Today we’d like to introduce you to Candisha Smith- Brown.
Hi Candisha, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story really begins with wanting to make a difference in people’s lives. After high school, I spent two years in college pursuing social work because helping people has always been in my heart. But over time, the work felt heavy, sad, and repetitive in a way that didn’t align with the kind of impact I wanted to make. I knew I was meant to serve—just not in that way.
A major turning point for me was the loss of my Nana. She was one of the greatest influences in my life, always encouraging me and my siblings to get an education, follow our gifts, and become strong, independent women. Losing her shook me, but it also opened my eyes. It pushed me to step into a path that brought joy and purpose. Pursuing cosmetology was my way of honoring her and becoming the woman she always saw in me.
In 2012, I officially started my hair career, and everything began to align. Behind the chair, I wasn’t just helping women feel confident and restored—I was growing right alongside them. With every client, I matured more, found my voice, came out of my shell, and truly bloomed. The Glam Studio became more than a salon; it became the place where I stepped into myself.
But my journey didn’t end in beauty. In 2023, I made another life-changing decision and started Mortuary School. My heart for service and my desire to help families in their toughest moments led me to pursue becoming a licensed embalmer and funeral director. I began this part of my journey so I can one day stand beside my dad and work in our family business, Jones-Walker & Son Funeral Home. Being able to carry forward our family legacy while serving our community is something I hold close to my heart.
Along the way, I also grew as a content creator, sharing hair education, lifestyle moments, and inspiration across social media. That opened new doors and allowed me to connect with people far beyond my city.
Getting here took faith, courage, and a lot of personal growth. Today, I’m proud to be an entrepreneur, a future funeral professional, a creator, and a woman who continues to evolve—carrying my Nana’s legacy and my family’s legacy with me every step of the way.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, my journey has not been a smooth road at all. In fact, it’s been a long stretch of challenges, faith, and resilience. When I first enrolled in beauty school, it came with a heavy financial cost. At that time, my boyfriend—now my husband—and I were surviving on his income alone so I could chase my dream. And while trying to build a future, life hit us with heartbreaking losses. We lost his brother right before my Nana passed, and then I lost an uncle and a cousin shortly after. It felt like one bombshell after another.
Beauty school was also 30 miles from home, so every week became a struggle to find gas money and food from Tuesday to Saturday. Those sacrifices were real, and there were moments when I didn’t know how I’d make it through—but I did.
After graduating, I went straight into booth renting. At first, it felt like a blessing. The owner was a former student from my school, so everything was comfortable. Then one day, I came back from cutting hair at a local nursing home and found an eviction notice on the door. I had been there almost two years. We had all been paying our rent, but the owner wasn’t paying the landlord. When the landlord took over, the entire salon fell apart. The name changed, clients thought we were closed, walk-ins stopped, and I was driving 40 miles round trip to make zero dollars. After about six months, I had no choice but to leave.
I moved to a brand-new salon in town and helped build it from the ground up—bringing in clients, working hard, investing my heart into growing that space. But almost two years in, everything unraveled again. The owners asked for my honest opinion on a business deal involving a new stylist. One owner agreed with me, but her husband, who handled the business side, disagreed. What should have been a simple conversation escalated into a racially charged incident where he got in my face and said deeply offensive things. That moment was enough. I walked away that same day.
After that, I joined SmartStyles and worked there for over seven years. But when COVID hit, chain salons were affected drastically. The shutdown changed the industry and client behavior, and once again I had to pivot. I returned to booth renting in 2022 and continued to work hard.
Then God spoke to me again—clearly. He told me it was time to move, to get my own space. I started small and rented a suite. In Paris, Texas, options are limited, so I took what I could afford. It was cute and functional, but sharing a suite with non-hair-related businesses came with constant issues: temperature control battles, needing to stay quiet for massage sessions, and trying to work in a space that wasn’t designed for salon life.
After two years of that, God said, “Move—move now.”
And He opened the door. In just one month, I found a building, remodeled it, and moved in. And I could not have done any of it without my best friend, hair bestie, and now business partner, April Widner. She played a huge part in bringing this vision to life.
