Patti Shannon Helps Others Feel Good About Themselves

By Julie Hill Lehr

Patti Shannon didn’t expect to end up where she is today, but she is glad her life unfolded as it did, putting her in exactly the right place at the right time more than one time.

Shannon grew up in the country, outside of Trenton. After her dad, Bill, and her mother, Bernadette, divorced, she moved with her mother to Trenton when she was in sixth grade, along with her two brothers and her sister. When she was young, like a lot of little girls, she loved playing with her dolls, making them clothes and giving them beautiful hair styles. When she was eight or nine, she got an actual adult wig for Christmas. Shannon said she used part of the wig hair to make a wig for her Barbie doll. At that time, she didn’t realize that her destiny was already beginning.

As a young newlywed, Shannon was looking for a job that could help supplement their income. She thought working at a hair salon might be something she would enjoy doing. So, she made sure to include inquiring at the beauty salons a part of her search. One of her stops was at Lillie’s Beauty Shop in Trenton.

“It’s a fluke how I ended up in my career,” Shannon explained. “I thought I was going to clean the combs and brushes in the salon. I didn’t realize I was signing up to learn how to do hair.”

At the time, Lillie Rosson was looking to add an apprentice at her salon. Shannon said she didn’t even know what an apprentice was so when Lillie assumed Shannon wanted to apprentice, she said yes. Per state law, Shannon had to sign up with the Missouri Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners before she started her program.

As an apprentice, Shannon put in twice as many hours as students who attended a formal school, however, she got paid as she learned, so it was a big win.

“I didn’t have to pay a penny for my education,” Shannon said. “I went in there and worked. I used the same books other students in cosmetology school had. I went in there looking for a job, got hired to be an apprentice and didn’t even realize I was signing up for a career.”

After Shannon earned her license, she worked with Kay Babb for around three years. During that time, Shannon continued to hone her craft. She learned to cut, curl, and style. She learned how to determine what a customer needed. She learned how Babb ran the business.

“I liked the interaction with the customers,” Shannon said. “That was the part that really made me feel successful.”

Shannon didn’t realize that fate would intervene again. It was Christmastime and her mom, Bernadette Stamp, wanted an updo for the holidays. Her usual hairstylist wasn’t available so she decided to go to Fashion Flair. While Bernadette was getting her hair done, June Booth, the stylist, mentioned that she was having some health issues and was considering renting out her shop. Bernadette told Shannon about it and Shannon decided to jump.

At first, Shannon helped Booth with her customers when Booth was sick, proving Shannon could work with June’s customers. “Eventually, I leased the place and took over her business,” Shannon said. She worked there for about three years with an eye toward starting her own shop. After some looking, Shannon bought a building and started her own business: Styles Unlimited.

In 2005, Shannon decided to take advantage of a special opportunity. She became an educator for a business called Sexy Hair. This company had representatives that traveled the state, putting on hair shows and educational opportunities for other stylists. Michael O’Rourke was the founder of Sexy Hair. Shannon saw him at a show and watched him style hair for all types of women.

“I went to a class and watched him,” she explained. “His heart was really in it. Each person he did, looked beautiful. He was a rock star and I wanted to learn how to do what he did.”

Shannon continued to serve her clients during the week and work for Sexy Hair on the weekends traveling to different cities and putting on hair shows.

“It was a big deal for my education and for my personal growth,” she said.

In 2012, Shannon bought the building that she is in now on East Ninth Street. She added other stylists and more services, including manicures and pedicures. Her daughter Jessica joined her salon in 2012 as a massage therapist and they worked together until 2021.

Today, Shannon enjoys working with two other stylists, Mindy Wilson and Mandy Cox. The three work well together and enjoy each other’s company.

“What I enjoy most is helping people feel good about themselves,” she said.

Throughout her career, Shannon says her mom has been her biggest cheerleader. She credits her mom’s support in helping her be successful in her career. Shannon is married to Jon Shannon. She has four children: Amy, Jessica, Alyssa and Aidan.

She has participated in helping with Bright Futures, providing back-to-school haircuts for those in need. She has also helped with the Gifted Program for Prom, helping people feel beautiful for their special day.

When asked what she thought was important in life, Shannon didn’t hesitate, “Respecting people, working hard, being dependable, credible and most importantly, being good to others.”

If you know someone who should be featured as part of the Trenton Tales series, email GStark@cherryroad.com.