Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Bonner.
Hi Christina, 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?
My journey started in Vancouver, B.C., as a braider, but life had bigger plans. I landed in the US as a beauty school dropout – definitely not the success story you’d expect to learn about.
But here’s the thing about unconventional paths – they often lead to the most authentic breakthroughs.
While finishing beauty school (for the third time), I was had already opened my second business.
My first was in Baltimore, on Decker ave. I used to grab Nachos and drink a margarita in a hub cap on my sometimes 3 hours breaks between clients.
It was during this hustle that I discovered my real calling wasn’t just about hair – it was about transformation. I fell in LOVE with helping women.
My own hair insecurities became my superpower. I realized there were thousands of women struggling with the same feelings I had, staring in the mirror and not loving what they saw.
That’s when I knew I had to do something bigger.
Fast forward to today: I’ve built 5 salons, created an international education company that’s taught thousands of professionals worldwide, and just launched the Extensions IQ app on Apple and Google Play.
But the numbers don’t tell the real story.
The real story is in the ripple effect. Every woman who walks out of our salons with newfound confidence. Every professional I’ve trained who’s now changing lives in their own community. Every person who downloads our app and finally understands their hair.
I went from beauty school dropout to building a business that’s literally transforming how women see themselves – not just in Baltimore, but internationally.
I also am able to teach at the Premiere Beauty Trade shows all over the country.
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?
Smooth road? Not even close. The biggest struggle was fighting against everyone telling me that being a hairstylist ‘isn’t a real job.’ I was completely brainwashed into thinking my passion wasn’t legitimate.
I dropped out of cosmetology school – twice. It felt like playing house when I knew I was naturally gifted at this work. So I tried to fit into what everyone else thought was ‘respectable’ and went to broadcasting school instead. But I just couldn’t find my flow. I was fighting against my own nature.
The turning point came when I moved to the United States. Suddenly, I could see this massive gap in the industry that nobody was filling. My experience as a braider in Vancouver, combined with my natural love for elongating hair and making women feel beautiful – that wasn’t just a hobby or ‘playing house.’ That was my calling.
But even then, I had to overcome the mental programming that what I was passionate about wasn’t valuable. Every day I had to prove – to myself and others – that this industry could be sophisticated, professional, and incredibly impactful.
The struggle wasn’t just building the business – it was unlearning the shame around my chosen profession. Once I embraced that my gift for hair transformation was actually my superpower, everything changed. That’s when Studio She and the Academy were born.
Now I’ve built something that’s trained thousands of professionals and transformed countless lives. The same passion everyone told me ‘wasn’t real’ became the foundation of an international business.
Sometimes the thing people tell you to run from is exactly what you’re meant to run toward.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Studio She isn’t just another salon – we’re pioneers in the hair extension industry.
I created Maryland’s first salon to support independent hair extension professionals through booth rentals, which was revolutionary at the time.
But what really sets us apart is our ‘tell all’ educational approach.
Here’s what makes us different: We specialize in over 10 different extension methods – from Combline and Hair Dreams Microlines to Keratin Fusion, Tape-Ins, and Beaded Rows.
But it’s not just about the techniques – it’s about perfect matching.
We can match any hair texture and color so seamlessly that extensions become completely undetectable.
Our clients never have to color their natural hair to match extensions.
What I’m most proud of is our impact. Studio She Academy has trained thousands of professionals globally – not just in techniques, but in business success.
We maintain a 95% client retention rate because we’re not just changing hair, we’re changing lives.
Our clients are busy professionals and mothers who want to look polished without the daily styling time.
Our Extensions IQ app on Apple and Google Play is revolutionizing how people learn about extensions.
We’re making education accessible worldwide.
What sets us apart is authenticity and inclusivity.
I built this business from my own hair struggles, so every service, every educational program, every piece of content comes from real understanding of what women need. We’re not just selling extensions – we’re selling confidence, time freedom, and transformation.
Baltimore readers should know that we’re not your typical beauty business. We’re educators, innovators, and confidence builders.
Whether you’re a consumer looking for life-changing extensions or a professional wanting to master this lucrative specialty,
Studio She is where transformation happens.
We’ve taken something that was once considered ‘not a real job’ and built it into an international education empire that’s changing the industry standard.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Giving women the solution to the “thing” that keeps them up at night!
Empowering women to look and feel their best using solutions that I provide. Operating an inclusive business that gives back.
What matters most to me is transformation – helping women feel confident and beautiful in their own skin.
My faith guides everything I do. I believe God has a bigger plan, and my journey from being told hairstyling ‘isn’t a real job’ to building an international education company proves that.
But what drives me daily is that moment when a woman realizes she doesn’t have to settle for feeling ‘just okay’ about herself. Whether it’s a client walking out with newfound confidence or training a professional who goes on to change lives in their community – those transformations are everything to me.
At the end of the day, I want to know that the passion everyone told me wasn’t valuable enough has helped thousands of people see their own worth. That’s not just business – that’s purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.studio-she.com
- Instagram: @studioshe.hairextensions
- Facebook: @studioshe.salon
