We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alejandra Escobar. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alejandra below.

Alejandra , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

The biggest risk I ever took was leaving my home in Virginia in 2019 to move to San Antonio. I knew I wanted more for myself, but I didn’t have a solid plan—just a dream of building something of my own. Not long after I arrived, COVID hit, and I was let go from what I thought was my ideal job as a stylist in downtown San Antonio. With no other choice, I took the first job I could find at Smart Style. Within five months, I became an assistant manager, and I stayed there for almost two years. But eventually, I realized I was losing my passion for the industry, and I had to make a change. That’s when I took the leap into entrepreneurship and opened my own salon.

But in reality, this journey started long before 2019. Back in 2017, when I worked at Hair Cuttery on the East Coast, I met my now close friend Tiara, who always pushed me to think bigger. We had a saying: ‘If it doesn’t work out, we go back to a salon and try again in a different way.’ That mindset stayed with me, giving me the confidence to take risks. And through it all, my family has been my biggest support system. Since the moment I decided to move away, they have stood by me, reminding me that if I had the courage to start fresh in a new city with nothing, then I am more than capable of building my dream business in the city that has slowly given me everything.

Now, three years into running my own salon, I can truly say that taking that risk was the best decision I’ve ever made. My business is thriving, my clientele is growing, and I’ve created a space that’s not just about hair—it’s about empowerment, confidence, and self-care. None of it came easy, but I wouldn’t change a thing.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I started in the beauty industry in 2014, shortly after graduating high school. At the time, I thought I wanted to go to college, but I wasn’t sure how I was going to pay for it. That’s when an opportunity came up to work at a local small business as a nail tech. I enjoyed it, but I quickly found myself drawn to barbering. Being the only one in the shop with a cosmetology license, I went from doing nails to assisting the master barber. That’s when I realized I really loved doing hair.

I barbered for about a year before deciding I wanted to grow and take on more than just men’s cuts. I moved to a salon where I could work with both men and women, and that shift opened up a whole new world for me. The beauty industry not only gave me a career but also the ability to pay for college. I studied psychology because I’ve always had a passion for understanding people, but over time, I realized that there’s more than one way to be a psychologist. Now, I do it through hair. I get to combine both of my passions—helping people feel their best while also creating a space where they feel heard, supported, and understood.

What sets me apart from other stylists is that my salon is full-service. As a dual-licensed cosmetologist and barber, I offer a wide range of services, from haircuts and colors to straight razor shaves and beard trims. It’s not just about making someone look good on the outside—it’s about connecting with people, no matter their gender or age. That’s what keeps me passionate every day.

Since the start of my career, I’ve worked with men, women, and children, and that’s something I continue to do in my salon today. While some stylists focus on one specialty, I’d say my specialty is working with all kinds of people who sit in my chair—no matter their gender or age. I love that I can make anyone feel confident and seen, both inside and out.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

In 2014, while working my first job, I was introduced to Admiral William McRaven’s Make Your Bed speech. My boss, Mo, a retired Navy SEAL, noticed how stressed I was from juggling school and work. He sat me down and made me watch the video, which showed me how starting the day with a small task could lead to bigger accomplishments.

Ron, a retired Navy chef who worked with us, also played the Make Your Bed speech whenever Mo wasn’t around to remind me of the power of small, disciplined actions. Ron wasn’t a SEAL, but he understood the value of motivation and consistency. To this day, when I’m feeling unmotivated, I watch that video. It always reminds me that something as simple as making my bed is the first step in conquering the day, which helps me tackle the bigger challenges in my business. It’s a small, simple task, but it sets the tone for everything else I do.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

To answer this question, we have to go back to 2020. At the time, I was working a full-time job that limited my skills to just cuts and colors. While I loved doing hair, I wanted to expand into barbering services, such as straight razor shaves, and also offer additional beauty services like lash extensions and nails. I knew that if I wanted to build the kind of business I envisioned, I had to invest in myself first.

I started taking additional certification courses to broaden my skill set. I flew to California to take a three-day refresher course with Paris Nails, and later, I went to Dallas to complete a lash certification course. At the same time, I focused on sharpening my barbering skills. I started offering lashes and nails from my home while also working as a home-based barber.

However, over time, I realized that being home-based wasn’t the right fit for me. I wanted to create a professional, full-service salon experience for my clients, and I knew I couldn’t do that from my house. That’s when I made the decision to quit my job entirely in 2022 and branch out into what I knew best—hair!

I took the leap of faith because I knew that if I could build a clientele from my home for nails, lashes, and men’s cuts, then I had the foundation to start my own beauty business in San Antonio. However, that doesn’t mean the journey has been easy.

What started as a side hustle became my full-time career because I was willing to invest in myself, take risks, and trust the process. My salon is a reflection of all the skills I’ve developed over the years, and my goal is to continue creating a space where my clients feel valued and confident in the services they receive.

Contact Info:

• Website: Alegator beauty.square.site
• Instagram: @alegatorbeauty
• Facebook: Aleator Beauty
• Other: TikTok: @alegatorbeauty

Image Credits

Business branding photo shoot credits to 1044 Photography
Photo with student, credit to Mrs.Castro from Edgewood Fine Arts School