Shayna Simone’ Whiteside, owner of Amora Luxe Hair Restoration Center.
A local breast cancer survivor has launched a hair restoration center aimed at helping survivors reclaim their beauty despite hair loss.
Owner Shayna Simone’ Whiteside, known professionally as Shayna Simone’, opened Amora Luxe Hair Restoration Center to help clients find solutions to hair loss issues and provide services to combat various forms of hair loss, hair thinning and scalp problems. A certified trichologist, or a professional trained in scalp and hair, the owner is also a hairstylist who studied under the Aveda Institute.
“It was something I was always interested in but I was noticing, as a hairstylist, with my clients — they were getting younger and younger losing their hair, especially in the Black community. I really wanted to be more effective and have a more purposeful career,” said Shayna Simone’.
COVID-19 and the pandemic caused a stir for business. While some owners saw their dreams fade with the stay-at-home mandates, Shayna Simone’ was enduring a battle separate from the coronavirus.
“The same day that the government shut us down was the same day I found out I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It really was an eye-opener for me to wake up and start doing more purposeful work and trying to fulfill all my goals that I wanted to achieve,” said Shayna Simone’.
At that moment, the owner decided to extend her knowledge base and services in caring for clients with hair loss. Since 2014, Shayna Simone’ had owned Amora Luxe Hair Salon. The full transition of the salon to Amora Luxe Hair Restoration Center occurred in 2020.
With a history of breast cancer in her family, her diagnosis came at a time when the world was thrust into the unknown.
“It was a lot for me to be honest because I was dealing with finding out about my diagnosis, fighting for my business to still stay open and also losing my hair, my eyebrows and my lashes,” said Shayna Simone’.
Having a first-hand account of the emotional, mental and physical changes to the body caused by cancer allowed her to better identify with her clients.
“Because I went through it, I feel like I can identify with what they’re going through,” said Shayna Simone’.
Though the center deals with clients who have suffered hair loss as a result of cancer, their services are not limited to that demographic. Guiding clients through how external factors can affect hair growth, Shayna Simone’ is able to help a diverse population of hair loss sufferers.
“A lot of it is underlying medical issues or nutrient deficiencies. I’m here to help. I’ve been where you’ve been so I can relate to the emotional side of it, but I can also give you hope that it’s not always a permanent situation,” said the owner.
Through their services, the center provides a unique multi-therapeutic approach. In the Black community, though not often spoken, issues of hair loss are common. Stress, diabetes and other medical ailments that are prone for African American communities can cause hair loss. For women who are experiencing postpartum hair loss, the center also caters to this unique need.
“The first thing I start off with is a scalp analysis. It’s actually taking pictures of their hair follicles, seeing the growth patterns, seeing if they have clogged hair follicles or inflammation on the scalp. I also do a health assessment to see if they’re low in Vitamin D, Zinc and B-12,” said the owner. “Once I address what is going on, then I help them with a treatment plan.”
To give women more options in terms of hair loss solutions, Amora Luxe’s services also include luxury hair, MicroLink, ITIP, and tape-in extensions. Giving hope that hair loss can be reversed, this stylist is growing confidence and hair.
“I want people to know that all hair loss is not permanent, and it’s not something that has to be covered up or hidden from the world,” she said. “Hair loss can be talked about, evaluated and we can recommend solutions to the problem. There are alternatives. There is hope,” said Shayna Simone’. “I’m in remission right now and my hair, eyebrows and lashes are all back. I’m starting to feel like myself and look like myself again.”
Amora Luxe Hair Restoration Center is located at 2550 12 Mile Road in Berkley.
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