"Hair is the Game"

A woman's hairstyle is just as important as her outfit. The confidence of a stylish look renews a sense of inner POWER! Read below the story of this remarkable hairstylist and her journey to live her Dream!

Jhanita "Jae" Reed

Jhanita "Jae" Reed

While most little girls were watching Soul Train and playing with baby dolls Jhanita "Jae" Reed was practicing her craft in the family centered neighborhood of LaGorce Square in Burlington Township, NJ. By the fifth grade Jae was pressing her own hair; her kitchen (the back of her head at the nape) was so straight even her mother's friends thought her hair was relaxed. By the age of twelve Jae was braiding hair for a fee.

By her late teens Jae had a mobile hair business. She remembers the joy of having extra cash in her pocket on a daily basis. She didn't have business cards at the time, business was built solely on word of mouth.

When she graduated from John F. Kennedy High School her goal was to get her license for hair. But there were too many naysayers in her ear telling her the hair business was not profitable and that she couldn't make a decent living doing hair. So instead of following her passion she enrolled in McCarrie School in Philadelphia to get a certificate as a nursing assistant. That job lasted for nine months; from there she worked various retail jobs to make ends meet.

Jae never stopped doing hair, her older sister was her hair model, first extension and weave client. Her sister would bring phone numbers from clients wanting to get in Jae’s chair every weekend. Jae had natural skill, she could look at a picture and replicate any hairstyle in a magazine. Jae was doing full sew-in weaves long before they became popular and long before you could buy Remy in the local beauty store. Her sister was ordering hair by the pound from New York.

A young mother at the age of 21 Jae started to pursue positions in corporate america. This served her well for more than 20 yrs. Jae worked her way up the corporate ladder to Assistant Vice President in Marketing for a fortune five-hundred company. In May 2007, Jae was laid off, but she was not distressed, she had one goal in mind.

Hair by Jae

To finally pursue her passion: hair. In August of 2007 she enrolled in Empire Beauty School; she passed the license exam for the state of New Jersey in May of 2008. In February of 2011, Jae relocated to Georgia and received her reciprocity license March of the same year. Life has never been better. Jae knows this is where she is supposed to be. She never forgot her dream; she’s living it! Jae is currently working at 

Salon Shampu located at 

3365 Steve Reynolds Boulevard, 

Suite 108,Duluth,GA

404-723-3453

She specializes in weaves, natural styles, cut and color.

When she's not behind the chair, she is in the classroom; learning new techniques and honing her skills. Jae is thankful for the journey and is convinced that God's plan has her lined up for an incredible season of blessing others with her gift.

KN: What is your Personal Style? 

SS:   Simple, soft, classy, feminine. I like to carry myself with a confidence that is soft and 

subtle ... I prefer my style to gently hit you; to make you thing twice about the woman that 

just entered the room or walked past you.  Its more important for me to be "noticed" 

(because then you are paying attention) as a pose to being seen (to me that's walking in the 

Hair by Jae

room "screaming" I'm hear.


KN: If I bring you a picture can you recreate that style? 
SS: Yes, that was a gift that I didn't recognize at a young age, until others brought it to my 

attention. The best part of the recreation is looking at a style and dissecting it before you 

begin.  You need to understand the foundation, lines and the movement of how the stylist 

arrived to that end result.  It appears to the admirer like a nice cut and color; but to a stylist 

serious about her craft its lines, direction and formulas.

KN: Which iconic hairstyles do you love?

SS: Relaxed hair - I love bobs and pixie cuts.  There are so many ways you can personalize 

and recreate those two  looks.Natural kinky hair - I love to redefine the natural curl, and add 

some color to make it pop.  Color placement it what makes the statement. 

KN: Who inspires you? 
SS: Patrick A. Bradley (Salon owner in Virginia and Texas)  his styles are soft, sexy, and 

sophisticated.  He doesn't miss a beat from start to finish.  Patric also does make-up and 

lashes.  Keith Harley (Salon owner in Virgina) is also and amazing stylist, Trichologist, and 

motivational speaker. Naitcole Michele ( Salon owner in Atlanta) and Denise Michelle (Salon 

owner New York) are ridiculous with any tool they can get their hands on to make it happen. 

