We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shelby Kaplan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Shelby, sincerely appreciate your selflessness in agreeing to discuss your mental health journey and how you overcame and persisted despite the challenges. Please share with our readers how you overcame. For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
At 27, I’ve faced many tragedies and difficulties in my life already- leading me to live with PTSD and chronic anxiety.
It wasn’t until I was in my second year at Penn State, where I was majoring in journalism actually, I found the best and simplest way to overcome and manage my mental health was talking about it.
I would either write it all down or find a friend and we’d have once a week 10pm Dunkin dates to just talk about everything!
Learning that not everything should or even can be handled alone has been a struggle but also one of the biggest reasons I’m able to do what I do now while living with mental health issues.
Currently, living with anxiety is knowing how to handle it on a day to day basis.
Im fortunate enough to have an amazing group of friends and family that I know will always be there if I need them.
My boyfriend also is definitely the biggest help in my life. He’s so supportive in everything I do and we really know how to effectively communication with one another, I know he’s someone I can always count on because we’ve built that trust and security. He knows exactly how to handle my mental health and having that support is the most important thing.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am a hairstylist located in Warwick, Rhode Island!
My focus is in vivid color, blonding, textured hair and lived in looks! Keep up with my social media for new updated in 2025! I am planning on expanding my business into tape-in and hand tied extensions- something- I’m super excited about!
I found my place in the beauty industry kind of “late in life” I suppose. It took the pandemic for me to really sit back and think about what I wanted to be doing in 5-10 years. I was bartending and bar managing and I just couldn’t take the hours, the way I was treated as a young woman in that industry, and the overall uncertainty of the restaurant business at that point.
Before that, I did three years of undergraduate studies at Penn State. I majored in print and digital journalism with a minor in digital media trends and analytics (I couldn’t tell you what that is to this day.) My love for writing ended up being a great medium to share my own mental health journey and connect with thousands of people! Although, I hated the fact that true unbiased reporting was no longer a thing and there really was this status quo you had to meet anywhere you worked.
I know I’ve always loved working with people as well as making people happy- behind the chair I get to do both!
I’m a hairstylist at Ulta Beauty. I love the fast paced environment but also the chance to work with some phenomenal hair and makeup brands.
The best feeling is seeing someone’s face light up and their self-confidence sky rocket because of something I’ve created for them. As a hairstylist, we really do see and share some of the most important moments in our clients lives and I wouldn’t change a single thing if it meant I could always feel so at home at work.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I’m early in my own journey still, but advice I’ve been given and I keep close to the heart is never stop learning. So much is constantly changing and evolving in the beauty industry and you can never know everything!
But also my motto is “you’ll always be your biggest fan,” you have to support you first and foremost and remember it’s ok to say no, and it’s ok to stop and take care of yourself too. Nothing good comes from being a yes man and doing things your heart isn’t 100% in.
My whole working life, every job I’ve had has always centered around people. From 16-24 I was in the restaurant industry- starting as a hostess and eventually managing a sports bar and live music spot. Now, being a 27 year old relatively new hairstylist, all I can really advise people is to just be kind. The world is already such a rough place, and I’ve always struggled with my own mental health and once I started listening to and helping others more, I started to get better personally. Good energy is effortless!
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My dad always told my sister and I growing up, life is about choices. That really stuck with me over the years because fortunately and unfortunately he’s completely right. That statements really made me look back at good and bad choices I’ve made in the past but also consider everything a little extra now. (I hope he never sees this, he can’t know he was right!)
Besides my big sister, my dad has definitely been my biggest supporter my whole life, whether it was coaching youth soccer or attending every school show I just worked backstage for.
Sadly my mom passed away early in my life- right after I turned 11. But she’s probably my strongest motivational force to this day. We had a rocky childhood but she always did the best she could and I never doubted how much she loved us. But I also was a young girl who saw her mom never give up and was such a force.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelbyrkstyling?igsh=MTUyaHF5czQ2MWkyNg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelby-k-5986ab9b?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
