Today we’d like to introduce you to Jess Garcia.
Jess, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have always been a creative person. Right out of high school, I enrolled at a local trade school and got my degree in graphic design. I decide to take my career to Austin, maybe a change of scenery would be better. Worked at a few design companies and a few restaurants/bars trying to find what made me happy. It wasn’t until a few friends of mine said, ‘you just need to go get your cosmetology license already’. I was always styling friends and families hair… I love making them look good, I took pride in that. I checked out a few schools in Austin and Houston, and I finally decided to move back to Houston start cosmetology school at Paul Mitchell. I always enjoyed styling hair, I have three sisters so I was always the one creating fun updos and hairstyles on them. I knew I would have the support and love from my family and friends in Houston.
That first day of school was so emotional because I knew this would be the start of an amazing journey and I wasn’t looking back. As soon as I finished at PM, I started as an assistant at Studio 31 Hair Lab and that’s when reality set in. That first year in a real salon setting was so tough, but the pay off was more rewarding than the pain. My experience at Studio 31 exceeded any expectations. I could have dreamt of, and it was because of the team we had. We were like family and we all wanted everyone to succeed. It’s was beautiful, a bond we will have for a lifetime.
As a way to move forward with my goals and dreams, I decided to take the plunge and move into my own suite last year. It’s been such a rewarding experience. A lot to take on but I knew I was up for the challenge. Now it’s been about a year and a half at my new studio and my clients are loving it. I am so glad I decided to take that next step to owning a business.
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?
Nothing in my life has been easy. I have always been driven, starting working at the age is 15 and have been non-stop since. Working two or three jobs has always been normal for me. I felt like I needed to keep going to show my mom I was not going to take her sacrifices for granted. Growing up in a single parent household with four girls was a battle, but she never gave up on us. I guess that’s why my drive and ambitions are so strong, I learned it from her. No matter the climb, just keep going and never give up on yourself. Absorb all that you can, appreciate the journey and the people that help get you there.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Mane Theory Studio story. Tell us more about the business.
I love working with every hair type and texture. I enjoy cutting gorgeous bobs, bringing life back to limp curls, but my true love is blondes! Ashy, golden, dark, short, long, so pretty much all of them. I will say that my passion comes from educating my clients about their hair. Really listening about their hair journey and starting long term hair transformations and tips that they can take home with them. Sometimes a simple cut can make huge difference on how you feel and look. Which is how I also came up with my studio name, Mane Theory. I just want anyone that sits in my chair to live their best hair life.
What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
I think the biggest misconception is that we are “just” hairdressers. Something that I have dealt with in the past is people not understanding how much time, energy and money we put into our craft. We do it because we are passionate about it, we love learning about new coloring or cutting techniques, and new products. It drives us to give them our best. Being a hairdresser is not a 9-5 job. We are consistently thinking how we can push boundaries and be better at our craft.
Pricing:
- Ombré Balayage starting at $250
- Babylights/Micro highlights starting at $225
- Curly Haircut $80
Contact Info:
- Address: 1928 West 18th street, Suite 25
Houston, Texas 77008 - Website: http://JessGarcia.glossgenuis.com/
- Phone: 832-693-8250
- Email: j_gar@icloud.com
- Instagram: @hairbyjessgarcia
- Facebook: @hairbyjessgarcia
Image Credit:
Jess Garcia, Joseph P Henderson
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