Crown of Beauty: The Hair Mayven (Grand Opening)
- Asha
- Jul 31, 2017
- 3 min read
She stands with her back against a counter fully stocked with Naked brand hair products and, though she laughs heartily, not one curl on her perfectly-coiffed do falls out of place.
"Asha!" she greets me with a cheerful smile. "Thank you for coming!"
She is dressed brilliantly in a black bubble skirt, a rose, cold-shouldered blouse, and the perfect black cage pumps to boot. And, though she wears an over-sized pearl necklace, nothing shines as brightly as her personality.
Stephanie Cornelius, Hair Stylist and Healthy Hair Advocate, is not new to the beauty industry -- or to the Charlotte market, for that matter. With over 11 years of experience, Saturday, July 29th marked the beginning of a new goal for the hair-care extraordinare -- a new beginning. Wanting to create a safe space for women to speak freely and not endure judgment based on the condition of their hair, Stephanie decided to make a move from renting a booth in a nearby salon to establishing her own space as The Hair Mayven, working on the hair -- and hearts -- of her clients.
Her beautifully painted salon suite is painted a shade of rose similar to the one she wears. I notice it matches her nails.
That is so her, I think to myself.
If I had to describe Stephanie in three words, they would be: professional, fashionable, and precise. Anything associated with her brand must be quality just like the services she provides.
Two of her girlfriends, who are assisting with her grand-opening event, are immersed in conversation within her salon suite. They are both businesswomen and entrepreneurs themselves. I can see Stephanie attracts the type of women who are bold, ambitious, friendly, and social. I immediately feel as if I match the vibe in the room. I really feel like anyone could belong. These ladies are fabulous! There is a beautiful, quaint chandelier to admire crowned high above their heads. "This place is beautiful, Stephanie," I say. "You did an incredible job."
Almost instinctively, I begin to document the evening. I want to be sure Stephanie has memories of the moment her dreams finally came true.
There are perfectly-placed gift bags on tables where her guests mingle. We all take turns ooh-ing and ahh-ing over the food she and her mother prepared and the cupcakes she had catered. "These are strawberry moscato, those are pink velvet, and these are salted caramel," Stephanie says as she showcases the second-most popular items in the room -- the confections. "Make sure you save one for me!" She laughs.
The rest of the evening is full of laughter and chatter among new and old friends. The place is packed!
One of Stephanie's friends arrives with flowers in hand -- a celebration of her accomplishment. Another friend arrives with toys for her son. This is the kind of treatment someone receives when they have truly been good to others. A close family friends shows up during one of her sponsored raffles and Stephanie begins to cry. Every fear, every worry, and every doubt she had about stepping out on her own has dissipated into the vapor of confirmation.
As eventgoers --with a variety of curl patterns, up-dos, braids, and presses -- start to spill into the corridors of Sola Salon Studios at 14136 Rivergate Parkway in Charlotte, North Carolina, Stephanie's mother puts out additional chairs for seating. Like mother, like daughter. Stephanie does her best to make sure the accommodations are practical -- and comfortable -- for all. As the evening begins to come to an end, Stephanie thanks all of her guests for taking the time to visit her new hair-home and support her ambitions.
"Before everyone leaves, can we please take a group picture?" She asks kindly.
And just like that, as with everything Stephanie dreams up: a salon suite; a grand-opening soiree; a vibrant hair color; a memento of family and friends captured in time-- it happened. And it was absolutely perfect.
-Asha
Interested in visiting Stephanie, The Hair Mayven? You can view the full list of her salon services on Style Seat (The Hair Mayven). SPECIAL OFFER: New clients only - Book with a friend (same day, same time) and receive blowouts for $50/each.
Disclaimer: I did not receive any form of compensation for this profile. This piece was written to highlight the accomplishment of a dear friend who offers an array of wonderful salon services.
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