Lauren's Story

Lauren's Story

spa and massage

Wanda Payne-Banks

Owner/Master Stylist

A Mother’s Dream, a Daughter’s Legacy:

Studio 22 Salon and Spa


By Mary Scro for Warrenton Lifestyle Feb 16, 2024  



Payne-Banks opened her Studio 22 Salon & Spa with five stylists; the number has grown to 11. Her staff includes four assistants that have worked with her for the past decade. 


As a child, Wanda Payne-Banks, owner of Studio 22, the new salon and spa in Warrenton, always loved styling hair, and she always had someone to practice on: her mother, aunts, and sisters. It seemed natural to pursue a career in cosmetology right after high school. But that’s not what happened. Her road to her dream job had a few detours.



Payne-Banks, who now lives in Warrenton, grew up in Rappahannock County, the daughter of hard-working parents who instilled that value in her. Her first detour was when her father recommended that she go to college instead. Her second detour occurred quickly after that when she became pregnant with her daughter Lauren. As a single mom, she quit college to work and take care of her little girl.


Life with Lauren: Challenges and Joy


When Lauren was about 9 months old, Payne-Banks realized something was wrong. Lauren wasn’t meeting any of the developmental milestones for her age, such as pulling herself up. And the symptoms only increased with age as Lauren didn’t crawl or talk. 


After several years of searching for help for her daughter, Lauren was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome at the age of 4. It was a devastating, fatal diagnosis. Lauren was given a life expectancy of 5 more years with severe neurological impairments affecting nearly every aspect of life. Lauren would not have the ability to walk or speak.

The doctor put Payne-Banks in touch with the Rett Syndrome Foundation, a wealth of information and connections to people who were also on her journey, which she found extremely helpful in the following years. 


Rett Syndrome...


  • is a rare genetic neurological disorder that occurs almost exclusively in girls, more rarely in boys. 


  • leads to severe impairments, affecting nearly every aspect of the child’s life: their ability to speak, walk, eat, and even breathe easily.


  • is usually recognized in children between 6 to 18 months as they begin to miss developmental milestones.


  • occurs worldwide in 1 of every 10,000 female births and is even rarer in boys.


— International Rett Syndrome Foundation


Despite Lauren’s limitations, Payne-Banks was determined to give Lauren the best and most normal life possible, and not to shelter her. She took Lauren everywhere with her – to the mall, to a Backstreet Boys concert (one of Lauren’s favorites), to the beach, and enrolled her in school. 


“Lauren was always so happy. Even though she never said a word, she could light up a room,” said Payne-Banks, “and you knew when she didn’t like something (like country music) when she rolled her eyes.”


Beating the odds given at her diagnosis, Lauren lived more than twice as long as expected, passing away from pulmonary complications at the age of 15. “A piece of my heart will always be missing. But without a doubt, Lauren made me the person who I am today. She taught me how to love unconditionally and give grace. I have no regrets,” said Payne-Banks.




Life After Lauren: Old Dreams Awakened


Payne-Banks with husband Alan Banks and son Jayden Banks at Studio 22’s ribbon cutting in August, 2023.

By Bonnie Turner


After Lauren was gone, Payne-Banks, now married and with a young son, started pondering what to do with the rest of her life. Caring for Lauren and working to support her had been more than a full-time job. Now what?

Payne-Banks’s first thought was to go back to school. She attended the Paul Mitchell school in Woodbridge and at last began the career she dreamed of as a young girl.


Payne-Banks first worked at a local salon in Warrenton where she could learn, contribute, and gain experience. She also enjoyed teaching and mentoring the younger staff in the trade. After 9 years, the next career move would require her to commute to one of the company’s salons in Northern Virginia. But Payne-Banks didn’t want to leave the clientele and local business relationships she had built in the area.


Although it would be a big step, Payne-Banks began to think of opening her own salon. “I felt that I could do so much more if I had my own place. I wanted to be able to hold events and give back to the community,” said Payne-Banks.


