Conversations with Maricela Mendez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maricela Mendez.

Hi Maricela, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story begins one day when my sister, Angelica, called me and told me she wanted to go to beauty school and learn how to do nails. I was 25, raising a 6 month baby on my own and had a full time 5am-2pm job. But I told her I wanted to join her. We started going to school in the evenings, our program was 14 months. It wasn’t easy, but having my sister made it easier. I was blessed to have my parents and sister, Berta, help with my daughter. We stayed on course and graduated! We both still had full time jobs, but found a salon in San Fernando that would allow us to work part time. We worked there for a couple of months. I met a wonderful and talented hairstylist there. She was leaving and asked me if I wanted to look for a new place with her. We found a salon in North Hollywood. I assisted her and at the same time was trying to build my own clientele. It was challenging going to my first job and then going to the salon. I sometimes didn’t have a single client. It was stressful and discouraging, but I kept going and stuck to it. I was there for about two years when two owners decided to part ways and move to Sherman Oaks. I went with them and by that time I had a steady clientele. I’ve now been at this location for 24 years. I rent my station. Avner, the owner has been the most amazing person to work with. He’s a great owner and we are like family.

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, it definitely has not been a smooth road. I had to deal with the 2008 economic disaster and the covid pandemic. I think these two situations truly have been the biggest challenges I have faced. When people were loosing their homes and jobs, we learned hair is a luxury. So, if people are facing financial problems they will give up doing their hair. Covid, this was truly scary, challenging and devastating. We were shut down for months at a time. One day we’re open and that evening they could say tomorrow you have to shut down. We didn’t know for how long, not knowing what was going to happen next. The restrictions were not realistic. I can’t put into words what this time did to me and our industry. The stress and anxiety that I felt is unexplainable.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a hairstylist and many of my clients will say that I’m also their therapist. I specialize in color, cuts, balayage and highlights. What am I most proud of, I would say seeing my clients leave happy, texting me after they have left and thanking me for making them feel beautiful, but more importantly listening to them. Telling me that they appreciate and love me. I think what sets me apart from others, I listen and I’m honest.

Any big plans?
Plans for the future is to do what I love for as long as I can. I truly love doing hair and enjoying talking to my clients. Lately I’ve been thinking of where I want to retire, lol! Im not close to retirement, but recently I’ve been thinking of where I want to retire.

Pricing:

• Reasonable for all my services

Image Credits
Daniel Acuña – 1st picture