Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ava Shire. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Ava , thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
My mother and father are constantly busy. They work together and they work behind my salon. We all are always in our little businesses buzzing away. It’s a family thing.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I have a hair history and an art background. Although I avoided doing art from age 16-26 I can’t keep away from creating. I realized I needed it. I needed to create to be happy and feel balanced. Whether it be in the salon, I’ve been licensed for over 22 years, or with ceramic, painting, and gardening. All of my passions overlap and I continually try to keep involved in it all equally. I’ve even incorporated my gardening into the salon esthetic topped with my ceramic gold poop sculptures and organic essential oil poop tea lights. It’s a life vibe when you visit. Neighborhood salon just turned 12 last November. It’s become my gallery. What I want to show and give people. Bright colorful neon paintings both floral and graffiti like, homegrown plants accentuated with fake painted alien skin, gold and Dani foul colorful poop sculptures, organic hair are with acceptable packaging, it’s a vibe. I’m hoping to have a celebration planned for summer the salon will be almost 13 years old. Participating in pop ups and group art shows is a focus for the Plantasies I grow and sell at neighborhood salon, fancy poop sculptures, painting late at night while my 5 year old sleeps, and maintaining my salon baby keeping him up to date and fresh looking.
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?
Having a background in ceramics as a quality and skill and growing up around clay has completely influenced my decision to work with it my entire life, with a 10 year break. I am familiar with clay, paint, color, texture, design, advertising, and last but not least hair due to my childhood environment and my need to create. The art has backed the hair. Color awareness, willingness to learn, perseverance, and experience are necessary for a successful lasting career. Whether it be in hair or art, you must have knowledge and listen when more experienced people suggest. Always ask for help or answers. It’s really important to remember that you aren’t alone and that most probably everyone has to pay their dues and learn in order to be good at whatever they do and that you really do have to earn it. The people that don’t won’t ever feel accomplished for themselves and lack real texture.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I’m always open to involve in colabs. Whether it’s a pop up show, mart, garden. Let me know. It’s absolutely necessary to be open to new ideas, ways, styles, ways of thinking. It’s what can fuel a new inspiration and get your ideas out there. I’m always at my salon. I can garden in back and create the Plantasies we sell, fire the poop sculptures I make, or working with clients.
Contact Info:
- Website: Neighborhoodsalon.net
- Instagram: Neighborhoodsalon
- Yelp: Neighborhood Salon
- Other: Avashire.com
Image Credits
Ava Shire Billy Valdes