They are all unstoppable. But what I love the most about each of these stylist is their 

Hair by Jae

humility and the generosity to share their knowledge and their support of each other as well 

as other stylist.  They don't have the crab in the basket mentality.  Their working with us to 

secure our industry. Their professionalism brings respect back to the game.  They are 

running a businesses not chicken and waffle and flatiron shops. Don't get me wrong I love 

chatting with my clients and sharing knowledge with them .. But most people really do want 

a stylist that is knowledgeable and professional.  Most clients what someone 

considerate of their time.

KN: What is your favorite kind of hair to work with?

SS: I love hair and I love clients that aren't afraid to try new and creative styles.


KN:What are your favorite hair products?

SS: Patric Bradley has a line of products that I really like. They put moisture back in the 

hair and leave it flowing not weighed down.  I love the fact that only licensed stylist can buy 

his product.  You wont find it in your local beauty store.  I also like Chic Afrique for locs and 

natural styles; again you won't find this product in a store near you.  In my early years I 

used Dudley's relaxers and conditioners, I am looking to work along side them this year.   As 

a professional I believe in only using professional products.  Why pay me for something you 

can get off the self.  I feel the same way with the color lines I use as well.  Products set us a 

part.  Like Gucci and Coach bags products are counterfeited as well ... just because the 

package says Kera Care or Dudley's doesn't mean that's what your getting.  Beware.

KN: How do you feel hair relates to personal style?

SS: Your hair can set you apart from the crowd.  If you're fearless and not afraid to rock a 

fierce style; that looks GREAT on you, it makes a statement.  Hair done right is like the hook 

Hair by Jae

in your favorite song everybody likes it ... but we all 


can't sing it like the artist.

KN: Are there any types of products you would 


advise people to stay away from?

SS: Over the counter (drug store/beauty store) colors 


and chemicals  relaxers. Basically anytype of chemical.

KN: What are some hair styling "don'ts"?
SS: Don't relax your own hair! If it takes a stylist longer than 15 minutes to apply and work 

a relaxer through your hair and your not at the shampoo bowl within 17 (of those 15 min) 

minutes rethink who your allowing to do your hair (the entire process should last from start 

to finish 15-17 minutes).  I don't want to hurt anybody's business but a lot of women go 

natural because of damaged hair or a loss of hair/thinning.  There are a few reasons for this, 

one is people believe the relaxer is suppose to burn the scalp before they shampoo it out ... 

myth.  Secondly, they are taking too much time in the application and smoothing process. 

Lastly, they are applying or working through the relaxer the wrong way.

KN: How do you think that hair relates to a person's confidence?

SS: I like what Deion Sanders says “If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you 

play good. If you play good, they PAY good.” I believe how we feel about our  outward 

appearance  is key.  

KN: What celebrities would you like to work with?

SS: OMG -Stylist or star/athlete? This question was the hardest to answer. Movie industry, 

Halle Berry, Regina King, Gabrielle Union, Keke Palmer. Talk Show Oprah!!, Music, Brandy, 

Erykah Badu, Venus and Serena Williams ... this list could go on and on. 

KN: What is up next for Ms. Jae?

SS: I am a stylist at Salon Shampu, so for me 2012 is  will be my banner year.  No holds 

barred.  This year will carefully unfold with purpose. The first goal is to build my clientele so 

that by the third quarter clients will Gladly book their appointments 2 to 3 months in 

advance.  In between this carefully planned schedule will be serious training (you have to 

invest in yourself , if you're serious about others investing in you), as well as working along 

side one of my favorite product companies educating other stylist on product usage, as well 

as platform artistry/education. 2012 for me is driven, focused, determined and calculated to 

build my name and reputation.  I know this will take a lot of  work ... I've waited all my life 

for this. I am ready ... Let's Go




So next time you are in Atlanta, Stop by Salon Shampu and Let Jae whip your hair!


Thanks for reading! Muah! Kela

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