Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandra Martinez.
Sandra, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I decided to become a hairdresser 15 years ago, as a senior in high school. I couldn’t imagine going to school for another four years but since I was already cutting my own hair and charging 15 bucks a cut for my fellow students using a disposable Bic razor, it seemed like the most natural step.
After Cosmetology School, I worked in a few salons in the Tacoma and Seattle when in 2011, not feeling too enthused about the Beauty industry, I decided to sell all my belongings and travel for a year.
LA was never a place I thought I’d end up, I believed all the cliches about LA and had only ever seen Hollywood Blvd, Muscle Beach, and the Valley so it was definitely not on the top of my list. However after a couple of weeks of fun in the sweet sweet sun and discovering a few new pockets of LA, I spotted a Unicorn:
the Coolest lookin Chick walking down Sunset Blvd with a bodacious head of Pastel Mint Green Hair and EYEBROWS to match! That’s when for the first time in a long time I got a spark of excitement about the Hair Industry again and knew this was a place where I could really refine my skills and get as creative as possible.
I ended up landing a gig at a Salon on Sunset Blvd in Silverlake and was there for almost six years when my boss decided to downsize and close the salon. I knew I wanted to stay on the Eastside and connected w/ a young woman who had just opened a small studio in Chinatown and I worked with her for about six months when she offered to sell me the studio space… at first, I was like EEEK, too much responsibility!… but then, I thought about all the badass women in my life who had opened and ran their own salons and I knew it was just my turn. I was capable and had a vision, I just wanted a hard-working partner to do it with. So, I asked my good friend April Ferri to go in on it with me and now here we are, Owners and Stylists of Widows Peak Salon. Except my cuts are a bit more than 15 bucks now and I use real shears.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I’d say my biggest struggle was wanting to do everything on my own. I was too proud to ask for help and dove straight into taking clients instead of being an assistant first. Meaning I had to make mistakes and learn from them with real paying clients instead of taking advantage of the years of expertise someone could have guided me through. It wasn’t the wrong path, just a SLOWER one.
I’d definitely tell anyone just starting out to take one step at a time. Don’t get stuck comparing your self with someone who has been doing this much longer than you, instead learn from them. Take advantage of any knowledge they share and Try to Perfect one thing at a time.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Widows Peak Salon – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Personally, I love to Paint Hair, I love American style Balayage. I love that it is so soft and natural and doesn’t scream I just went to the salon or its time to go back to the Salon. Texture-wise – I enjoy enhancing what someone already has and helping them understand what their hair has the possibility to do with the correct products. Products are so important in the way your hair behaves and lays on a daily and people come to us for that expertise.
However, I do have a creative side, I love to draw and paint so I’m really stoked that 90’s ‘Rave’ style is back and I’ve been having fun freehand painting designs onto buzzed areas of the head.
Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
Honestly, I’m lucky to be in an industry that has always allowed and supported women to be independent and free in their own lives. A woman will always share and support another woman if she has been supported. The only barrier I see is when you compare yourself, (which is so easy to do on social media) and in turn, become negative about your own abilities and quit growing.
Contact Info:
- Address: 970 N Broadway ste. 214A
LA, CA 90012 – in the Mandarin Plaza - Website: WidowsPeakSalon.com
- Phone: 3233314103
- Instagram: @WidowsPeakSalon
Image Credit:
Tina June, Hope Rollins
Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
