Exploring Life & Business with Shawn Davis of Royalty Academy of Barbering

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shawn Davis

Hi Shawn , we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello, my name is Shawn Davis. In 2003 a friend of mine asked me to retwist his locs. I had never done locs before, but I was interested in learning, so I gave it a try. He loved his hair when I finished and kept repeating how much he loved it and how much I could possibly be making if I pursued it.
Well, after making bad decisions and going to jail, I was left without a choice.
I then decided that I had nothing to lose. I left my mother’s house and moved in with my cousin in Tony Sudekum Housing (UC/JC).
My cousins, their friends and others in the neighborhood began paying me for services such as locs, braids, haircuts, lashes, quick weaves, sew-ins, etc. Before I knew it others from different neighborhoods and even people from out of state were coming.
At this point I was on probation with no job other than what I was doing. I explained it to my probation officer, but he was not hearing anything I had to say. He threatened me with a jail sentence…….. so I stopped reporting and went on the run.
Ironically, a couple months after I stopped reporting, some people decided to set the probation office on fire. I never received a notice, a letter in the mail, or anything so I kept living my life.
I was approached by one of my clients grandmother. She owned a salon but had a full time job as well. She asked me if I would be interested in running her salon. I agreed and began working immediately.
I worked day in/ day out trying to establish myself. I got an apartment and began saving money because I never forgot about my situation. That salon lasted about 2 years before things started to go sour. I left her salon and started working from my apartment in North Nashville.
I had now been on the run for 3 years. My business was growing rapidly as I got my first “celebrity” clients, The Tennessee Titans. Michael Griffin came first. For the next six days, he brought multiple players from the team. He then started flying me out. Although I knew my situation, no one else did. I kept it to myself and kept working.
After year 5, I decided to take control of my situation and I hired a lawyer. While they were working to get my case settled, I went to barber school and obtained my barber’s license.
I shot a commercial and a man from the neighborhood who owned a building reached out to see if I was interested in renting out his space. I did a complete remodel of the space and moved in.
Business was going better than ever but I still had my situation hanging over my head.
Year 12 had come of still being on the run. I checked in from time to time with the law firm, but before I could get my case settled, I was imprisoned again.
I completed my sentence and was placed on probation for 1 year. Once I was finished completely, I decided to go back to school and get my barber instructor license.
By this time, I began to grow out of my salon. I needed a bigger better space.
After running into a few dead ends, a client told me that her father had a space I may be interested in.
I checked it out and met with her father. He asked me what were my 5 & 10 year goals?
I replied stating that I wanted a salon, a barber school, and a restaurant in his building. He laughed until he saw I was serious. He then replied saying, well let’s see how this goes first.
For two years he saw my ambition and hard work. I was invited as a featured artist at Bronner Brothers International Beauty show, Taliah Waajid, and many others to showcase my talents on stage and also to teach locticians, stylist , and barbers across the world how to create, maintain, and style locs.
At this point I only occupied two of his suites that he opened up for me. My landlord then decided to give me the entire middle section of the building as well to begin the construction process for my barber school.
After 3 years of hard work, I finished my barber school and was approved and licensed by state of Tenneessee.
Royalty Academy of Barbering has now been opened for 1 year with 1 graduate under its belt. I currently have 5 students with 3 of them almost done.
I am now running my barber school, my salon, The Loc King app, and I also own a hair care line, “Heir”!
I continue to keep God first in everything that I do. Giving back to the community has/is an important part of my brand as well. We feed the homeless or less fortunate, and my team and I also do a back to school drive and giveaway.
Nashville is my home and I feel it’s my duty to make it better in whatever way I can.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, but I have trusted in God the entire ride and he’s never let me down.
From going to jail, losing friends/family, construction issues, and financial obligations, God kept me through it all.
When I started my school, the entire scope of what I had to do, hadn’t crossed my mind. By the time it did, I was almost done with construction. I still had to do the paperwork and presentation before the Barber Board.
I still did everything by myself!

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Team Loc$$mith, The Salon
The Loc King App
Royalty Academy of Barbering
Heir Hair Care

My salon has been opened for over 10 years specializing in creating, cultivating, and manipulating the Art of Locs. With over 20 years experience, I’ve worked with celebrities, tv, stage plays, weddings and much more. My intricate loc styles and attention to detail has definitely set my brand apart and recognizable around the world.
The Loc King app has been around for 8+ years. It allows clients and/or potential customers to view my work, schedule appointments, order products, and more.
Royalty Academy of Barbering is a licensed barber school with very affordable tuition at only $5,500. Payment plans are available as well. I am the instructor as well. I give my students as much knowledge and understanding of the career they’ve chosen by not only teaching them state board skills and techniques, but also real world scenarios, social media, branding, and financial literacy skills.
Heir Hair Care was released January ‘22 at Kim’s Hair Plus Stores in Nashville, Tennessee. The 2 in 1 Loc gel/ Edge control
Is alcohol free, and fragrance free with a long lasting secure hold. The Anti-Itch/ Growth Oil provides incredible tension relief and ingredients to help grow your hair. Heir Glass Shine Spray leaves an amazing luster to your finished look. All products are plant-based as well.

What makes you happy?
Growth makes me happy!
I believe as human beings, we are all put here in belief that we continuously learn and evolve into better versions of ourselves through time. When I accomplish goals, I feel like God and my ancestors are pleased therefore so am I!!!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Royalacademy.pro
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/locstar2015?igsh=OTJ2Z3k3bzc0emNu&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/15kjVYTysz/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@theloc-kingshawndavis5103?si=trbsLdG_Ei-VXe5K
• Other: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1101527977