Interview with Sharece Young, Owner of Hair Youphoria (Tampa, FL)

Before you go any further, you may want to check out Part 1 of this multi-segment interview with Sharece Young of Hair Youphoria. You Don’t Gotta Chop to Kick It is a series of educational pieces that will carry you through my [ongoing] journey to becoming natural (no chemicals). Remember, I’ve had my hair relaxed (chemical straightening a.k.a. permed) for a very long time. Therefore, this is as much a cosmetic change for me as it is a lifestyle change. I am excited to share that since the first part of this series was published, I now have 3 inches of new growth — that’s 1/2 inch a month! Let’s pick up where we left off.

Sharece, thank you so much for inviting me back! My viewers absolutely loved You Don’t Gotta Chop To Kick It (Pt. 1) and I’m so glad we can keep the conversation going with Part 2.

When ladies are making the transition to natural, I know protective styling can be their best friend. In my case, you introduced me to what I consider to be the magical world of extensions. It is so versatile and I just love how natural it looks and feels! Tell me more about what led you to incorporate extensions into your hair care process for your natural (and transitioning) clients.

I don’t want people to feel limited or powerless in their journey. A person’s confidence comprises many aspects — presentation is one of them. It’s as simple as knowledge (yes, that word again) and preference.

It was not uncommon for me to see natural hair care specialists that disliked the idea of extensions. On the flip side, I’ve also seen stylists that specialize in extensions avoid dealing with natural hair altogether. What’s your take on that?

I enjoy doing hair extensions but I have many clients who don’t wear them. It is not my place to publicly state why other stylists believe what they do. The options I offer are based on my knowledge and skills sets. Unfortunately, some clients have had bad experiences with extensions (there are sooo many reasons for that) – it’s not for everyone…and that’s okay!

Let’s talk a little more about the possibilities that come with extensions. I grew up knowing only about traditional sew-ins. However, I now know there’s much more to extensions than that.

There are many other ways to wear hair extensions other than the traditional sew-in. It is also a great way to play with color. The key is to find a specialist who proves his or her knowledge by sharing information and who will offer unbiased options. Even though I don’t specialize in natural hairstyles I have a great appreciation for them. If done properly many styling options are obtainable.

With that being said, let’s talk about your product line. Tell me about how you got it started! In the early 2000’s I noticed consumers were paying a lot of money (upwards of $95 per bundle) on hair. Back then, reusing hair was unheard of. The quality of the work was outlasting the product and that was just so unfortunate. It was painful to witness people lose money on sub-standard hair. The economy was changing and it affected everyone in so many different ways. My thought was “We don’t have to show it in our hair”. In 2007, I launched Hair Youphoria Extensions – full virgin, full Remy – versatile, reusable hair extensions!

Is there anything else you’d like readers to know? Whatever your styling choice is, a healthy mane is the foundation to any style! Good hair is healthy hair — there’s no other way to put it. Keeping that in mind, always do what works best for your lifestyle and budget.

Where can readers find you and of course, purchase products?

Your readers can find me on the web at www.hairyouphoria.com. Hair Youphoria Extensions can be purchased directly on the site. Clients local to the Tampa Bay Area can always arrange to pick up their purchases in the salon. Lastly, I am on social media as well! Readers can find me on Instagram @hairyouphoria_salon and on Facebook at Hair Youphoria Salon.

Well, folks, that’s all for Part 2 of You Don’t Gotta Chop to Kick it — Interview with Sharece Young of Hair Youphoria. With that being said, make sure you head on over to www.hairyouphoria.com to learn more about Sharece’s product line and all her services. If you’re in the Tampa Bay Area, I strongly recommend you check her out!

Stay tuned for the next segment of the interview to learn more about the hair care steps we’ve been taking to keep my hair in tip-top shape.

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