We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Olivia Martinez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Olivia below.

Olivia, 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.

The most significant risk I’ve ever taken was resigning from my corporate job to chase my dream of becoming a full-time licensed cosmetologist. This was a daunting prospect for me, given that I come from a family that values education and expected me to pursue a college degree. I initially studied Law and Criminal Justice, with the intention of attending law school. However, I was miserable working at a law firm after graduation, and I pivoted to working in Human Resources, which I enjoyed but still felt like something was missing.
 One day, a relative asked me why I was still working a corporate job when I had such a talent for cosmetology. This got me thinking about how I could balance both careers, but ultimately, I realized that pursuing cosmetology full-time was the only way to live a fulfilling life. It wasn’t an easy decision, but I took a leap of faith, quit my job, moved to a new city, and enrolled in cosmetology school.
 During my time in school, I took deliberate steps to ensure my success post-graduation. I worked as a salon assistant to gain hands-on experience in the industry and focused on developing a marketing and branding strategy to attract my ideal clientele. Today, I am gratified to say that I run a thriving business where I help women maintain healthy and beautiful hair.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Liv, and I’m a licensed cosmetologist with a specialization in natural and textured hair. In 2020, I founded PRESSxCURL, a natural hair care enterprise that offers an array of services, including wash and gos, silk presses, two-strand twists, and more. Our primary objective at PRESSxCURL is to support women in preserving the health and integrity of their hair, enabling them to feel confident and comfortable showcasing their natural tresses.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Creating an audience on social media necessitates consistency and engagement.

One of the most fruitful pieces of advice I received was “if you’re not posting people will assume you’re not working.” This led me to post on social media daily with intent. While this may seem overwhelming for beginners, I suggest dedicating a day to content creation and being mindful of your video type, target audience, etc. After creating your videos and captions, Instagram offers a scheduling feature, ensuring you won’t forget to post.

Regarding engagement, I’ve found that my clients appreciate polls. Occasionally, I post polls related to my service offerings to obtain their feedback. This allows them to feel involved and has helped me establish a deeper connection with them.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

My reputation in the industry is largely attributed to the exceptional customer service that I provide. I am a strong advocate of delivering unparalleled service from the initial encounter to the very end. Clients who schedule appointments are guaranteed one-on-one sessions and access to a safe and hygienic salon environment. Together, we’ll engage in a consultation to discuss their hair care goals and develop a personalized regimen that will help them achieve it both in the salon and at home.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://pressxcurl.square.site
• Instagram: @pressxcurl
• Other: TikTok: @pressxcurl