Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Francesca Rego. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Francesca, appreciate you joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
In 2016, at 17 years old, I graduated high school & cosmetology school at the same time thinking I had my life figured out. My plan was to be a hairstylist.
I was getting ready to be a full time stylist while my friends were going away to college. I always knew college was not for me. I was never into partying and I never liked school. However, other people’s opinions; friends, classmates, adults, teachers etc. all got in my head about being ‘just’ a hairstylist & not living up to the potential I could be.
I then decided to go to a county college while working behind the chair. I was a business major working towards an Associates in Business, as I thought that could be useful for me to one day to open a salon. A few months go by and I realized school wasn’t too bad- I was easily managing my school, work & a social life. However, I wasn’t too sure about the business major thing. My boss at the time highly influenced me not to go down the path of owning a salon after he educated me on the back end of owning a hair salon & at the time, owning a salon did not sound fun. However, the industry has changed significantly since then in a better way.
I had lots of friends and family members who were teachers or attending school to become a teacher. As I was big into exercise & nutrition at the time, I thought.. maybe I can do this school thing, get a Bachelors in Physical Education, become a gym teacher and still work as a hairstylist part time. And that became the new plan.
Within the 4 years of undergrad, I attended bartending school and bartended for about 2 years at a bar local to my hometown. I also received my personal training certification but never took on clients, although I always wanted to. I was somehow judging it all while building my first clientele in a salon. I was definitely a hustler & always wanted more. My friends were away at college & all I wanted to do was make $$ so I can live the life I wanted to as I got older. I learned pretty young the importance of money & so I became very money driven.
Fast forward to May 2020, I graduated with my Bachelor’s in Physical Education. I never walked for graduation due to Covid, but it was never something I wanted to do. I then landed a job at a public school as a traveling Pre-K Physical Education Teacher in a school district not too far from my hometown. The offer was too good to turn down. Good starting salary with room to grow, a pension, great benefits, summers off, hours of 8:30am-3pm, a 3 HOUR break between the day & tuition reimbursement. It ALL sounded too good to turn down.
After accepting this job, I still wanted more. I thought the next step for me would be to get my masters. In the NJ school systems, higher education is rewarded with higher pay. At this time, I wanted to get my pay as high as I could as soon as I could.
Between working towards my masters, working as a full time teacher & working 25 hours behind the chair, I was burnt the f out. I unfortunately allowed this for about a year & a half which was way too long. As time went on, I started to resent my teaching job, missing the simplicity & fun of being in a salon atmosphere with flexibility in my schedule.
I didn’t want to pursue teaching but it didn’t seem that easy to quit & tell everyone that I am giving up what I worked so hard for over the last 4-6 years. I will never forget all the clients that told me I wouldn’t last as a teacher, and I always knew they were right deep down inside but did not want to entertain their opinions.
It wasn’t until May of 2022, when my now fiancé, boyfriend at the time, got a job opportunity in Arizona to make me realize what am I doing?!? I was so stressed, burnt out & lost all the passion I had for anything. We were still living in our hometown in New Jersey at this time.
This was a huge eye opening experience, it gave me the opportunity I needed- To move away from my hometown, which is something I always wanted. This was my time to reconnect & realign with my passion for hair.
I was lucky to start my hair career in my hometown at a young age, having the support from family & friends, which made it easy for me to fill my books & become busy FAST. So moving across the country and starting all over was scary but it was the risk I needed to take. I needed to see if I can build the career I dreamt of starting from the ground up- No connections, no help. Solely, just seeing if this career was meant for me after running away from it for so many years after a toxic cycle of the east coast hustle.
Starting over was what I needed to reconnect & realign with my passion. I was able to learn from past mistakes, build my dream clientele & schedule all on my own.
I am now 27 years old, an independent business owner of 2 years, renting a chair at a beautiful salon in Scottsdale, AZ & I get to help other small business owners like me build their beauty business to become more profitable & automated.
I am so extremely proud to be a hairstylist & I am super passionate about what I do. I love my story & how I got here. The leap of faith I had to take when moving across the country is something I am forever grateful for. I am creating the life of my dreams & I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Francesca, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am Francesca, a 27 year old independent hairstylist & business coach based out of Scottsdale, AZ, originally from New Jersey. Like most stylists, I found an interest in hair at a young age. From giving my Barbie’s ridiculous haircuts all the way to doodling hair related images as a kid. In middle school when I would hang out with friends, I always found myself curling, braiding & styling their hair. My parents quickly caught on to my talent/passion; my dad built me a hair station in my room & my mom did research on how/when I can start my career to become a hairstylist.
