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

Cecilia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

With my mission being one of the biggest drives with the evolution of my business, let me share that my mission is a combination of me as an individual artist and as a business owner with the intention to expand and help other entrepreneurs grow as well.

My Mission as a Beauty Enhancer at Cessified Studio is to cherish every visitor and make sure you feel like the VIP you truly are! I’ll sprinkle some beauty magic and self-care vibes that scream YOU!
My Mission as Cessified Studio showcases how much we value each and every guest and remind you how important you are, all while providing the highest level of enhancing services in the various forms they come.

With the focus on beauty enhancing services, my wish is for you to treat yourself to a cozy sanctuary where all are welcome to unwind, pamper, and elevate your self-care game. It’s your personal power-up zone, filled with support, passion and good vibes, just for you. After all, you’re the canvas, and I’m here to sprinkle some magic and enhance your beauty! Something I have always felt connected to is serving and supporting others in all walks of life and why I am mindful of tailoring your enhancing experience to fit your needs/wants.

With the focus of the evolution of Cessified Studio, my hope is to provide entrepreneurs and clients a self-care focused space that is enjoyed by all. I aim to create a hub (with my individual studio within it) that welcomes businesses offering self-care services in a non-competitive environment. The idea is to have individual businesses that operate in harmony, enhancing the self-care experience for individuals, and fostering self-expression along the way. The goal is to create a judgment-free zone where every individual seeking self-care and every creator expressing their uniqueness is equally valued and appreciated.

As of right now, I live and breathe this passion while accommodating what I can within this studio space. I dedicate time and focus to each beautiful guest with enhancing services while also showcasing local artists/creators (whether it’s to sell or refer clients to them). I do also provide the use of the studio space for fellow entrepreneurs to host their events/gatherings and when our schedules allow for schedule coordination and be able to accommodate those 1:1 connections, there are some entrepreneurs who I call “Business Mates” that utilize the studio space and provide their services as well.

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?

Hola! I’m Ceci, a proud Mexican-American and your go-to beauty enhancer with over 20 years of experience in the hair and makeup world. I love giving textured haircuts that move and flow, and I’m all about working with clients to create makeup looks that are as unique as they are—whether that’s subtle, dramatic, or just plain fun! Fantasy hair colors are my jam, adding that extra splash of wow to your style, but I consider all color enhancements just as fun when they are custom to fit your uniqueness. On the personal side, I’m a mom to some pretty awesome teenagers who keep me on my toes, and I’ve been blissfully married to my best friend for over 17 years. Life’s a balancing act, but I thrive on connecting with amazing people and diving into creative adventures like singing, painting, and being involved with creative shenanigans of all kinds.

I wasn’t always an active stylist, I took a 10 year hiatus where I worked for a manufacturing company and freelanced in the beauty industry. As I grew my knowledge and education in the beauty industry while working my full time job, I came across circumstances that allowed me to re-evaluate life in so many ways and this pivotal moment ignited a period of deep self-reflection and exploration of my passions. Drawn back to the world of the salon industry, I rediscovered my joy. Simultaneously, I stumbled upon the Small Business Development Center and the resource-rich courses offered by the local community college. The newfound knowledge and guidance I received, helped form the bedrock of my entrepreneurship journey. In April 2018, I established Cessified LLC, a business that was a physical manifestation of my unique take on beauty enhancement. (Here’s a link to an article touching on this aspect for anyone who is interested in looking for opportunities to pursue this venture in Northern Arizona. https://www.coconino.edu/news/483-sbdc-gives-form-to-dreams-at-ccc )

At Cessified Studio, I’m on a mission to flip the script on the traditional salon scene. Imagine a vibrant hub where self-care meets creativity, and everyone from tattoo artists to beauty gurus can come together in harmony. It’s all about creating a space where you can be unapologetically you, without judgment. For example, what comes to mind when you think of a salon, a barbershop, a spa, or any salon business? Take a moment to ponder… I’m excited to change that perception by offering more than just a salon or beauty atmosphere. I’m not just here to enhance your beauty; I’m here to boost your creativity, nurture your self-care, and strengthen your most valuable asset—YOU. Now, imagine creating this atmosphere not just for my own business goals, but by teaming up with other entrepreneurs who share the same vision. THAT is my main objective. Everyone deserves the chance to enjoy self-care without the fear, judgment, or guilt that often comes with wanting to better ourselves. For me, this means hair and makeup, but I know this challenge is present in other areas too. I’m confident that fellow entrepreneurs would be thrilled to expand the Cessified Studio community to achieve the same positive impact in their own industries!

So, whether you’re looking to enhance your look or just want to chat about life’s shenanigans, I’m here for it! Let’s make magic happen and celebrate the beautiful, unique you!

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

The biggest lesson I had to unlearn was the pressure to upsell everything and work at a breakneck pace. While I admire those who can execute with speed and skill, that’s not my style. I strive to be precise and tailored to each individual’s request, working on balancing my perfectionist tendencies with enjoying the creative process. As a business owner, I understand the need for financial stability. However, my main focus is creating “win-win” scenarios. My goal is for us both to benefit from our interaction. Sometimes this means highlighting your skills to boost your business, fostering a mutually beneficial relationship. Other times, it involves teaching clients tricks to maintain their look between appointments, which builds trust and enhances their daily life. This approach strengthens my relationships while growing my business. It’s been a significant shift from the traditional mindset of “This is how it’s always been done” to “How can I adapt this to benefit more people while developing my skills?” Ultimately, this perspective has allowed me to forge stronger connections and enjoy a more fulfilling professional journey.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

This has been one of the few ways I have realized I differ from other stylist in my industry. As a solopreneur, I have always looked for genuine connections and relatability with all of my clients. Even while working for other salons, or renting a space from them. I, personally, do not offer online booking or have too much automation with my responses outside of sharing information or having confirmations or reminders from my system, so I personally respond to each individual. Of course this is very time consuming, but with the structure I have created for myself, I am able to tailor my connections while ensuring everything needed is communicated without consuming all of my time and that helps keep both lines of communication open. It also helps me start to feel and understand your lifestyle as well as the best way you communicate. A lot of my client and brand loyalty is stemmed from that. Word of mouth, Google reviews and the relationships I have built that have blessed me with this outcome. Even if you aren’t a client or we just missed the opportunity to collaborate together for services, I genuinely want to make sure you’re acknowledged and I can support you. It is one of my main essences and because I always want to feel that authentic connection, that’s how I serve my community of beauties or handsome studs!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cessified.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceci.cessified/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cessified83?mibextid=ZbWKwL
• Other: – TickTock: https://www.tiktok.com/@ceci.cessified
  – Alignable: https://www.alignable.com/flagstaff-az/cessified-studio

Image Credits

Robin Reece- The R2 Studio
Gabby Wallace- Odd Fox Photography