Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackie Barrera.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jackie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
As a child, I was very creative and artistic and like most girls, I LOVED hair and makeup. Growing up with a single parent, my mother taught me independence and the value of being a hard worker. After all, that’s the American dream, right? I started working at Ihop at the age of 16, which taught me responsibility, people skills, and great customer service. I juggled a job, school, and cosmetology! Crazy right? but I was determined and focused to making my dreams come true and become a hairstylist. My career initially started while attending Huntsville High School, the opportunity of joining the cosmetology program presented itself and that was something I was definitely interested in. I was lucky enough to join and have such a great educator like Vanessa Tindall. She provided me with all the knowledge I needed to pass my state board test and exceed my potential. Even though cosmetology is considered an artistic career, it’s also a trade in which requires very specific training and licensing. After graduating and completing over 1,000 hours. I passed both my tests and became license in 2014! I was well on the way to make my dreams a reality!
As much as I loved Huntsville, I knew it was time for a life-changing experience, and that was to move! I saved up money for my first car and moved to Conroe, Tx! Now I definitely had a rocky start with me totally failing my first interview but there was hope. The manager Christy Delgado realized that and would give me a second chance. In the short six months that I worked there, Christy became a great mentor who taught me the ins and out of being in the salon floor. I was challenged and pushed to my limits like I never had before. I then moved to different salons, which is when I decided that I would rent my own booth and become completely independent. That’s when “Brushed N Painted Hair” was created. I loved the name because it represented exactly what I wanted my brand to reflect.
After years of working hard on expanding my knowledge and perfecting my craft. I wanted more! My dreams and ideas grew. In 2017 I met Gina Atkinson, a licensed esthetician. While working together, Gina and I discussed values and work ethics when we soon discovered we had a lot of similarities. That’s where Gina brought up the crazy idea of opening a salon together. It was definitely something I didn’t see myself doing just yet. I was 21 years old, newly engaged and planning a wedding! I went home, talked to my now husband about it and he said “pray about it” that’s exactly what I did. That morning when I woke up, I knew exactly what to do. We agreed upon partnering together and taking control of our destiny. We both just knew this was the path to finding our purpose in life. That’s when Luminous Salon & Spa was born. June of 2017 to be exact. But here it was, a place where artists could work independently in a team-like environment while empowering others to become their better selves. Furthermore, a place where clients can feel at home. It’s probably one of the best decisions I made, I now manage two businesses, my own and the salon. I couldn’t have done it without my husband, family, friends and loyal clients who have supported me through this crazy journey.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I don’t think it’s ever smooth for anyone wanting to start a business. At the beginning of my career in cosmetology, I faced hard times. We were a low-income family, so I had no choice but to succeed in getting my license. After all, I was getting this education at a fraction of the cost! I worked a full-time job as a waitress and was able to pay for most of my dues by myself. After graduating and moving to a different town, I lived with my now husband. I struggled paying my car note and other bills, but thankfully, I had an amazing supporter to pay for everything until I was able to get on my feet. I hustled because I had the necessity to succeed. Working late nights, learning social media, patience, valuing myself worth and having the right personal vs. work-life balance. I had a lot of re do’s when I first started, but I had to face my fears and learn from my mistakes. Every day I learn something new and I don’t think I will ever stop learning.
Please tell us about Brushed N Painted Hair.
My business name is Brushed N Painted Hair, I’m a balayage and color specialist. Besides my color skills, I’m most known for educating my clients on what they need for their hair and why. Educating those who are willing to listen is extremely important to me. My role as a professional is to inform and share my expertise with my clients to build a strong relationship in which they will trust me. I’m proud to say that what sets me apart is being myself, I’m a very relate-able honest person, in which most times has resulted in hearing ” I TRUST YOU”. I never want my career to feel like a job, I want it to be a fun and also educational experience for my client. I want them to know that I’m not here to judge but to listen. I’m a strong believer that every person that sits in my chair is here to feel beautiful, talk to somebody or simply relax and I’m here to do whatever is going to make that client happy.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I knew then what I know now, I would be ahead of time. Honestly, I wouldn’t really change much. I believe that everything that happened was for a reason. Life is about learning and making changes; without those life lessons and struggles, we wouldn’t be dreamers.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1211 North Loop 336 West Ste B-1 Conroe,Tx
- Website: http://vagaro.com/brushednpaintedhair
- Phone: 7136149690
- Email: brushednpaintedhair@gmail.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/brushednpaintedhair
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/brushednpainted
Image Credit:
Photography: @veronica_photography
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