Conversations with Giselle Ruano

Today we’d like to introduce you to Giselle Ruano.

Giselle, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’d like to start by thanking VoyageLA for this opportunity. I’m honored to be selected to share my story and highlight my journey as a business owner.

Honestly, my journey into the beauty industry wasn’t planned. I was about one month away from graduating from El Camino College and preparing to apply to the nursing program. Most of my college years I was working long hotel shifts from 3–11pm and going to school early in the mornings. Coming from a low-income family, I knew I had to work to support myself.

I wanted flexibility to focus on studying, so I started thinking about a side business. During COVID, many places were shut down, but people still needed hair removal services. I researched different methods and discovered body sugaring—it’s natural, made from lemon, sugar, water. I started posting on Instagram looking for models to sugar for free. My siblings and cousins were a huge support—they let me practice on them and kept me motivated.

Six months later, I saved enough to enroll in beauty school, finished the program in four months, and got my esthetician license a month later. I opened my first studio in Hermosa Beach, where I worked for two years, then moved to a second studio in Lawndale in 2023–2024 and finally returned to Inglewood March 2025 for my current studio. The business grew so much that I never ended up enrolling in the nursing program.

What started as a way to support myself during school turned into a real career and passion. Today, I continue growing my business, serving clients, and creating opportunities for other beauty professionals.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been a completely smooth road. The biggest challenge was learning how to run a business. I’m the first person in my family to own one—so I had to figure everything out on my own, from finances to managing clients to leases. Starting during COVID and not being licensed at first added extra pressure, and balancing school, work, and a growing business required a lot of discipline.

Moving studios brought its own challenges. When I was in Lawndale, I was subleasing from another business owner, and after about a year she decided to terminate her lease, giving me only a month’s notice. I had invested a lot into renovating that space, so it was frustrating—but it taught me that I needed a space I fully controlled. That led me to open my current studio in Inglewood in 2025, my hometown, giving me stability and the freedom to grow my business on my own terms. Shoutout to my uncle Joel Flores for helping bring my vision to life when renovating my work spaces- from my home studio to my Hermosa Beach, Lawndale, and back to Inglewood. I truly couldn’t have done it without his support and the help of his team.

Overall, every struggle taught me resilience, problem-solving, and how to grow strategically. Learning to run my own business has been the biggest lesson, and even the setbacks helped me build confidence and grow my brand into what it is today.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m an esthetician and the owner of Sugared Byy GG, where I specialize in body sugaring, a natural and highly skilled method of hair removal using a sugar paste. I’ve taken two professional courses—one in Huntington Beach, California, and one in Fort Lauderdale, Florida—to perfect my technique.

I’m known for creating a comfortable, high-quality experience for every client and offering a luxury service that emphasizes precision and care. I’m proud of building my business from the ground up—starting at home, practicing on friends and family, and now running my own studio. I also offer one suite rental in my space to give another beauty professional the chance to grow their business alongside mine.

What sets me apart is my focus on both the craft and the client experience. Sugaring is an art, and I take pride in perfecting the technique while making clients feel seen, comfortable, and confident. Judgement-Free Zone. That combination of skill, attention to detail, and a welcoming environment is what makes my work stand out.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was always hardworking and independent. I volunteered at hospitals, helped feed the homeless, took care of pets, and started working in high school at the Santa Monica Pier. Later, I worked in fast food, grocery stores, and hotels, gaining valuable customer service experience. Those experiences taught me responsibility, the value of hard work, and how to interact with people professionally. I also learned early on that I liked money and understood its importance, which motivated me to stay driven and plan for my future.

Today, I carry those same qualities into my life and work. I enjoy spending time with my family and my dog, Ivy, staying active at the gym or outdoors, and traveling whenever I can. I think those outlets keep me balanced and energized, and they reflect the same curiosity, independence, and determination I had growing up.

Pricing:

• Brazilians: $75
• Underarms $22
• Full Back $50
• Manzilians $85
• Half legs $65

Contact Info:

• Website: https://giselleruano.glossgenius.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sugaredbyygg
• Yelp: https://yelp.to/-TfcOpP_Mc

Image Credits
Photos by: Eric Flores aka @alpha_shotzz (instagram)