As a hairstylist, the spotlight usually isn’t on you—it’s on the client.

They walk out looking amazing, turning heads, getting compliments. People ask, “Where did you get your hair done?” And most times the answer is a salon name, not the stylist’s name. The beauty is seen, but the creator often fades into the background.

There’s nothing wrong with that—it’s just the nature of the industry.

But with my book, it’s different.

No one says, “I read this bookstore’s story.”
They say, “I read Shalonda’s story.”
They don’t say, “I bought it from this place.”
They say, “I bought Shalonda’s book.”

That shift means everything to me.

With hair, my hands could create something beautiful that walked away.
With my book, my voice creates something that stays.

My name is attached to every page, every chapter, every emotion. My story isn’t worn for a few days/weeks—it’s carried, remembered, and passed along.

And when someone connects with it, they’re not just seeing a result.

They’re seeing me.

Wow.