Meet Trailblazer Shequitta Kelly-Joubert

Being raised in a single parent home taught me the true value of a dollar. I grew up in humble beginnings where wasting money was frowned upon. There is a saying that goes “necessity is the mother of all inventions!” Necessity is exactly why I created the Hair Shield. As a woman who is no stranger to hair extensions, I realized that I was wasting money on hair. It was almost two years ago when I found myself sitting in the center of the floor attempting to sort through a bunch of tangled, matted and dried out hair extensions the night before my hair appointment. I had tons of quality extensions however, I didn’t properly store them after each install. As a result, they didn’t look good or last as long as promised. Inevitably, I became frustrated, threw them out, bought new hair and promised to do better next time. I know that I’m not alone. There are hundreds of women tossing their hair quality extensions in drawers, boxes or even grocery bags just to later find them a balled, tangled mess. It was that day I vowed to stop throwing money in the trash and buy the first hair extension storage unit I could lay my hands on. However, all I could find was a hair hanger that didn’t meet my needs. It was that moment, I sat at my sewing machine and created the Hair Shield- not just for me but for all of my fellow frugal friends. The Hair Shield was manufactured to sale in July 2018.

It has not been a smooth road. Entrepreneurship is daunting and running an online business requires a lot of time. In addition, I work a full-time job so its quite the balancing act trying to maintain both ventures along with a family. My initial hurdle was finding a manufacturer that could duplicate the product I made at home. Since the purpose of my product is to protect hair extensions, I needed a manufacturer that could produce my product with the same quality silk material used in my prototype. I also am a girl who loves glitz and glam, so the details on the unit are very elaborate. Trying to find a manufacturer, who could meet the design needs at a reasonable cost took over six months. I paid for several samples and stayed up many nights talking to my manufacturer, but it was definitely worth the wait! My second hurdle came after my product was produced. No one knew about it!! Trying to get product exposure has been a slow steady process.

My advice to other women who are starting their journey is to take your time, be patient and learn your audience. I’ve learned that my product isn’t for every woman. Initially, I thought “what weave-wearing-woman wouldn’t want this?” Once I figured out my niche and focused on my true customers, I saw my sales increase.

I am the founder and creator of The Hair Shield, a satin-lined protective unit that stores, transports and restores the beauty to your hair extensions. Its silky satin lining provides the optimal surface for storing extensions and ultimate quality preservation by reducing frizz and dryness. By day, I am your Dallas county criminal family violence judge, so entrepreneurship has put a unique spin on my career. My daytime job requires a lot of after-hours work leaving little time for my company. I am proud that somehow, I’ve found the time to pour into creating a product that has a purpose and brings joy to the lives of others. Every day, I see broken people, some which I have the pleasure of helping, running the Hair Shield allows me to serve in a different capacity. The Hair Shield is the first and only hair storage unit of its kind.

Absolutely, women are a force to be reckoned. We band together and truly run the world. There are many opportunities for women, and that once shattered ceiling has now become an open sky.