Exploring Life & Business with Veronica Gomez of Hair Extensions by VG Luxe LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Veronica Gomez.

Hi Veronica, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey in the beauty industry began in 2010 at a Paul Mitchell Focus Salon, where I started as an assistant and quickly worked my way into an Assistant Manager position. Those early years were incredibly valuable to me. I learned the importance of structure, systems, leadership, and maintaining high standards. But eventually, I reached a point where I felt I had outgrown the opportunities available to me. I knew I had more to offer, and I wanted to see what I was capable of building on my own.

In 2015, I took a leap of faith and opened my first salon suite. Looking back, I wasn’t necessarily chasing the freedom of being my own boss. I was chasing growth. I wanted the opportunity to challenge myself, refine my craft, and create an experience for my clients that reflected my personal standards of excellence.

A defining moment in my career came in 2019 during a trip to Tulum, Mexico. I remember having this incredible sense of clarity about the direction I wanted to take my career. I realized I didn’t want to be a stylist who did a little bit of everything. I wanted to become exceptional at something specific. I wanted to specialize, master my craft, and build a brand with a clear identity and purpose.

That vision led to the creation of VG Luxe in 2020, a luxury hair extension brand specializing in high-end keratin bond extensions and custom color. I became incredibly passionate about the technical side of extensions, the precision of placement, the artistry of creating seamless results, and most importantly, the confidence it gives the women who sit in my chair.

I originally built my clientele in Rancho Cucamonga, California, where I developed relationships with women who have trusted me with their hair for years. When my family and I relocated to Idaho, I wasn’t ready to walk away from those relationships. Today, I continue traveling back to California regularly to serve my established clientele while growing VG Luxe in the Treasure Valley. It’s definitely an unconventional way to run a business, especially as a mom of two young children, but those relationships mean so much to me.

Motherhood has also played a huge role in how my vision has evolved. Becoming a mom made me look at success differently. For years, I measured my growth by how much I could personally accomplish behind the chair. I loved being independent, and quite frankly, I never imagined myself owning a salon with a team. But as my family grew, so did my desire to build something that could create greater opportunities and freedom for our future.

I began investing more intentionally in my own development as an entrepreneur, and I quickly realized that some of the biggest limitations I faced were the ones I had placed on myself. That realization changed everything.

Today, VG Luxe has evolved from a personal brand into a growing extension-focused salon where we’re building a team of ambitious professionals who want more than just a chair to work behind. I want to create an environment where stylists are challenged, supported, and encouraged to become masters of their craft. We believe in structure, continued education, accountability, and delivering an exceptional experience in every detail. We don’t aim to compete on price. We want our craftsmanship, expertise, and the relationships we build with our clients to speak for themselves.

Alongside VG Luxe, I’m also growing Ellie Rose Cosmetics, a haircare brand with a mission that’s deeply personal to my family. Shortly after my daughter was born, she was diagnosed with phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare inherited metabolic disorder. That experience opened my eyes to a community I knew very little about before becoming part of it. It inspired me to create something that could contribute to a cause much bigger than myself. Through Ellie Rose, we’re committed to donating 15% of proceeds toward PKU research and programs.

I’m now in a season of life where I’m learning to balance being a wife, a mom, a traveling stylist, and an entrepreneur building two businesses. Some days are beautifully chaotic, and I certainly don’t have it all figured out. But I genuinely love the process of growing into the person I need to become to accomplish the things I once thought were out of reach.

When I look back at the young assistant who started in 2010, I never could have imagined where this career would take me. What started as a love for doing hair has become an opportunity to build careers, create meaningful relationships, support a cause close to my heart, and hopefully leave something lasting for my family.

My definition of success has changed tremendously over the years. It’s no longer just about how far I can go in my own career, but how many people I can positively impact along the way. And I think that’s what excites me most about this next chapter.

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?
One of the biggest challenges has been unlearning habits, systems, and ways of thinking that served me well at one point in my career but weren’t sustainable for where I wanted to go. For so many years, my success depended entirely on me. I was the stylist, the marketer, the scheduler, the problem solver, and everything in between. I became very comfortable doing things myself because that’s what I had always known.

