This Is MY Story...

After 35 years in the hair care industry, ask Shelia Marie why she chose the profession, and the answer is simple: it was borne from a personal experience. Shelia Marie lost most of her hair to alopecia, a disorder that affects millions. To cover her hair loss, she began using hair extensions, which not only bolstered her confidence but also sparked a desire to help others with similar struggles. This was a pivotal moment in her life, leading her to fall in love with enhancing the beauty and confidence of others through their hair.​

Shelia Marie started her hair care and design career in Atlanta. Her education, training, and early success afforded her the opportunity to be chosen as one of the top 30 stylists in Atlanta to service athletes and officials during the 1996 Olympic Games. However, behind this professional success, Shelia faced personal devastation. The same year, she experienced significant hair loss, which deeply affected her self-esteem. Despite the challenges, these experiences motivated her to recognize her potential as a business owner and to begin developing her concepts.

​In 2000, Shelia Marie relocated to Dallas, Texas, where she built a strong clientele and, in 2004, opened her first salon, Studio 957. Her vision was to create a serene atmosphere where women could escape everyday challenges, enjoy a glass of wine or iced tea, and engage in stimulating conversations while receiving premium hair care services. This vision made her one of the most sought-after stylists in Dallas high profile community, including the wives of Kirk Franklin, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Emmitt Smith, Tom Joyner, Tim Brown, Omar Stoutmire, and others.

Despite her professional success, Shelia continued to struggle with the emotional impact of hair loss. In an intimate moment when her wig fell off, she realized the depth of her insecurity. Wishing she had the boldness of Grace Jones to embrace being Bald, Bold, and Beautiful without hesitation. For so long, she wondered if she would always live in hiding—if anyone could ever love her, her daughter, and the secret of her hair loss. The reality is that millions of women and men around the world silently suffer from the life-changing diagnosis of alopecia."

In 2008, Shelia Marie married and moved to Austin, Texas, opening Shelia Marie Studio Salon two years later. Despite finding love, she silently struggled with her alopecia, afraid to reveal her hair loss. One day, her husband caught her hiding after removing her extensions and reassured her, saying, "If you can't be comfortable and free in your own house, where can you?" With his support, she shaved her head, but her six-year-old daughter struggled with the reality of having a bald mother. Years later, on March 28, 2018, her daughter finally accepted it, and Shelia decided it would be her last day hiding. She’s been living "So Free Since" and loving her freedom ever since.