Inspiring Conversations with Shelby Pettiford of Reign Beauty and Body Lounge

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelby Pettiford. 

Hi Shelby, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Hi, I’m Shelby, Owner of Reign Beauty and a body Lounge. A born and raised Nashvillian, I grew up with aspirations of becoming a nurse. I’ve always had passion for helping people which is a trait I learned from my parents who have always been cheerful givers and known in the community to take care of family, friends, and even those they do not know in our community. My passion for helping people shared an equal passion for sports and ultimately led me to receiving a dance scholarship to the Tennessee State University where I performed with the nationally competitive Tigergems Pom- dance team, marched with the Aristocrat of Bands, until my graduation in 2015 and was inducted into the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority incorporated. 

During my college tenure, I was very fortunate to be recognized on the incorporation team of a Nashville Marriott hotel where I worked as a guest hospitality and banquet specialist. That role shaped my customer service skills but also lit a fire in my spirit for serving others. I was also a hostess at a local black owned restaurant/lounge WKND Hang Suite, where I am proud to have worked under the leadership of proud HBCU graduates, and alongside a team of aspiring women and men from various walks of life.

I began my health care career at Vanderbilt rehabilitation hospital working as an occupational therapy assistant. April 2020 was a pivotal turning point in my life as I decided to take a leave of absence from both Marriott and Vanderbilt when covid was initially announced. I was pregnant and not comfortable working in a hospital or hotel setting with so many unknown facts about how hard covid was soon to hit the U.S.

Upon becoming a mom, I was soon after diagnosed with diastasis recti, a post-childbirth (condition where the large abdominal muscles separate). I struggled mentally and physically with the reality that my (snapback) wasn’t going to happen the way I had planned. Being a former athlete, I was use to injuries but had watched my body bounce back every time without drastic intervention, so my whole world was turned upside down when I was diagnosed and was referred to a physical therapist to correct my issue. 

Covid made going through pregnancy and childbirth challenging enough and although 

I was getting stronger physically through physical therapy, mentally I still struggled with body image issues and in a sense, was still grieving my pre-baby body. 

I desperately searched Instagram for a support group for moms going through a similar journey as me, and how they were navigating being a mom, trying to get their (Grove back). I stumbled upon a woman who was certified in body sculpting and fat reduction services including Brazilian butt lifts. 

I reached out to her for new client information and consulting, and in our wrap up she mentioned that she currently offers certification courses for anyone interested in starting their own body sculpting business. 

Before that conversation, I had never even heard of the term body sculpting, however, I was familiar with a BBL, but only the surgical kind. 

Something in my spirit immediately clicked and that’s how I decided to become a licensed and certified body sculpture specialist. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road opening a business. I have never been a business owner for starts, although my husband is a business owner, as well as my dad and sister. I was ignorant to the fact that ” It takes money to make money”. Initially, I did not seek out a small business loan, so to get myself started, everything was paid for by myself, my mom, and my husband. On a positive note, I do take pride in that, I’m not in debt to anyone or any company. 

One struggle that is always ongoing is balancing being a full-time mom and devoted wife while trying to run a successful business. I started my business when my daughter was just 7 months old. She was exclusively breastfed until she was 8 months, and then I transitioned to exclusively pumping which is also a full-time job. 

She is 17 months now, and I currently still pump around the clock and in between clients. She doesn’t attend daycare so during (working hours) she splits time between my angel of a mother, mother-in-love. 

The pandemic made things really challenging. Extra precautions and protocols had to be put into place to assure the safety of my clients as well as myself and loved ones. I had to ensure that I was equipped to provide a safe space that made potential and repeating clients feel confident when coming to be serviced. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I am a 

Licensed/Certified 

Body Sculpt Specialist 

Servicing both men and women in the Nashville area and surrounding counties! 

Specializing in 

-Non-Invasive 

-Non- Surgical 

-No downtime 

-Budget-friendly 

Body enhancement, permanent fat reduction treatments, and procedures 

Some of my offered services include: 

• Laser Liposuction

• Ultrasonic Cavitation

• Radio-frequency skin tightening

• Wood Therapy

• Vacuum Therapy Brazilian Butt Lift

• Infrared Sauna detox treatment

• Breast enhancements

• Post Operation massages

• Weight management and lifestyle consulting

My services also treat: 

Fines lines & wrinkles 

Cellulite & skin laxity 

Stretch marks & scar tissue 

Fat reduction & total body detox 

I take great pride in giving customers high-quality service and consistent, progressive results. When clients leave my care, I make sure that they REIGN beauty and body on the outside and feel just as beautiful and handsome on the inside. 

I have a B.S in Health Science/ Therapeutic studies, so when I create treatment plans for my clients, I also educate them on the importance of making subtle and doable healthy lifestyle changes such as eating nonprocessed foods in between appointments, upping their water intake, seeking out alternative medicine & therapies like using food and herbs as medicine, stretching and breathing techniques instead of the popular (quick fix) weight loss tricks we so often see and hear. Incorporating an easy daily or weekly exercise regime that will not only create a healthier inner self but can also aid in longer-lasting and maximized results from your treatments. 

I have so many proud moments as a business owner. From the moment a potential client books their pre-appointment consultation, knowing that they have made a conscience, intentional decision to start a journey to seeing a better reflection of themselves. To witnessing the boosted self-confidence and happiness after they see their results from their very first appointment! I feel so blessed to know that my clients trust in my customer service, treatments, procedures, and results so much that they continue to choose me to help them reach their body goals. That feeling of joy never get old, and it makes all the sacrifices and hard days worth it. 

I truly believe beauty is not just an outward appearance. It is how you treat your body, and how you feel about yourself. My brand represents a community of men and women aspiring to vibrate as their highest self, shining their brightest light, and truly Reigning in who they are, and aspire to be. 

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I often seek advice from the woman I obtained my training and certification through. She assures all her tainees that her doors for further education and mentorship are always open. I also seek wisdom and business advice from my husband sister and dad whom all run very successful businesses. 

I have had to learn the saying, “closed mouths, don’t get fed” This may be an unpopular opinion, but there are still great people out there (sometimes strangers), who will believe in your vision for yourself, your business, and be willing to give you sound advice and guidance. 

Don’t be afraid to (slide in the dm) of a business owner and ask them do they offer mentorship, or what advice they can give you as an aspiring business owner, and tell them why. Maybe you read their reviews and solely wanted to know more about how they make their customers feel special, in order to gain yourself repeat clients or customers. Something that simple, you never know what knowledge someone is willing to share. Just ask. 

Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Word of mouth should not be your only source of getting your name out there and attracting clients and customers. I literally print 100s of flyers, business cards, and brochures every month and take them with me wherever I go. As a small business owner, you’re never really off, you just schedule much-needed breaks. I use the old-school method of placing my flyers in windowshields, leaving them at the counter of beauty supply stores, spas I visit, restaurants, you name it. Even if a business tells me no, I still use that encounter to tell them about myself and services I offer. 

We all have sat on Instagram, scrolled our timelines looking at people who have or appear to have what it is that we want at that time. I’m guilty. But what we sometimes don’t assess is, what that person went through to get where they are today. How many failed business ventures did it take before that empire was built? How many times was that person hurt by people who claimed to love and support them, but never even made an Instagram post in support of their business? Don’t let fear of rejection or failing keep you from elevating yourself or your business. 

Something else that has worked for me, but that I also would like to improve is social media post and paying for Instagram to advertise my post. A lot of clients have found and booked me directly from Instagram. I am now learning the value of posting on a consistence basis. 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: Reignbeautyandbody.com
• Instagram: reignbeautyandbody

Image Credits
@livvieclicks