats, that night, I was in an accident, that accident lead me to jail, fighting for my license and probation. Shortly after, my niece was killed by a car. My family and I are close, so losing my niece was like losing one of my own. On top of that, when I went to court in January, the judge asked me “what if it was one of your family members that got hit Ms. Royster?” Fast forward to March it was, that traumatized me. Granted I didn’t kill anyone, it was pedestrian error, it was a highway, late night and he was in a travel lane, in all black; but still! My own accident was traumatizing, and to associate the two sent me in a spiral. I still pushed myself to go to work until one day, a man was hit by a car outside the shop and didn’t make it. I had to take a break.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
After taking that break, it was super hard to go back and commit. I tried but when I tell this journey has been crazy! June this year, I had to retwist, style, cut and shape up my dad’s hair for his funeral services. After that I lost my love for hair. Outside of my kids, nieces, nephews and Godkids, I don’t do hair. I’ve went back to my original love, social media. I’ve never lost my following there, actually have gained more because throughout everything, I’ve shared my journey, the good, bad and the ugly. The way my mind race, I shared a lot of thoughts, advise and new ways to look at things. I’m known for being authentic, upfront, honest and real but funny. I’m known to be fun and adventurous, a hard worker, an out of the box thinker! I’m super proud of that! I don’t make content based on what I think people want to hear or would like. I don’t necessarily even make content, I just love the camera and to talk to myself; I just so happen to share it and get a great response from it. I literally run out of storage all the time lol, I currently have 45,944 items in my recent photo album. I believe what sets me apart from others is that I am authentic. I don’t try to make things look or sound good. I say the things people are afraid to say or speak on, I show the parts of my life that people usually try to hide, I stand on my values, beliefs, I live purposefully, I’m no judgmental and understanding. I walk in love and light; so that’s what I share.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My advice for those who are just starting out, in whatever it is your doing, is to lock in and stand on it! Especially if it’s out of the ordinary! Don’t rely on the people you know to get you there! People can’t see your vision that way you do, especially if it’s seems impossible or something they’ve never done. You do it! Don’t do anything to prove anything to anyone but yourself. You have to lock in and stand on it, things will constantly be thrown your way: even seem unbearable at times. Feel it, heal through it it so you don’t have to later, and keep it moving! Set detailed mini goals to get to your major, set detailed task list to keep you on track. Things change every moment, these will be your gps to keep you own track!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @maeiababy
- Facebook: Maeia Royster
- Youtube: @maeiasworld1248
