Today we’d like to introduce you to Carmel Moreno.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
After high school, I attended Purdue University but had no idea what I wanted to do. I must have changed my major 10 times! After discussing things with my family, my sister said, “I can totally see you being a hairstylist.” That comment planted the seed and so I went and checked out a local cosmetology school. I absolutely loved the vibe, so I enrolled that day. I also found a job working as a salon receptionist while was in school. I graduated in 2001 and started my career as a hairstylist. I spent a year working in Broad Ripple, Indiana before making my move out west. First stop was Scottsdale, Arizona. I worked in a small 4 chair salon in Old Town Scottsdale for 3 years. I met my husband while living in Arizona and we decided to move to San Diego in 2005. After working 3 years in such a small salon, I wanted to experience working in a larger salon and so I started working at A Robert Cromeans Salon as a commissioned stylist. Once I had an established clientele, I began my booth renting business in 2009. I have since worked at Maida Salon and Hyde Edwards Salon in Little Italy and just recently made the move to Salon Santo Tomas in Old Town San Diego. I absolutely love being a hairstylist. I love the creativeness. I love the challenge and I love the connection I have with my clients.
Has it been a smooth road?
Not exactly the smoothest road, but it was definitely worth it! Starting out in this industry can have its challenges. When I moved to San Diego and started at A Robert Cromeans Salon, I was starting from scratch. I left an established clientele in Arizona and started a 6-month assistant program. It was a very humbling and sometimes a very condescending experience. It made me question whether I was good enough or cool enough to work there. My #1 advice would get to know who you are and find your tribe, vibe and the people you want to be around. The first few years are definitely the toughest so save money, work a second job, not only help with the finances but to broaden your network/potential client base. Use social media as a tool to grow your business. You can build a clientele in a single year! Network through work or activities that you love doing and then you end up spending time with like-minded people!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Carmel Moreno at Salon Santo Tomas story. Tell us more about the business.
I specialize in natural looking hair color, and classic hair cutting techniques. I love to use someone’s natural hair color and enhance it with highlights, babylights, and/or balayage. I also am enjoying working with grey blending as well. It is all about the client experience and for me, that starts with establishing a personal connection. That sets the tone of the relationship, then trust can be built over time. That is where my continued education has given me the confidence to communicate the process in a way where my clients feel heard and included. There is nothing better than laying out a plan with your client, executing, and being part of making them feel so incredible inside and out. It is that feeling that inspires me to keep learning.
What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
There are several personal and interpersonal barriers that come to mind. The personal barriers include finding your voice and feeling confident enough to share it. Doing self-work and studying your craft from different perspectives helps build the self-confidence needed for continued growth. Interpersonally, working in an industry that can be competitive at times, it can be challenging to connect with peers. It takes effort and sometimes Divine intervention to find and develop a sisterhood. Finding people that can feed life into you is a must!
Contact Info:
- Address: Carmel Moreno at Salon Santo Tomas
2802 Juan St, Ste 16
San Diego, CA 92110 - Website: salonsantotomas.com
- Phone: 619-299-1227
- Email: carmeld76@hotmail.com
- Instagram: carmelmoreno
- Facebook: Carmel Erber Moreno
Image Credit:
Carmel Moreno
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