Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Abalos.
Jessica, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Growing up with both my parents and myself being immigrants, I always aspired to becoming “The American Dream”. I always loved the beauty industry and admired the men and women who made so many people look and feel beautiful. As a young girl, I had insecurities and turned to experimenting with my own hair and makeup. Soon enough, my sisters and friends started asking me to do their hair. I loved being able to make them feel beautiful and while cheering them up. Seeing their smiles and confidence build made me feel whole. Around that time is when I knew my dream was to become a cosmetologist. In the police academy at James Monroe High School, I found myself with another dream. Upon finding out that I would be unable to do my hair or makeup, I knew that joining the LAPD was not for me. I decided that I was going to make my childhood dream come true. Once I graduated high school, I attended make-up designory school in Burbank and completed the stylist program. After completing that program, I went on to study Cosmetology at WBI.
As soon as I graduated, I met Tomas Suastegui, he gave me the opportunity to begin my career as a hairdresser. During the six years that I worked with him, I developed my skills and built my own clientele. After much thought and consideration, I made the decision to branch out on my own. I converted my home garage into a small one-chair studio. Slowly but surely, my client list began to grow and grow. I added chairs year after year. At my five-year mark of having my little studio, my husband Ronald encouraged me to make my childhood dream a reality. Just like that, we began to plan the grand opening of The Beauty Lab.
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?
The process of opening The Beauty Lab was fairly smoother than I anticipated. Things just fell so quickly into place. Of course, like many other people there was the fear of failure, spending more time apart from my family. The main challenge that I have encountered like many other business owners this year has been COVID-19. That is when my fears began to spiral out of control. The constant fear of losing my lifelong dream salon was becoming real all too fast. I immediately began to regret making such a big decision. My team of stylists was gone. My only source of income vanished. I could not believe all this was happening. I found myself fearing how I would be able to maintain my business afloat. But I decided to place my faith in God. I know that with the support of my family I will overcome this.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
When I opened The Beauty Lab, I wanted to bring a modern, luxurious, and affordable hair salon to my community. I wanted to be able to cater to the women of The San Fernando Valley. I strive to empower every single woman that steps through my door. My wish for every single one of these women is for them walk out of my salon feeling beautiful and confident, ready to take on their worlds. The Beauty Lab has become a safe space where my clients can relax, relieve their stress, and pamper themselves. I love helping my stylists fulfill their greatest potential and push the boundaries. I believe that as an immigrant child, the odds were stacked against me, and here I am a proud mother of a 12 years son and a five years old daughter, and business owner, I became the American dream. My hope is to inspire those around me to believe in themselves. I want them to know even though you may face seemingly impossible odds, anything can be made possible.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I believe that through this pandemic, we as hairstylists and barbers have united more than ever. We have become a stronger community supporting each other through these difficult times. Our clients have also banded together to help support our community in so many ways that I never expected. Because of this unity, I believe that we will bounce back stronger. We are eager to get back and help people feel and look confident. Hair trends evolve constantly and I believe that because of this, we will be a growing industry.
Contact Info:
- Address: 15206 Roxford st unit 1 Sylmar CA 91342
- Phone: 818 4036064
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @thebeautylab._
- Facebook: Thebeautylab ._
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/qTKq/mdQXU7cl48
- Other: @zeth08
Image Credit:
Gladys Castillo and Stephany Melendez
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