We recently connected with Beatriz Aponte-Vargas and have shared our conversation below.
Beatriz, appreciate you joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
BellaU stands for beautiful you. I see beauty in everything and everyone. Originally, BellaU centered on ensuring that my clients had top-notch quality service in an intimate setting that isn’t a loud salon. Now, as I’ve evolved in my career and am entering a different stage, I want to train new and emerging stylists who want to advance their existing careers or venture out on their own as I did. The idea came in response to requests from new stylists who want to excel beyond what they’ve learned in cosmetology school. BellaU’s Advanced Training for Stylists gives stylists ideas on how to better run their business, help them assess what works, and what doesn’t, and share new ideas.
Beatriz, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My journey in the beauty industry began after high school. My passion for the craft drives me to be disciplined and represent my trade well in all that I do — from speech, to dress, to how I connect with my clients. What I do is not a job for me but a career that has allowed me to grow in the industry in many ways. I started by working for a company: Life Time Fitness LifeSpa. They gave me the tools to continue growing and led me to become one of the top in the country as a Wella Educator. After leaving LifeSpa I opened my salon, Bellisima Salon, and enjoyed that business for more than six years — even through the pandemic. In 2022, I opened BellaU Hair Studio to offer my clients a more exclusive, intimate setting outside the buzz of a loud salon. They loved it! Now, I’m extending my learning and best practices to new and emerging stylists who want to carve out a different path for themselves.
I’m extremely proud of the accomplishments I’ve achieved thus far on my own, and for fearlessly continuing my journey as an entrepreneur. What sets me apart from the rest is the consistency I’ve been able to give to my clients without cutting corners. I believe in using top-notch products that keep the integrity of their hair. As I like to say it keeps their hair Healthy, Shiny, and Sassy.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
My clients have been with me for many years. Sometimes, decades. What I hear most from them is that despite the long-lasting service that I’ve provided, my approach always makes them feel like they’re there for the first time. I also offer them the most relevant advice, matched with the best products on the market. And I make sure they enjoy the time they’re spending with me. I know AND care about what is happening in their lives: family issues, work challenges, exciting news, and vacations. For me, they’re not just clients but friends. If they’re spending time and money with me, I respond to that by making sure I’m providing a space where they can literally “let their hair down” and trust me with this little part of their lives. The experience extends beyond just my chair, this is what I hear about the most when new clients come to me referred by clients who have been with me for years. As I train others in this industry, I encourage them to be known for something — the best personality, the best colorist, the best stylist. Because clients will talk about it with their friends and before you know it, others will follow in through your door looking for that “best” thing.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
As a person who has had their fair share of failures, I used to be hesitant about sharing them with others. I thought it was not the right thing to do. However, as time went by, I realized that discussing our failures can be helpful for both ourselves and others. Failures are a natural part of life, and they help us learn from our mistakes, alter our perspectives, and improve our skill sets.
Nowadays, I make it a point to talk about my mistakes with young entrepreneurs and emerging stylists. By sharing my experiences, I hope to help them avoid the same pitfalls I encountered along the way. As an entrepreneur myself, I know that persistence is the key to success in business. Sometimes, things don’t work out as planned, and that’s okay. It’s important to keep moving forward and not let failures hold us back.
I often encourage others to use their failures as a source of strength. When we fail, we learn what doesn’t work, and that helps us get closer to what does work. I believe that by discussing our failures and persevering through difficult times, we can achieve greater success in the long run.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.belllaUhairstudio.com
- Instagram: BellaUHairStudio
- Facebook: BellaUHairStudio
- Youtube: BellaUHairStudio
Image Credits
Photo Credit: Jacqueline Childress