Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Leslie Brace. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Leslie, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

The whole idea of entrepreneurship is risk, believing in yourself enough, your vision and putting it into motion. I started doing hair when I was 21 years old, but my fire to be an entrepreneur started way before as a child even with wanting to create a product that could be marketed and sold. I don’t think of course I realized that at the time that cultivating a lemonade stand at 10 or a face painting business at 12 would create such a love for creating, building and executing a small business. After working in a commission salon for 7 years I took the leap to a rental salon experience, being my own boss, keeping my own books and management my own marketing. I had worked with many amazing stylists and after I made that leap those friendships in business continued they gained confidence and followed into rental as well. I had worked so well with my now co owner Natasha since she was only 18! We together decided after two different rental salon closures and over ten years working together we would open a salon together in what has been an amazing partnership. Boutique hair parlor was imagined combining both our visions. Located in Lincoln, California we both still work behind the chair and have been co managing over 12 stylists and 2 estheticians these last 12 years.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I would say our brand has evolved over the years but our purpose and reasons for opening have always stayed the same. We provide a laid back luxury experience in hair care. We wanted our clients to feel comfortable in a warm and friendly environment, that could offer advance hair cutting and coloring in a non fussy salon setting. Our salon space reflects us, big open industrial ceiling, light and bright with a boho vintage twist. All our stylists and estheticians are independent contractors giving them the freedom to run and manage their own businesses while still having support and team based dynamics. We love pouring into our team to offer them all the support they need to be as successful as they dream to be.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When we were first starting the salon build out process there was such a learning curve. We started with a complete empty shell, meaning it really was a blank slate no other business had ever existed in that space before. Everything had to be put in, electrical, plumbing, the industrial ceiling, bathrooms ect. After negotiating with the landlord, two separate draw ups with an architect numerous set backs all while still carrying a full time clientele we opened one year from the start of it all. It was definitely the hardest year of our lives, putting all our resources, blood, sweat and my tears and melt downs into it.

How’d you meet your business partner?

Natasha and I met the first year I was doing hair at Brockway hair design she had been transferred to our salon from another salon as a receptionist and was just 18. She hadn’t really wanted to come to Lincoln from Rocklin so came off very intimidating haha all put together with her pencil skirts and wedge heels. But eventually we won her over and her amazing work ethic and confidence nature was apparent for everyone to see. We honestly couldn’t be more different from one another, but our differences compliment us and allow us to work seamlessly with each other, picking up slack and having opposite skill sets. I handle financial and manage marketing and hiring. She thrives with the retail, supply runs and any salon repairs that come up.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.Boutiquehairparlor.com
• Instagram: Boutique hair parlor

Image Credits

Amy Schuff
Joelle Smith
Emily Black