Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Aguilera.
Hi Andrea, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My mom has been doing hair so I grew up in a hair salon. I’ve always wanted to do hair, after high school I went to APU and got my bachelor’s in Business then got my Cosmetology license. From there, I started working on LA. I didn’t know I would become a business owner so young but my mom and I had no reason to say no when the opportunity arose to open a salon together. For a while, I worked in LA and Redlands. But since Covid, I have only been working in Redlands and loving it! Loving the culture of the salon we created and loving my clientele
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Working in LA at Meche is anything but smooth, it is fast pace and unlike anything, I have seen before. With never a second to breathe or even eat, I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything. Also, being a salon owner is anything but smooth, especially with opening just before a pandemic. I didn’t realize being a salon owner would be this much work and all the time but I don’t vision much career any different.
We’ve been impressed with Rooted Salon, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Rooted Salon will be open for three years this upcoming August. We have eight chairs with ten stylists and one assistant.
As a stylist, I specialize in Hair extensions. But I color and cut as well. The transformation as a whole is what excites me behind the chair.
I think what sets me apart is that I have watched my mom do hair for years and I have learned hair techniques from LA. So I have seen old school and the new ways of doing hair. Taking information from both careers and making it my own is what I am most thankful for.
I am so proud of the stylist we have and the reputation of the salon. I am proud of the family environment we have at the salon. I always hear we have such great reviews and I love that. Our goal was to bring a little bit of LA to Redlands and to offer a younger, more modern feel to clients when getting their hair done. I feel we have accomplished that, and we are proud!
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
To not take things so personally. It is hard because I have spent so much time, energy and given my all to creating/ maintaining the salon that when something happens, I have taken it personally. I have learned to take it listen to it so that I can better my business, not as a complaint but a way to improve.
Contact Info:
- Email: Hairsalon.rooted@gmail.com
- Website: Hairsalonrooted.com
- Instagram: @Dreadidthis_ and @hairsalon.rooted