So no, my road hasn’t been smooth. It’s been rocky, unpredictable, and full of moments where I had to choose strength over giving up. But every setback pushed me forward, every challenge taught me something, and every door that closed eventually led me to the right one.
And the wild part?
This is only the hair journey.
Going through mortuary school has been a whole different ball game. I’ve wanted to quit more times than I can count. Even right now, as we speak, I’m in one of the hardest parts of the program—the embalming portion—and it has pushed me mentally, emotionally, and physically in ways I wasn’t prepared for.
Working long days and then coming home to hours of homework is not for the weak. I’ve never been the type to sit down and study for hours, but this program forced me to grow in ways I didn’t know I could. I’ve had countless late nights, fueled by pots of coffee, cracking open the books when my body was exhausted but my purpose wouldn’t let me give up.
Mortuary school isn’t just school—it’s sacrifice, discipline, and emotional strength. It requires a level of commitment that stretches you. But every time I think about quitting, I remember why I started: to serve families, to honor my calling, and to one day work alongside my dad in our family business. That reminder is what keeps me pushing through the hard days.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
In the beauty world, I’m a licensed cosmetologist and the owner of The Glam Studio PTX located in Paris Tx., where I specialize in healthy hair care, silk presses, and color transformations. I’m known for restoring hair, bringing damaged hair back to life, and giving clients that soft, flowy, confident look they can’t wait to show off. My chair has always been more than a service chair — it’s a space where women feel seen, heard, and taken care of.
I love the science behind hair just as much as the artistry. I take my time with each client, whether it’s a transformation, a silk press, or bringing someone’s hair health back from breakage or dryness. People come to me because they know they’ll get honesty, quality, and a stylist who truly cares about the outcome. I don’t rush, I don’t sugarcoat, and I don’t believe in damaging hair for a trend. Healthy hair is my brand.
Outside of the salon, I’m also a content creator, sharing hair education, lifestyle videos, mortuary school updates, faith moments, and everyday inspiration. My online presence gives people a chance to learn from me, laugh with me, and connect on a more personal level.
And then there’s the other side of my calling — funeral service. I’m currently studying Mortuary Science to become a licensed embalmer and funeral director. My plan is to work alongside my dad in our family business, Jones-Walker & Son Funeral Home. My heart has always been for people, and serving families during their darkest moments is one of the most meaningful things I believe I can do. Not everyone can do this work, but I feel called to it.
What I’m Most Proud Of
I am most proud of my growth — as a woman, as a stylist, and as a future funeral professional. But I’m also incredibly proud of creating The Glam Studio, especially after everything I’ve been through in my hair journey. Having my own salon space, built the way I envisioned it, with the help of my best friend and business partner, is one of my biggest accomplishments.
What Sets Me Apart
What sets me apart is my heart. I truly care about people in every season of their lives — whether that’s helping a client feel beautiful in my salon, comforting a grieving family, or encouraging someone online. I don’t just do hair. I don’t just study embalming. I serve people. And I believe that genuine compassion mixed with skill is what makes my work different.
Another thing that sets me apart is my ability to balance two completely different worlds — beauty and death care — and find purpose in both. Not many people walk that line, but it’s exactly where I’m meant to be.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
One of my biggest resources is honestly the Bible. I use the NIV Women’s Study Bible because, let’s be real, the Bible can be hard to read sometimes. I need the pictures, references, explanations, and breakdowns to help me truly understand what I’m reading. It keeps me grounded and gives me clarity on the days when life feels heavy or overwhelming.
Of course, I’m also on TikTok — that app will have you learning, laughing, and inspired all in the same scroll. And Pinterest is every girl’s best friend. Whether it’s hair ideas, business inspiration, or just something creative, I’m always on there finding something new.
When it comes to podcasts, I love listening to NightCap, Faith That Wins, Club Shay Shay, Pour Minds, and so many others. They don’t necessarily help me do my job directly, but they make great background noise. They keep me entertained while I’m working, studying, or cleaning, and honestly they make perfect conversation starters with clients.
All these things together help me stay motivated, encouraged, and connected — whether I’m behind the chair, in class, studying late at night, or just living life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://candisha-smith.square.site
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candishasmithbrown/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candisha.smith.brown.2025/
Image Credits
S.R. Photography ( Sheena Record) April Widner
