Conversations with Esmeralda Saldana

Today we’d like to introduce you to Esmeralda Saldana.

Hi Esmeralda, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born in Panorama City CA and raised in Burbank CA. My career as a hairstylist started as I attended high school in Burbank. During this time as a junior in high school, the school offered a program called ROP (Regional Occupational Program) and at 16 years old I signed up for the Cosmetology program.

I went to high school from 8 am to 12 pm and to beauty school from 1 pm to 10 pm Tuesday through Saturday. It took me about a year and 1600 hours of school to finish during the beginning of my senior year of high school. A few months later I took my exam and had my cosmetology license at 17 years old. Someone recommended me to a hairstylist so I could start assisting her and start my actual behind-the-chair career. So I assisted this woman. She originally hired me just for Saturdays but at 17 I went every day after school even if I was not getting paid because I wanted to learn everything so I could move up from assisting to actually being a behind-the-chair stylist. After 5 months she moved me to styling behind the chair. I worked there for about 3 1/2 years and even though she was great to me, I knew I needed to leave to grow. I had built a steady clientele at this point. This was walk-in client era. Social media didn’t exist and word of mouth was your best advertising. I moved to another salon and worked there for two years. I got tired of working commission and not having the freedom to work before and after the salon opened and closed and I made the decision to venture off and open a small private studio.

At this point, I was working at the salon and my friends were referring me their friends but I did their hair at my house with a station I set up. I signed the lease and took off knowing if I survived the first 2 years I would be fine. And that’s where Beauty Is Hair was born and at 23 years old starting my own business. I rented the private studio for almost three years. The opportunity to open a small salon presented itself and I took it. I had a nail tech working along with me. This was a switching point in my career and I went from being booked a week or 2 in advance to a month. I unfortunately had to close due to circumstances out of my control. I moved to one other salon and now I’m here. At a private studio in Burbank. 16 years in my career. 10 years of beauty is hair. Forever evolving, growing and grateful.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The journey is definitely not easy. For a successful business to strive you must always sacrifice having a personal life. It’s like having a baby you watch grow and it constantly needs nurturing and loves to successfully grow.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a hairstylist and I specialize in hair color, a lot of color corrections, airtouch highlighting and extensions. Most of my client base has very long hair. I’m the most proud of how happy and confident each client is when they are finished with their services.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
As a child, my father worked for Disney and I remember he would have a company holiday party in December every year where they would shut down Disneyland for employees in the late evening until midnight and we would have no lines to wait on. We would get a chance to go on all the rides. He would buy us hot chocolate and we would get it in the holiday tumblers. It was always so magical and fun!

Pricing:

• Single Process Color starting price 225$
• Lightening services starting price 325$
• Color correction starting price 400$
• Extensions starting price 400$ for installation
• Haircuts 90$

Contact Info:

• Website: www.beautyishair.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beautyishair/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BEAUTYISHAIRSALON?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Yelp: https://yelp.to/UzxG4IyAswb
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@beautyishairog?_t=8YtbtEXwqZX&_r=1