A Haven for Heavenly Hair
Kimberly Lenz at Shear Nevaeh Salon
Kimberly Lenz
Owner of Shear Nevaeh Salon
Please tell us about your business. Shear Nevaeh Salon is all about hair. I do anything from men’s, women’s and children’s cuts, colors and highlights to perms and keratin treatments. If it’s out there, I’ve tried it. I also do professional facials using Mary Kay products, as I’ve been a consultant for the company about nine years. In addition, I do facial waxing and lash extensions.
How did you come up with the name Shear Nevaeh Salon? Shear is spelled like cutting shears and “nevaeh” is “heaven” spelled backward. When you look out the windows where I’m located in Kapa‘a you see the ocean, and to me that’s my heaven. I love looking at the ocean and being around the water.
What is your background in this field? After high school, I went to San Luis Obispo Beauty College to get my nail tech license. Several years down the road, I decided I wanted to do hair, so I went to Lyle’s Colleges of Beauty in Fresno and got about three-quarters of the way done but ended up moving. The beauty school where I moved to in California wanted me to complete the entire program again, but I didn’t have that kind of money at the time, so it went on the back burner for awhile. I received an inheritance later in my life while I was working for State Farm Insurance. I was ready to go back to school at that time, and since I had enough money to sustain me for a couple of years, I did the entire course all over again in Santa Maria, Calif. So many years had passed and I wanted to be on top of things because the world of beauty changes every single day. In the meantime, I was taking continuing education courses, and a woman who owned a salon approached me during one of the breaks and offered me a booth rental in her salon. I graduated from the beauty school about four years ago and started building my clientele from that point on.
How did you start your business? I moved to Kaua‘i two years ago and met the owner of Soul Play salon, who wanted to rent out a booth for one day a week. Having just moved here, it was great because I didn’t have a huge clientele — my clients obviously couldn’t follow me out here from California. I started going through all the hoops as far as getting my permit, and then I slowly started building my clientele and have been doing so for about the last year and a half. When the shop closed down I started looking around and talking to friends, and while I was doing so, I found this location.
Why do you do what you do? I have always had a passion for having my hands in hair. I need the creative outlet. I like doing a transformation on somebody. I like the feeling of having my clients get on a chair and feel great about themselves.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of what you do? It really goes back to being a people-pleaser and making people happy. I think that’s what is really rewarding for me. I like it when somebody sees a new hairstyle or color. It makes me happy.
What’s the most challenging aspect of what you do? I would love to have a manicurist here, but finding one has been somewhat of a challenge so far.
Lenz always has had a passion for having hands in hair. Coco Zickos photos
What are some of your plans for the future? Besides having a manicurist, I used to do Rock Star gel toes. You have a variety of different color glitters and applications for nails on the toes. You can do different designs and colors — it just looks so cool. I haven’t seen anyone do it here, and I’d like to start doing those again.
What makes you get up every day and go to work? The idea of rebuilding a clientele always keeps me pumped. After working at a salon in California for a year and a half, I had a full clientele. I was busy and could do what I wanted when I wanted, and I would come home happy at night and feel like I had accomplished something during the day. I like striving to make myself do more and be better, and I feel like the busier I am, the happier I am.
What sets your business apart from others? With me, clients get personal one-on-one attention and consistency, and I do a good job. I’m really up on continuing education and I am always trying to learn new techniques.
Are you offering any specials right now? For a short period of time, I will be offering a free deep-conditioning treatment to anyone who schedules an appointment with me.
821-1600 4-1579 Kuhio Hwy., Ste. 207, Kapa‘a
shearnevaehsalon@gmail.com
shearnevaehsalon.com