When my family and I relocated from California to Idaho, I was essentially starting over. I moved to a state where I had no established clientele, friends, or family nearby. I had to learn an entirely new market, understand how to reach my ideal clients, and rebuild the reputation and relationships I had spent years developing in California. All while continuing to travel back to Rancho Cucamonga to maintain my existing business.

Within my first year in Idaho, I was able to build a six-figure business from the ground up. I’m incredibly proud of that accomplishment, but what people don’t always see is everything that happens behind the scenes to make that possible. There were plenty of moments of uncertainty, trial and error, and having to figure things out as I went.

At the same time, I was navigating motherhood with two very young children. Being a present wife and mother has always been incredibly important to me, and I didn’t want growing a successful business to come at the expense of being present for my family. That forced me to become much more intentional about my time, my priorities, and what I wanted my businesses to look like long-term.

But I would say my greatest challenge has been transitioning from being a successful hairstylist to becoming an effective leader.

Building a team requires an entirely different skill set than building a clientele. I’ve had to learn how to delegate responsibilities I’ve handled myself for years, trust others to take ownership of their roles, and accept that I don’t have to be involved in every detail for things to be done well.

One of the hardest adjustments has actually been reducing my own hours behind the chair. As a stylist, that’s where I feel most comfortable and confident. It’s also where I’ve always generated revenue. Making the decision to step away from some of those hours so I can invest in training, mentoring, and supporting my team has required a tremendous shift in mindset. I’ve had to learn to measure my success not only by what I personally produce, but by how well I can help others succeed.

I’m still learning and growing through this transition. Leadership has challenged me to become more patient, more intentional, and more willing to trust the people around me.

As you know, we’re big fans of Hair Extensions by VG Luxe LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
VG Luxe is a luxury hair extension and color specialty salon in the Treasure Valley, known for our expertise in keratin bond extensions and custom luxury color. Our focus is on creating beautiful, natural-looking results and a highly personalized experience.

We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Every client has unique hair goals, lifestyles, and needs, and we take the time to understand those details before creating a customized plan. We prioritize hair and scalp health, exceptional craftsmanship, and results that enhance our clients’ natural beauty.

What I’m most proud of is the culture we’re building behind the brand. We’re creating an environment where talented stylists are encouraged to grow, master their craft, and build meaningful careers. Continued education, accountability, and genuine hospitality are at the heart of everything we do.

I want readers to know that luxury, to us, isn’t about a price point. It’s about the care, expertise, and intention behind every detail. Our goal is for every guest who walks through our doors to feel heard, cared for, and confident, while knowing she’s trusting a team that truly values the quality of its work.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I wish there were more conversations about the risks we take as entrepreneurs and leaders, because they are far beyond financial investments. We risk financial stability, consistent paychecks, time with our loved ones, and sometimes even our own sense of security. There’s a level of sacrifice that comes with building something bigger than yourself, and only you can decide what you’re willing to temporarily sacrifice for the future you envision.

Risk-taking requires a combination of strategy, courage, and unwavering faith in your ability to figure things out, even when circumstances don’t go according to plan. Financial risks can be some of the scariest, especially when debt or personal investments are involved. When these decisions are intentional and backed by a solid strategy, the return can be tenfold.

One of the biggest risks my husband and I ever took was relocating our family from California to Idaho. We left behind familiarity, relationships, and an established life because we believed there were greater opportunities waiting for our family. We had no guarantees that things would work out, but we trusted our vision and committed to making it happen. Looking back, it has been one of the best decisions we’ve made for our future.

Professionally, one of my biggest risks has been transitioning from an independent stylist with an established clientele into a salon owner responsible for building and supporting a team. I went from having complete control over my schedule, income, and client experience to taking on additional financial responsibilities, including payroll, education, and the overhead that comes with growing a business. The scariest part has been intentionally reducing my own hours behind the chair. Instead, I’m investing more time and money into training my team, developing their skills, and helping them build their own clientele. There’s no guarantee of an immediate return, and that requires a tremendous amount of trust in both my team and the long-term vision.

Taking risks does not mean being fearless. To me, it means having the courage to move forward despite uncertainty, trusting yourself enough to adapt, and understanding that the life you want to build may require stepping away from the comfort and familiarity you already know.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hairextensionsbyvgluxe.com
• Instagram: vgluxe.hair