Exclusive Interview with The Hair Icon!

Shiree"The Hair Icon" Mcclendon

Award winning celebrity stylist and owner of Hair Icon Beauty Bar, Shiree Mcclendon, started her career in 2004. It didn't take long for her to build a following of clients including Erica Dixon of Love and Hip Hop Atlanta, Coko of SWV, and Gospel Singer, Tamiya Carter who appreciate her attention to detail. Her unmatched expertise in lace closures, microlinks and more have prompted her to enter and win a host of hair competitions. Shiree has been published in international magazines such as Salon Digest and Hair in Motion and has lead the styling teams on various photo shoots. A native of Memphis Tennessee, Shiree relocated to Virginia after her high school graduation and shortly after, received her cosmetology license.Within five years of working as a booth rental stylist she became a salon owner.

UHC: For those that may not know, tell us how did you get the name “The Hair Icon?

A: I came up the name Hair Icon when I was opening up my first salon and I was thinking of so many names. My husband, my kids and I were sitting on the living room floor, watching tv, and we were throwing out every name we could think of. We were on google, watching commercials, thinking of names of salons that were already created, cutting off the first or the last name and replacing them with something else. Then a commercial came on with Beyonce and it said “Beyonce: the music icon, the entertainment icon, and it began to say she was so great, because she was an icon. So I just kind of said, “Hair Icon”, and it just stuck. It felt like it was something that would be innovative. It was something that I’ve never personally heard of, and there you have it. It was "The Hair Icon”.

UHC: You’ve worked with many celebrities such as CoCo of SWV, Erica Dixon of Love and Hip Hop Atlanta, and Gospel Singer Tamiya Carter. Tell us how did you begin securing celebrity clients?

A: I began securing celebrity clients by simply being hungry. I knew that I wanted to expand my brand, and the only way I could think of expansion was to reach out to people who were reaching hundreds of thousands of people already. I felt like if  I could put my work on someone that is seen by thousands of people, then it's just automatic expansion. So still, til this day, I still reach out to so many celebrities. Not only people in the entertainment business, but also bloggers, radio people, anybody that can say my name and it would reach thousands of people. I reach out to them to simply display my work on their heads, and that's going to maximize my exposure. That's what I’m all about, maximizing exposure and getting my name out there in order to make a household name. That's my ultimate goal.

UHC: How is it different working with celebrity clients opposed to your everyday clients?

A: Its definitely a difference working with celebrity clients versus working with everyday clients. My regular clients have a lot more patience. When you're doing a celebrity, they're in a time crunch most of the time. You're doing their hair because they most likely have some type of event to go to, so they're always pressed for time. Especially if they’re doing some type of camera or video shoot. They want it to be perfect. So, you may not have a lot of time for error, so it needs to be perfect. You have to be time effective in order to get them to where they need to be and successfully accomplished.

UHC: This summer you were apart of Kontrol Magazine’s Celebrity Beauty Expert Panel. Tell us about the experience and what did the event consist of?

A: This summer I was apart of the Kontrol Magazine beauty expert panel. I had an awesome time in Atlanta. It's always nice to go to Atlanta and do things in the beauty industry, but this particular one was very special to me. I was able to reach out to so many young people that are striving to get to where I am. I was able to tell them a little bit about how I started, how to get to the level that you strive to be at, and how to sustain a successful career. The experience was awesome, and that's where I’m trying to go in my career. I am really wanting to be an expert and reach out to so many young people that’s trying to expose themselves, to be a broader stylist or makeup artist, that’s not trying to be behind a chair everyday, but be behind a bigger panel. So, that was my experience working with Kontrol Magazine. I really enjoyed that event. 

For Full Interview Get Your Copy of Unrivaled Hair Creations Magazine Vol 2. Issue 2!! 

Exclusive Interview with Just Brittany About Her New Album "Something Different"

Just Brittany is an independent 3 x Billboard Charting Artist with over 8 million online views.

She broke through the music scene in 2009 with the smash hit “Call Me for That Good”, written by The Narrators, which cauaght the attention of Brian “Birdman” Williams with the Cash Money Brand. After signing on the dotted line with Cash Money Records, Just Brittany’s next move was downloadable 11- track EP called “Not Just A Pretty Face” released in early 2011. The EP featured productions from Yung Chill, Lacemode, and Chris Rockaway. The release’s “Color’ hit billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in March 2010. 

 Just Brittany was born and raised in the 5^th ward area and attended Nat Q Henderson Elementary. Growing up in between two loving households, Brittany maintained straight A student and stayed on the deans list for great conduct and outstanding grades. Brittany even graduated at the age of 16 as the valedictorian of her class. Her strong determination to succeed in life pushed her to pursue her passion for her music.   

