Her Story
About Priscilla
My journey in the beauty industry started because of my mother. When I was graduating high school, I told her I was going to school to become an RN because I love helping people. She brought to my attention that she was aware of the passion I have for getting people ready, but I had never considered that a real career. She told me to do my research and come back to her. I did my research and saw how many avenues and endless opportunities there are. Within the next week, I was enrolled in Paul Mitchell School Pasadena, where I spent about a year and a half. I began my career as a hairstylist, attending different trade shows and continuing my education to figure out what my niche is, which ended up being blondes, hair extensions, hair loss solutions, hair styling, and bridal services. I had to work my way up, trying to balance being a mom and a hairstylist, and the luxury that comes with this career is that I can be very present in my children's lives while expanding my business. I opened my salon suite about 2 years ago in downtown Long Beach on Long Beach Boulevard and 4th Street. I currently do mobile and in-studio hair services, catering to Los Angeles County, the Inland Empire, and Orange County. I do everything - all hair services, special events, weddings, quinceañeras. I have clients who are hosts and need to get ready pretty often. I also take special pride in catering to individuals with special needs, including children with autism, ADHD, and cerebral palsy. My nephew who passed away in February had cerebral palsy, and I understood the difficulties and challenges for parents and children where the stylist doesn't have patience or they need someone to come to them. That's been a big focus for me, and I'm transitioning into eliminating certain services and sticking more towards hair loss solutions, hair styling, and huge transformations, giving back to women and children that need those services. I'm currently in the process of looking at another location to expand and get some employees in.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Priscilla
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my mother. She instilled the morals and standards in me, teaching me that we're human and we're going to make mistakes, but you have to keep going. She was a single mother, the youngest of 12, and came here as an immigrant speaking no English. Now she's landed her first job as a small business with NASA. She's the rock of the family, the roots. Her motivation and support mean the world to me. She's never once told me not to go for my dreams. And then motherhood - being a mother has also been a huge driving force for me. If there's a will, there's a way, and that's the way I look at it.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The two pieces of advice that have stuck with me are to keep your plans to yourself and move silently, so that you're able to focus. And don't be scared to ask questions. If you have a question, don't be scared to ask, and don't lose your passion. Once that's gone, you get overwhelmed, but there's always solutions. My business plan has been something that has been huge, because I'm consistently revising it. If you stay on top of it, it just gives you that structure. But I think it starts with having a good home life and just being comfortable as an individual. That's what's gotten us to where we're at, and I'm excited for the future.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say look for a mentor and start looking for the right resources. There's so many resources where, if you don't know the information, you can find it, whether it's through a person you know, YouTube, whatever the case may be - you can learn. I would definitely say put yourself out there, because networking meets opportunity. Not everybody knows you if they don't know you through word of mouth, and your presentation - all of that comes full circle. That has definitely helped me and pushed me out of my shell. Getting out there and networking is crucial. I would definitely say those would be my top 3: find a mentor, use available resources, and network.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I believe it starts within the person themselves, knowing and being firm in who they are and what their vision is. Then everything else kind of flows, because everything comes hand in hand. You can be the best stylist, but if you're not managing your money well, it doesn't work. All aspects are important necessities - your personal foundation, your vision, your business management, your relationships with clients. I think having a good home life is where it starts, and then being comfortable as an individual. The relationships I've created with my clients, where they trust me and I provide that one-stop shop experience that's personable - that's what differentiates my salon from my competitors. There's an understanding between the clients and myself.
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