So, with the support of her family, she took that leap of faith, starting the process in January, 2023. With the help of Christine Kriz at the Small Business Development Center at Laurel Ridge Community College, Payne-Banks developed a business plan and Studio 22 opened for business in August, 2023.


hair style

Cassandra Mauck

 Master Stylist 

Cassandra Mauck is a senior stylist with

18 years experience. Growing up in Luray, Virginia, she completed her cosmetology training while in high school and has flourished behind the chair, as well as her time previously owning her own salon.


Since moving to the Warrenton, Virginia area she has enjoyed getting to know her new clients, plus helping them to feel and look their best. Cassandra is certified in the Masters of Balayage program, Brazilian Blowout and Dreamcatchers Extensions, and has an advanced certification in color.


She has an extensive background in weddings and formal hair. Her passion is hair color and blonding, but she also enjoys customizing men and women’s cuts.


She strives to listen to her clients so that they feel they’re very best when they leave her chair. 


Certifications Include:

Advanced Color Education

Brazilian Blowout

Extension Certified

Masters of Balayage


Alyssa Hull

Stylist


Studio 22: Lauren’s Legacy


To honor Lauren, Payne-Banks named Studio 22 in her memory;

“The studio gained its name from Lauren. She was born on August 22, 1995, and she gained her angel wings on January 22, 2011. The crown over the “22” represents Lauren, and the color purple is the color for Rett Syndrome,” Payne-Banks said.


With mostly 5-star reviews on Google, Studio 22 is a full-service salon offering all hair services, massages, waxing services, facials, and lash extensions. Their mission, instilled by Payne-Banks, is to have everyone who comes for an appointment leave feeling and looking better than when they came in. And they do. 


“My daughter is sporting the most beautiful hair color and walks with so much more confidence,” said Joy Musgrove.


"Lauren was always so happy. Even though she never said a word, she could light up a room.

Service is top-notch here. They make you feel special, pampered, and taken care of from beginning to end,” said Cindy Winterrowd, another client. 


Other testimonials, some from longtime clients of Payne-Banks’s and some from new customers, include compliments on customer service, attention to detail, and “making the magic happen” by listening closely to clients’ visions. 


Owning a business requires hard work and dedication, and Payne-Banks is no stranger to either. In addition to growing the salon, she continues to take a variety of training to keep up with the latest trends and skills and plans to possibly start teaching classes next year for Wella Professionals, an international training and beauty supply company. To keep her staff growing in skills, she personally trains and mentors them as well as bringing in other experts in the field to teach classes. 



Looking Ahead


Payne-Banks plans to continue her relationship with the Rett Syndrome Foundation, and with local families who are affected. Her passion is to give back whenever she can and raise awareness in her community about Rett Syndrome.


While the salon is a place of business, Payne-Banks wants it to serve another purpose: a refuge. She wants the salon to always be a place where kindness is multiplied in a world of craziness and negativity.


“My hope is that long after I’m gone, Lauren’s legacy will still live on.” ~ Wanda Payne-Banks


Story Copyright:

https://www.fauquiernow.com/lifestyle/a-mother-s-dream-a-daughter-s-legacy-studio-22-salon-and-spa/article_0eb7bce2-c134-11ee-b369-fb6c69e2563d.html


hair style

Kaitlyn Argen

 Sylist

Kaitlyn graduated from Kettle Run High in 2022 and completed her cosmetology courses through their program. While in high school she assisted and learned from Master Stylist Wanda Payne-Banks for almost 3 years.


She completed her Freshman year of college at the University of Alabama before deciding she wanted to continue with her passion in the cosmetology field.


Kaitlyn loves to customize highlights and balayage for each of her clients to suit their lifestyle. Her eyes light up when she gets the chance to create an updo or formal style for weddings and proms. She strives to educate her clients on their hair needs as well as their at home hair care. 


When not in the salon Kaitlyn enjoys hanging out with her chihuahua Bieber, spending time with friends and shopping.

 



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