We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bobbi Mendez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Bobbi thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I came from humble beginnings to being a dynamic force in the beauty industry. How does one go from prepping and primping sheep in a Mennonite home to doing hair and makeup for Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence and Johnny Depp? I am the creative mind behind Glamour Room, an all-natural organic Aveda salon, it was a career path that started in a little town Manheim PA, to Philadelphia, New York Los Angeles, and back home to Lancaster County Pennsylvania. Most of my childhood memories were my 2 sheep, named Glitz and Glamour, husking corn, and helping to bail hay. I loved Glitz and Glamour, but most of all I loved doing their hair! I would cut my sheep’s hair, brush, and tease their hair, I even world polish their hooves nice and glossy. And put sparkles on them. At that point in time, I knew, I wanted to do hair and makeup for famous people, I wanted to travel the world and I wanted to be an Entrepreneur. I always dreamed of bigger things, so I decided to take the leap and pave my own way. Years later I opened my salon called Glamour Room!

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.

Now, I am the visionary founder of Glamour Room, an award-winning organic Aveda salon in Lancaster County.
My salon has been crowned “Best Hair Salon” five years in a row and is a sanctuary where creativity and client care collide. I won “Top 40 Under 40”, and “Most Professional Women Of The Year” Award.

I am currently living my passion as a salon, owner and celebrity stylist. You can see my work from New York ,LA, to Paris. I’ve worked on “A” listers like Johnny Depp and Jennifer Lawrence.

In the salon behind the chair, I specialize in bridal and blondes!

Behind the glitz is a woman committed to changing lives-starting with my own and expanding to thousands of others.
But my impact extends far beyond beauty.
Today I am the founder of operation dignity giving homeless a new lease on life as they journey towards stability. I have served over 5000 unsheltered, providing them meals, haircuts, showers and dignity bags.- (which are self care items.)
This March I had the most profound transformation of my lifetime – by funding $75,000 on an orphanage and community center in Sierra Leone Africa – the outpouring of the tribes were humbling.
I also educate young aspiring entrepreneurs to create profitable businesses with my money mindset program reaching over 6000 minds . I even got to bring this over to Sierra Leone Africa to help 180 women become micro entrepreneurs.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My Story of Resilience

I came from a steady, reliable corporate job, being the “director of education” at a cosmetology institute. It was secure—but my heart was elsewhere. So I took a leap of faith and opened The Glamour Room, pouring my passion into every detail. I was one year in, proud, excited—celebrating our very first birthday—and then, bam, COVID hit.

I had to shut everything down. Overnight, everything I’d worked for was on pause. I was scared. As a new business owner, I felt completely alone. No playbook, no guarantees, and definitely no safety net. I was used to that dependable corporate paycheck, but now? It was just me, trying to figure out how to keep the lights on—literally.

But when pressure hits, you either fold or get creative. So I got scrappy. I started offering DIY facial kits clients could use at home. I sold take-home hair color, curated online product bundles, and connected with my clients however I could. The rent still needed to be paid. So did the heat. So I kept showing up.

And guess what? We made it through.

Now, The Glamour Room is not just surviving—we’re thriving. Every time life throws a curveball, I remind myself: If you made it through COVID, you can make it through anything.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

What Lesson Did I Have to Unlearn?

“You can’t be a one-trick pony,” my cosmetology teacher told me when I was 18. “You need to be good at everything.”

So for years, I carried that mindset. Even when I opened The Glamour Room, I thought I had to offer it all—even the services I hated. I told myself, Bobbi, just grin and bear it.

But then came week two. A walk-in pedicure client—an older man. His toenails were… let’s just say tough. I’m doing my best, clipping away, when one of those bad boys launches—right into my mouth. 😵‍💫

That was it. Manicures and pedicures were off the menu that same day.

And that’s when I realized: I’m the business owner now. I get to decide what I offer. I don’t have to do services that drain me just because someone told me I should be “well-rounded.” I get to build a business around what I love—and when you specialize in something, you don’t just get good at it, you excel. You thrive. You actually look forward to your workday.

So, to that old-school idea of being good at everything? I respectfully unlearned it. I’d rather be amazing at what I love—and keep my mouth pedicure-free while I’m at it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.lancasterglam.com
• Instagram: Mrs.queenoftheworld2025
• Facebook: Bobbi Mendez
• Linkedin: Bobbi Nicole Mendez
• Other: Instagram business- Glamourroom.be.couture