Healing through beauty – how a Cleveland stylist gives back

Master braider and cranial prosthesis specialist Shavonne Jordan wants all of her clients to look and feel good about themselves. Especially the ones dealing with cancer, alopecia and other medical hair loss-related issues – so she learned how to customize medical-grade wigs in addition to the other hair services that she offers at her salon Hands of God by Von located in downtown Bedford. 

“I didn’t realize so many hair-related medical conditions existed and that (wigs) are pricey,” Shavonne (“Von” to her friends) said.

“Clients can customize the wigs, feel stylish and it makes them feel important, taking their measurements,” she added with a smile. And best of all, insurance can cover the process – which is a blessing for cancer patients and other women suffering from female-pattern hair loss (FPHL), which affects approximately 40 percent of women by age 40. 

Self-proclaimed “cancer conqueror” Archelle Bloodworth of East Cleveland met Von in the third grade when they both attended Miles Elementary but did not know she was a hairstylist until she needed Von’s services in 2021 after going through cancer treatments.

“I had to embrace my inner beauty and the baldness before I wore the wig,” Archelle explained. “But I loved the experience. (Von) styled it, colored it … I’ve always loved curls and once I was able to get them again, I was excited!”

The difference between a traditional wig and a cranial prosthesis is more than just cosmetic – a traditional wig can be customized for a certain look and perfect fit, but a cranial prosthesis is created specifically to address the needs of patients dealing with medically-related hair loss. For starters, the cap is constructed differently and designed to accommodate the cranium and scalp rather than hair underneath, so the material is cooler, lighter and more breathable. Traditional wigs can get notoriously hot. The cranial prosthesis wigs are for everyday use and are considered to be medical devices that restore the appearance of hair, protect the scalp and help regulate body temperatures in patients, according to Tsunami Hair DC.

How to stand out in the hair industry

After hopping a flight to Alabama during the pandemic to take a traditional wig-making class, Shavonne came back home, wondering how to stand out in the overly-saturated hair industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2022, Ohio has 12,470 employed hairstylists, hair dressers and cosmetologists. Of those, 3,040 are located in the Cleveland-Elyria region. 

Fate and Facebook intervened when an ad popped up with an invitation to learn how to become a certified cranial prosthesis specialist. Shavonne would be working side-by-side with dermatologists and clients to create medical-grade wig units and installations to help them achieve a sense of normalcy after experiencing medical hair loss.

“The reward is seeing self-esteem in real time. Even men are getting realistic pieces and I love to make people feel good and have fun doing it.” Shavonne said.

And just like that, Shavonne found a way to set herself apart from other stylists in Cleveland.

A hobby becomes a skill

Shavonne grew up in the Miles neighborhood of Cleveland and attended Jane Addams High School. She graduated in 2000 after taking several business courses and developing a love for writing, but doing hair was always a skill and a hobby that she loved to work on in her spare time.

The earliest memories of hair styling Shavonne recalls are from the age of six years old, when her dad taught her how to make her first braid using My Little Pony and Barbie dolls. Her mom eventually purchased a stepping stool that allowed the young stylist to reach the mirror to fix her own Jheri curl along with a Barbie head mannequin to continue practicing. 

As a teen, Shavonne became the official hairstylist to her friends, using up her mom’s spritz and gel products to create stylish looks until mom intervened and told her it was time to charge to cover expenses, and a side hustle was born. 

Working various jobs throughout the years, Shavonne knew her true calling was hair and always kept at it but was afraid to step out on faith, especially after a failed attempt to attend hair school. 

“Life got in the way,” she said. “But God kept saying no – use your talent!”

The clientele was there but it wasn’t enough to fully pay the bills, so working odd jobs here and there while doing hair on the side kept Shavonne afloat for years. But when the pandemic happened she was finally able to put more focus on the business side of things and got licensed to become a full-time stylist in 2020.

Influencers can be found in every industry now, but when Shavonne first started, there weren’t many that she was made aware of until social media became popular. While using Instagram to help promote her styles, she leaned on it for inspiration and support from people she didn’t know which led to her starting her Hands of God Instagram page. The name was given to her by another happy customer who would exclaim that Shavonne had “the hands of God” when it came to growing and styling her hair.

“The industry has changed a lot,” Shavonne said. She notices that the “mean girls” stay booked and busy – the ones with a laundry list of policies, who charge a la carte for every service, stack clients and have no customer service skills – but she also loves how the industry has grown and received more respect. 

“They tried to make it seem as though cosmetology was just a trade back in the day,” Shavonne recalled. “But now there is so much money to be made and you don’t have to work in a shop or own a full salon.”

The popularity of personalized suites has risen in the past few years and specialized services such as hair care, makeup, facials, massage therapy and skin care cause clients to seek out tailor-made experiences. 

Along with a customized experience, suites offer clients privacy and comfort. A stylist can also set their own times of operation, choose what services to offer and what clients to take, and in the context of Covid-19, there is a greater level of hygiene and safety in a controlled environment with fewer people.

All these factors are what led to the decision of Shavonne moving her operations from her home in the Miles Park area and into a salon suite in downtown Bedford in May of 2023.

“I didn’t plan to move into Bedford, but people weren’t taking me seriously,” she said.

After donating a wig to a friend that survived cancer, her business picked up, but people did not want to come to her home to be styled, and were more comfortable in a shop atmosphere. While styling and chatting with one of her loyal clients in her in-home salon, the client helped her browse Craiglist, and they happened to find a space that was perfect, affordable and available in downtown Bedford and that’s when doors opened up.

Shavonne has thought about moving out of state a few times, but really wanted to show the people in her community that “you can stay and get money with the clients that got you to where you are by being loyal to them.”

Besides, why should she move and start over in an unfamiliar place that is saturated with crime and competing stylists? 

“I can take my chances here in Cleveland, and just because I’m here doesn’t mean I can’t be world famous!” Shavonne said.

And as much good as social media does, Shavonne chooses not to put too much faith into the likes and follows because it’s based on popularity and not who’s actually doing good in the city. 

The hairstylist is doing her part and giving back by participating in an after school program at Lake Erie Prep Charter School located in Collinwood. Every Monday, Shavonne teaches a group of 5th-8th graders the art of braiding, self-care and entrepreneurship. They are equipped with mannequin heads, braiding hair, gel and all other important supplies, along with a self-published book Shavonne wrote especially for the program: “Practice Makes Perfect: A Guide to Braiding.”

It’s not easy working with a bunch of tweens and pre-teens, but Shavonne has always been up for the challenge, especially after spending time working as a secretary for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. She knew she would do something involving kids because of the positive way that they would interact with her. They would often come to her office to ask for advice and encouragement, give or receive hugs and tell her “You are my school mom.” 

The thought brought tears to Shavonne’s eyes as she said that it’s the same energy she sees from the kids in the afterschool program, some of whom aren’t even in her class – but they come in to get that extra support she provides outside the home and classrooms. 

“Encouragement goes a long way with kids,’ she said.

But most importantly, Shavonne wants to remind readers, “You are never too old. I didn’t get licensed until my 40s, don’t get discouraged by age.”

To find out more about Shavonne, including how to purchase your own customized wig, book an appointment or enroll in one of her upcoming classes, visit handsofgodbyvon.as.me.