Growing up with a dryer chair in her mom’s kitchen and a sister desperately in need of a haircut, Shalon White was destined to open a Salon someday. At the tender age of 12, Shalon deftly wielded the tools of the trade and gave her sister a snazzy, short cut and color to rave about. And it didn’t take long for her to get more clients. Soon a steady stream of friends and relatives were asking young White to do their hair. She knew even back then that it was her passion. Today, she runs Shalon Salon in her hometown of Alton, Illinois. Here, she shares some tips that helped her take that lifelong passion and, as an adult, launch a profitable and rewarding career: 1. Commit to creating an amazing, lasting impression White worked at Moderne Hair Concepts in Alton for 17 years, and she was its owner for seven of those years. In 2015, she decided to scale back her business to a one-chair salon named Shalon Salon. While her business is small, the experience she provides rivals any big company. “I wanted to be able to really cater to my clients individually,” White explains. With jazz playing in the background and tea, coffee, cocoa or vino in hand, clients can relax as they get a fabulous haircut and style. What’s more, the new salon overlooks the Mississippi River, so clients are treated to a beautiful, calming view. “My clients just love it, and they keep coming back,” she says. “Some of my clients go all the way back to the sixth grade!” 2. Put your customers first Customer service is key. “I don’t want a trip to the salon to be just another chore for people,” White says. “I want them to look forward to it.” That’s why she goes above and beyond to put them at ease. When she made the decision to get into this business, she knew that she would be doing much more than cutting hair. “It’s really about people,” White says. Sometimes she is their therapist. Sometimes she is their cheerleader. But she’s always their…