The name behind my business is Checkmycurls & it was created in 2014. My friends called me checka and my specialization was curling hair at the time.
I was super eager to work at a young age. I remember begging my mom to work numerous times throughout middle school, then finally, at the end of 8th grade, my mom took me to a strip mall in my hometown to
ask businesses if they were hiring. I left 6 different businesses with my contact info & the only place that called me back was the hair salon.
I am forever thankful for my first boss who trusted me at the age of 13 to work as a receptionist at her salon.. we still keep in touch to this day.
About a year goes go by & my mom found a program for me to attend cosmetology school for free throughout my sophomore to senior year of high school. I jumped on that real quick & started as an assistant, shampooing hair & cleaning up after stylists at a local salon.
After 4 years, 2 salons & assisting many amazing stylists, I received my license in 2016 & was able to finally make it on the floor full time. Now I am 9 years licensed as a hair stylist working behind the chair. I love what I do & I am super passionate about this industry. I love making connections with people, my clients tend to become my friends over time. The bond between a stylist & clients is something so special to me. I specialize in low maintenance color & haircuts, bobs & beyond. I also am a business coach for beauty professionals, mentoring stylists to build their business & become more successful on the business side of beauty. I really do have the best job in the world & get to hangout & connect with people everyday.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
One of the key factors that has helped me build my reputation within my market is my ability to connect with people on a personal level. I’ve always been passionate about my work, and as a naturally outgoing person, building relationships with clients has come easily to me. What truly sets me apart from other professionals is my ability to make my clients feel comfortable and valued, creating lasting connections beyond just the service.
In the early stages of my career, this wasn’t always easy. I was shy, lacked confidence, and felt awkward asking personal questions while working on someone’s hair. But over time, I realized that connecting with my clients wasn’t just important—it was essential. I learned how to make conversation feel natural, and it became a part of my signature service. Now, getting your hair done with me often feels like a therapy session or a good chat, where clients can open up and feel heard.
As I dove deeper into business coaching, I truly understood how crucial it is to be a personable stylist. Building strong relationships with clients creates trust and loyalty, which is the foundation for long-term success. When you foster that connection, your client retention improves, communication flows more smoothly, and both the client and stylist experience are significantly enhanced. It’s not just about doing great hair—it’s about providing an experience that keeps clients coming back.
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
As a stylist who believes in the power of building personal connections, I see fostering brand loyalty as an essential part of my business. In the beauty industry, which is highly competitive, having a strong and distinctive brand identity is crucial for standing out. A well-defined brand not only attracts clients who resonate with your vibe but also leaves a lasting impression. It’s about making your name, aesthetic, and message unforgettable.
Consistent and professional branding is key to building trust and credibility. It helps clients feel confident in your skills and expertise. Moreover, a strong brand helps you attract the right clientele by clearly communicating who you are and what you stand for. This ensures that you’re connecting with like-minded individuals and fostering loyalty while naturally filtering out those who don’t align with your vision. In turn, this builds a positive reputation and fosters trust in the marketplace.
I like to say that branding isn’t just a marketing tool; it’s about creating an emotional connection with clients, setting yourself apart from the competition, and establishing long-term loyalty. But consistency is key. If your branding ever starts to feel out of sync, it’s important to either rebrand or reconnect with your clients in a way that feels authentic and true to who you are. Keeping your brand unique and consistent is what sets you apart in a crowded industry.
Personally, I’ve worked hard to create a brand presence that aligns with my vibe, mission, and goals. I use all aspects of my brand to connect with my clients, making sure I’m easy to recognize and approachable. Social media is a big part of my strategy, with Instagram being my primary platform. I follow all of my clients to stay connected and to see what they’re up to, which allows me to use that as a conversation starter the next time they’re in my chair. I also make an effort to message clients on special occasions or during significant life events to show my support and remind them that I’m here for them.
In addition to staying engaged with my clients online, I share personal moments from my life on my social media. This gives clients a glimpse into who I am, helping build a stronger bond and trust, which naturally leads to greater loyalty. I also make it a point to comment on my clients’ posts and send messages when I’m thinking of them. By staying connected in these small, personal ways, I can ensure that the relationships I build extend far beyond the chair.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.checkmycurls.com
- Instagram: @checkmycurls
- Facebook: CHECKMYCURLS
- Other: https://beacons.ai/checkmycurls
Image Credits
Kaylie Miller Photography