Check Out Lucy Espinoza’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lucy Espinoza.

Hi Lucy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My story begins 24 years ago when I arrived from Puebla, Mexico to USA. I was 18 years old, I come from a poor/medium class family. I have two sisters and three brothers and since I was a little girl, I remember braided my mom’s hair, my aunt’s hair even my own hair. I thought when I grow up I’ll be a Hairdresser, but it didn’t happen right away, specially because I was in USA without my family and I didn’t speak English I was just an 18 years old girl starting to live. Back in Mexico I went to Beauty School when I was 16 but I didn’t finish my career then I thought that I can enroll myself into Beauty School and finish my career but it was extremely expensive and I need it to support my family back in Mexico so instead I started to work as a house cleaning during this job. I bought a dictionary and started to learn at least one word a day, then I got married in 1998 and at the age of 21 I give birth to my beautiful daughter and in 2003 I have my son. I enjoy been a housewife but every time I walk by a hair salon I thought to myself one day I’ll become a Hairdresser, things in my marriage didn’t work out and in 2007 I got separated and divorced years later life was tough raising two kids and become the household of my family. I needed to be a role model for my kids, I used to have two jobs, I was in so much debt, that I have to file bankruptcy, I remember that sometimes I didn’t have enough money to pump gas in my car, and also not having money to buy food so I only ate cereal with milk. During this difficult time my parents help me to raise my kids and I went to nursing school to get my CNA and Health Home Aid license, I work during five years with Alzheimer’s patients also in a Nursing Home. In 2013, I went back to school to get my manicurist license, and finally in 2015 after so many obstacles my dream come true and I enrolled myself into Beauty School after I graduated I work in two different hair salons to gain experience then in February 2017 I started as part time assistant for The Salon located in Los Alamitos and four years later I’m a Senior Stylist and living my best life with my kids.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I face the challenge of been a single mom, raising two kids was not easy even with the help of my parents, specially because they live in Mexico and my kids had to travel all the way there, meanwhile I was here trying to make it every day working two jobs, going to school, paying the bills, and the most important try to recovered emotionally, and financially, definitely was not easy, then when finally started into the beauty industry was really hard, I struggle with my English because is not my first lenguaje, another struggle was to perform a pixie cut, I’m not very good at that, but I love color, and I invested so many hours attending to a different color classes with different artists, and having a mentor has been a big part of my success during my career, because he had helped me overcome my struggles, he taught me how to hold my tools, my sheers, he trained me on how to perform behind the chair, how to communicate with my guests in a very efficient way, how to approach different personalities, how to enhance the canvas of the hair, he polished me as a hairdresser. And I’m grateful for all of that!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a successful Hairdresser in the city of Los Alamitos, I’m a Blonde specialist, I have been doing Balayage on dark level 5 and below, also I do Color Corrections. I’m known for the professionalism behind the chair, when it comes to hair I take my craft very serious I love to have a consultation first before the service to see the canvas of the hair, then go over procedure, technique, time and price. I’m really upfront and open to communicate with my guest my knowledge about hair I love to answer their questions and suggest trends for their needs I highly suggest having an inspirational picture of the desired look and sometimes I love when they show me an actual picture from my Instagram page that’s rewarding it makes me feel proud of my craft that is the reason I go over this steps to have a successful overcome of my work I’m most proud of me been by myself at the age of 18 I was just a girl with a bag of dreams when I came to USA then I became a single mom with two kids and still never give up I went to Beauty School in my late thirties and now I become the highest pay hairdresser in my salon. My personality and my Blonde Balayage technique set me apart because I can transform a brunette into a Bombshell Blonde in one session, depending on the density and texture of the hair.

What matters most to you?
Faith, Family, and Values! Because without them, I wouldn’t be able to succeed, one of my main values as a hairdresser is having a good reputation my parents taught me that since I was little. I applied the golden rule that its said treat others as you would like to be treated, and I don’t treat my guests any lees I treat them with respect and integrity, they trust in my professional opinion and I value that.

Pricing:

• $120 per hour in color Correction 6 hours minimum
• $431 Blonde Balayage upon consultation
• $90 Root Color
• $250 & Up Brazilian Blowouts
• $68 & up Long Layers Haircut

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: Lucyg_luna
• Facebook: Hairbylucyluna

Image Credits:
Basel Aranki