Today we’d like to introduce you to Roxana Pasillas-Luevano.
Hi Roxana, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started in the Beauty Industry in 2004 by getting my Cosmetologist license and becoming a Professional Makeup Artist. Doing makeup was my passion working on weddings, special occasions.
In 2016 I decided to add a new skill to my never-ending knowledge in the beauty industry. I became a Lash Artist.
At a family BBQ I was sitting with my closest circle of family and my friend we were talking about making vision boards about our future venture someday we would open our very own brick and mortar. A space where women can feel empowered heard and accepted!
Fast forward three years later my spouse got very ill that was one of the darkest moments in my life. Frantically sitting in traffic trying to get to the hospital from Whittier was the longest hour of my life.
Taking my wife home after being in the hospital for a week I realized I needed to move closer to home I would never sit in that traffic during an emergency again!
I still remember the call I made to my dearest friend…. I told her “ Are you ready to do this” and she said “Fuck it”. Our vision boards will come to life.
December 2019 Erika (my business partner) and I signed the lease to our new baby Vida Y Alma House of Beauty. Somehow even getting shut down during the pandemic didn’t let us skip a beat. And we were able to grow through it. 2021 we moved from our tiny space to a beautiful location in Lakewood which is our home now. We are two Latinas that with all our hard work we were able to grow our baby into a seven-private suite Beauty House.
Welcome to Vida Y Alma House of Beauty where you can come to relax, get pampered and reconnect. We got you from lash extensions, Facials, PMU, massages, the perfect candle, sage bundle or just a little self-care.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I currently split my time between helping my parents at their carnicería and building my empire. Which was definitely helpful during the pandemic.
The pandemic was definitely the biggest struggle we faced the whole beauty industry was hit very hard during the shutdowns. Not being able to work and still having to pay bills and rent in our 2 month old salon was definitely humbling. But some how I got through it and was able to grow VYA to what it is now
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
The Beauty Industry is SAVAGE!
It’s funny how when you pivot your life for all The right reasons you lose so-called “friends” you make in the beauty industry. Everyone and every place is a competition.
That only made me want our new place to actually be a safe space where we would empower Women, support one another and adjust each other’s crowns. Here we’re very proud of being inclusive to women and men this is a safe space for you to come relax, disconnect and recharge.
I specialize in last extensions I could take you from a natural lash set to a mega dramatic look.
We always have amazing incense and candles burning which we also have for retail. So clients could take a little bit of us home.
Our VYA services include eyelash extensions with me, amazing facials with my business partner Erika, massage therapy, body sculpting, and a variety of permanent makeup and braids.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I see the beauty industry growing into more of a self-care type of industry where the stigma of getting a service done isn’t just a luxury. We can get a massage to relieve stress without feeling guilty about it.
Contact Info:
- Email: Info@vyahouseofbeauty.com
- Website: www.vyahouseofbeauty.com
- Instagram: @vidayalmahouseofbeauty
