We were lucky to catch up with Mikayla Vasquez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mikayla, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

I grew up in a very loving home but as a teenager I hit a time where I couldn’t find a way to love myself. I hated the way I looked – with every little detail making me angry or frustrated. I self-harmed, became depressed and wanted nothing to do with life. Eventually, I started going to therapy and found myself through God, who I now have a steady relationship with. It has become my mission to help others feel good in their own skin and to gain the confidence and self-love they deserve. I know what it’s like to not feel beautiful, to not want to leave the house because of how I looked or how I felt and I hope I can use my talent as a hair artist to make sure those who sit in my chair don’t ever feel that way!

Mikayla, 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 actually wanted to be a nail technician when I was younger. Then I found out about a program where I could go through my last two years full-time at high school and part time for beauty school! The program was for hairstyling, but it would give me credits to be able to go into cosmetology school – which offers hair, skin, and nails. So, I made sure my grades were up, and my credits were ahead and I was able to graduate with my diploma and hairstylist license. After that, I went straight into cosmetology schooling. I realized nails were not for me. When I graduated there, I pursued the hair industry and started working for an extension-focused salon. During my time there, I moved from apprentice to manager/master stylist. I also went back to beauty school for my third license in barbering so I could start offering straight razor services. I stayed steady there for almost three years until I was ready to grow even more.

Now, I am my own boss and specialize in Extension and Barbering services. I’ve worked under several different business structures as a hair artist and have learned a lot of great things to do and things that aren’t for me. At my salon and barbershop, my guests receive a fully customized experience. I help everyone who sits in my chair feel more confident both inside and out. I truly care about their life as much as I do my own. Unlike other salons, barbershops, or franchises, I see all my guests as my friends. These are real people who I get to spend more time with than I do with my own family. The relationships I get to build are so important to me. I love hearing about their background, their family, their work, and anything else going on! I enjoy sharing memories and making new ones with all of my guests!

I am proud of myself and how far I’ve come. Not only just in my career, but in my spiritual, mental and physical health as well. I thank God, my family and friends who have helped me grow along the way. I am beyond proud that I have been able to create an atmosphere where both males and females feel comfortable and in good hands! I’m proud that I am able to be me and don’t have to tailor to the stereotypes of the hair industry – I enjoy hanging out with guests outside of the salon, sharing and hearing about each others personal lives and and realizing that yes this is a hobby turned into a career but the only way for me to continue loving what I do is to find people I can connect with. My brand is loving, ever-growing and always real.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

There has never been a time in my life where I did not do more than one thing. For my last two years of high school, I also went part-time to a beauty college and graduated with my high school diploma and hairstyling license. Then I went straight into cosmetology school for 6 months while also working. For the last 4 months of beauty college I also attending UCCS studying chemistry and working two more jobs so I had no debt. I eventually graduated from cosmetology school and immediately started working for a salon; I switched majors and studied business for another two semesters until I dropped out when I realized my love for the beauty industry.

I worked for an extension-focused salon for almost three years, and in that time I worked during my off days, I stayed late and came in early, I went to school again for barbering and got a second job here and there because I didn’t feel busy enough. At the end of my time there I realized something that changed my view on my career, life and how I would run a business.

My then-clients were people I truly cared for. People I connected with and wanted to spend time with, not just because they helped secure me a career. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the foundation of that salon. Products were overcharged and as long as the work was getting done and the service was being paid for, proper training didn’t matter. And for most of my time there, and becoming that salons manager, I too followed the structure of working for the money. But when I realized what that structure did, I finally understood that’s not what I’m on this earth for. So I prayed on it for about 6 months – I wanted to work for the love, for being real, to be understood and to help my guests see themselves in a different light so I gave my notice. It took me a while to find what I was looking for, until I eventually decided it was time to become my own boss. This was the only way I could ensure a healthy atmosphere that lifted others up, didn’t take advantage of those involved, and ultimate provide my self with freedom. The move I made to leave that salon and start Mikas Artistry Shop, I would do over and over and if I could I would have done it sooner. I’ve been able to create and build relationships with people I love. My guests and I have the best understanding of work-life balance, what’s said in my space is safe, and that I truly care more about them than I do their wallets.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Grind now so you don’t have to when you’re older.

As I graduated high school and began to pursue my education, I felt like we’ve regularly been taught that the point of a job is to work hard, grind all day and all night, do it while you’re young and make the money now so you don’t have to when you’re older. So that’s what I did…grind day in and day out, until I fell asleep at the wheel driving home.

The story about a time I had to pivot directions is a great introduction to this too! You can read that I truly was grinding and honestly even before then I was grinding. I did college level and honors courses with sports and extra classes and working when I could! But the realization to unlearning that didn’t happen until I started my own business.

As I decided to leave a W-2 career, I completely fell out of routine. I resorted back to my time at the salon and was working 25/8. I stayed up all night trying to do all the behind the scenes work so that way during the day I could do my physical work. Then, one night on my way home I was about 2 minutes from where I lived. Did you know most accidents happen within a 5 mile radius of your house because you’re comfortable with your surroundings? Well, my body was worn out. It was running on the last drop of energy probably for days! One moment I was driving a few blocks from home and the next I open my eyes, caught by my seatbelt with the hood of my car an inch from my head, steam flowing out, glass spread across my body and my door unable to open. I was literally grinding day in and day out until I couldn’t any more. My body and my brain were exhausted. I didn’t drive at night again for a little while. I started telling my guests no a little more often. I started taking more time for myself. Now, the moment I feel tired I go to bed. Sometimes I literally stop to smell the roses. After that accident, I realized my clientele cared for me just as much as I cared for them. I cut back my days at work, I took the time to prepare my business and take care of my body. I’ve taken more trips in the last year than I ever did as a W-2 employee; one of those being a 3 week vacation where I actually left the states. Now more than ever I understand that we’re taught to grind when we’re young, to get more money do our future, so when we’re too old to do anything we can look at it in our savings funds and do nothing with it. Work-life balance is being able to work and have a life you’ve dreamed of…now, not later.

Contact Info:

• Website: mikasartistryshop.com
• Instagram: mikas.artistry.shop
• Facebook: Mika’s Artistry Shop

Image Credits
Mya Wadsworth Photography