Just Brittany released the “Queen of H-Town” mixtape series, which featured Slim Thug, Z-Ro, Killa Kyleon, D-Boss Justo and Johnny Parelli, and also featured the hit “Slow Bangin” and “Juicy” which accumulated over 2, 000,000 views. Queen JB is currently promoting her new project Something Different”  

UHC: For those who may not know, tell everyone where are you from, and how did you get your start in the music industry?

  JB: Well, My name is Just Brittany. I am from Houston, TX.. H-town that is! I’ve always been someone who wanted to entertain. Singing and Dancing was my specialty. I didn’t get my actual start in the music industry until I was able to financially back my career to get me to the professional level

 UHC: What is something interesting about Just Brittany that many people may not know?

 JB: The most interesting thing about me that people don’t know is the fact that I truly have many different personalities to myself. I am a Gemini so I assume that explains a lot.

 UHC: We absolutely love the orange hair color, what is the inspiration or story behind it?

  JB: The inspiration behind the orange hair… hmmm well really I was trying something different…try something different! s/o to my new single “Something Different” available now on iTunes! Lol Well.. I honestly decided to dye my hair for a photoshoot that I did about 2 years ago, and it was something I wanted to do spontaneously. The fact that everyone loved it made me want to bring the color back… So on my birthday June 11^th, 2013 I actually decided to go orange completely as my new look. My hairstylist Jocasso helped me put together different hair styles for every day of the week that year, and all the hair was orange. No more black…. For now! loll

UHC:  Celebrity hair stylist Jocasso has been your stylist for quite some time now, how is it working with him?

  JB: We are the dynamic duo! We relate so much outside of him doing my hair to where we are both creative. The good thing about Jocasso is the fact that he is willing to try anything when it comes to hair styles, and I’m willing to be his manikin as he says.   

 UHC:  We seen you perform live at The Go DJ Awards, and were completely blown away. What do you enjoy most about live performances?

 JB: Well Thank You! I enjoy just about everything that comes with a live performance such as the preparation, the adrenaline rush, and seeing my fans and friends in the audience!

UHC: You are really taking the music industry by storm. What do you think sets you apart from artists that are trying to do what you’re doing?

  JB: What sets me apart from other artists I would say is my drive, my determination, and my work ethic. I focus on me.

For Full Interview Purchase Your Copy of Unrivaled Hair Creations Magazine Vol 2. Issue 2.

PR Mogul Elvira Guzman Talks About Her Dress Line and More!

Fashion Meets Business

Elvie G Dresses is the perfect dress for any occasion. A dress with such versatility and fashion sense can fit in to anyone’s wardrobe. Elvira Guzman, successful entrepreneur and creator of Elvie G Dresses got the inspiration for this line through her own journey. Ms Guzman started working in the industry when she was 18 years old. She immediately began working under actor and comedian Steve Harvey. All of the women in his office were expensively dressed and Elvira was not at a position in her life to buy the purses, shoes, dresses they could afford. 

She created this line so that every girl, women intern, executive can afford to look good, feel good and be the best them they can be. Elvira Guzman dedicates time visiting local juvenile halls to speak to the girls and give them hope and inspiration. 

Every time someone purchases an entire collection of Elvie G Dresses one dress is donated to a girl who is being released from juvenile hall so that she can now leave feeling good about herself.

UHC: For those who may not know, tell us how did you get your start in the entertainment industry?

EG: I started as an intern for 100.3 The Beat in Los Angeles and I worked under Kesha Monk. Three months later Steve Harvey took notice in my work ethic and offered me a position at his production company Nu-Opp Inc.

UHC: What do you find most rewarding about what you do?

EG: Teaching others the road that I’ve already walked with other clients. To them it’s scary because they cannot see past their nose, but because I’ve gone down the road before I am able to hold their hand and lead them down the path with confidence and tenacity; and am able to experience their CAREER HIGHS with them.

UHC: So you have helped many celebrities launch successful campaigns and brands, was it any different launching your own?

EG: Yes, extremely different because I am not a celebrity and I do not have an existing fan base that I can tap into. It’s taken a little longer but my plans never fail and I’m confident that my brand in general will end up grossing more than any of my clients combined. I’ve really put a lot of energy into several projects that hopefully in 10 years will materialize nicely for me and my family. Shoes, glasses, bags all will follow to continue to grow the brand via our distribution channels.

UHC: Tell us about the brand Elvie G Dresses, and why was it important for you to launch such a line of clothing?

EG: I needed to find a way to fund my passion which is to help underseved girls who are on their own like I was in my teen years. I never imagined that I would link up with Eddy and land an infomercial deal. I guess it’s true, when your intent is to give, God opens the banks to you!

For Full Interview Get your copy of the Vol. 2 Issue 2 of Unrivaled Hair Creations Magazine!!