Today we’d like to introduce you to Adrianne Tolentino
Hi Adrianne, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have always been the creative type, and my mom told me something in my teenage years that has stuck with me forever that I share it with many people that need a little guidance. “Whatever you choose to do in life make sure it’s something you love, because what you do, you will be spending more time doing that then with your friends and family”. And that really hit. I knew I didn’t want to be in an office or stuck behind a desk. At first I tried out Horticulture and attended a community college, just for the fact that I love plants and making things grow. But it didn’t fill my creative cup, so I applied for cosmetology school. I would always color my hair and cut my bangs at home, I loved changing it up. I grew up in the 90’s, so grunge, thrifting and alternative style was my calling, I didn’t give a fuck with others thought which I find out later in life that many struggle with that. I was a creative, out spoken, firey and needed an outlet to put all that energy into, and hair become my passion.
I attended cosmetology school at 19yrs old. I knew whatever I put my energy into I wanted to be successful and a professional by the age of 30, so I was determined to find my niche. During my cosmo years I was assisting a talented educator for TIGI in downtown San Diego. She asked me “What kind of stylist I wanted to be”? After attending my first big hairs how in Dallas, Tx, I was drawn to be a platform artist. I wanted to travel and be educator on stage. My mentor then put me into our local TIGI ambassador program which helps train and support stylist, who educate to salons locally. I loved it! The networking, the monthly trainings and education, the team building and the connection with a company that was growing.
During that time of being an educator and growing my clientele I had moved salons in the heart of Banker’s Hill. I found a stronger passion and the team there was very talented. We kept each other inspired and always keeping up with the trends. It was a supportive environment where we learned from each other and got creative out of the box. That is where I found a new passion for editorial and avant garde hair. We would have art parties and showcased creative hair models within our salon. At that time I felt like it was a thriving environment. But… our owner was ready to slowdown, respectfully now I understand, but at the time of her selling the salon we all were devastated. Stylist started to leave and the rest of us had no where to go, especially because we all wanted to work with each other.
Not realizing at the time that her decision to sell the salon would ultimately fire my entrepreneur spirit. I was 28yrs old at the time stressing on what my next move would be. I have two dad’s that raised me, and they both are entrepreneurs with their own business. In that time my stepdad can see I was struggling with what to do. He said the statement that is so cliche but pivotal to my future “Well, if YOU bulid it, will they come”? I never thought about opening my own salon. Watching my dads run their businesses seemed stressful when I was younger, so why would I do that? I told him, I was nervous about the finances and taxes. He said “hire the people to do the work you don’t want to do, the professionals, the accountants and CPA”. Honestly that was the only thing holding me back.
In 2008 I opened our doors at The Lab A Salon, I was 29 and getting married the same month we opened. Not only was it a financial crisis risk, but I had no idea what I was doing. The only thing that saved me in that time was that I opened with a full staff of busy stylist. I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t have a team to open, and the risk they took on me and the neighborhood at that time. North Park in 2008 was still in the very beginning stages of “up and coming”. There were only a few of us local shops. The neighborhood was trying to clean up and be a destination in our city. It wasn’t till 2013 that North Park became a visiting neighborhood for tourists and city locals.
Our salon now is 16yrs old. And where we are today couldn’t have happened without all the life of good and bad, growing families, community, heart aches and blessings, trails and failures. Business is not linear, it has it’s highs and lows. And what I have learned throughout these years is that if you’re continuing to educate yourself, push through the hard shit and not take anything “too” personal (I say that bc I am an empath and care like crazy) and wake up everyday and try… putting the effort in even when you don’t want to, You will be just fine. And all of that effort starts creating a positive reputation. A reputation that becomes intoxicating for others that want to be around you and your environment. Your culture fuels it, expresses it and wears it proud. And in the end, you have succeeded in an industry where you want to support your fellow stylist and owners, bc we can’t do all this on our own or why should we. Being a business owner is about creating strong relationships and helping others succeed and grow, it’s not about you. My WHY has shifted to something that is beyond me, and that is to guide others to see their true potential, their true authentic self, to love themselves and live a life that makes them happy.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Running any business has it’s challenges. I think people have an idea how to open/run a business until they get into it, I mean I did. I thought paying a couple of bills is all it took. But again, I was 29 and naive to the fact that running a successful business takes a lot more and the unexpected challenges that come with it. I learned early on that, if you have created something special, others will want it and try to take it from you. One of the hardest times as an owner was when I was going through my divorce, instantly becoming a full time single mother, my sister was getting married, opening another business and a quarter of my team was taken from me. I was in a vulnerable state and was taken advantage of. I wanted to give up in that time, but I didn’t. I came out of the dark and fought harder for my daughter and my team. I needed to brush myself off and become a leader, not a victim. That heart ache and pain fueled me to evolve into a stronger owner and to show up everyday since, and protect what I have created. That obstacle shaped me to persevere through the hardships. So now when challenges and obstacles arise I know I can overcome them with determination.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Lab A Salon?
Our salon, The Lab A Salon houses 16 and growing stylist. In the many years of being open, I have evolved and adjusted our business plan yearly. I think if your’e not evolving with time, culture and business, your’e already behind. I want our salon and business to always be current in trends, technology, algorithms, leadership and education. It takes a lot of trainings and current knowledge to make the needle move and scale. But that’s who I am as an owner, continuously learning and growing. To be that leader for my team when they’re struggling or need support, they call it their “safe space” and we now use that as part of our culture.
My team is a mix of alternative misfits that are sweet angels, they have been misunderstood until they have become a force and passion in our industry, their calling. They collectively can do any hairstyle, type, color and cut. They have an extreme talent that we help cultivate and nurture. We have talent that can bring your bridal hair to vision, amazing blonding experts, bright vivid colorist, lived in balayage, a classic cut and textured mullets, theres a stylist for everyones needs. We pride ourselves on being an alternative high end salon that welcomes anyone that walks through our door.
What sets us apart from most is that we have no ego and a supportive team. No one on our team has a “I’m better than you mentally” and I think that reads into how we are as a group and team, our clients feel it. And when a client walks through the door and feels the supportive energy in our environment, they feel safe and welcomed.
What makes me proud as a brand is the environment that I have created. I have had many stylist leave for change, to see what else is out there or move out of the city, and some want to come back to our Lab home. It feels good knowing that I have created an environment that has made an impact on stylists lives where they want to stay connected and come back to work in our space. And It all starts with the team. If you’re putting your energy into your team, they feel that love and support and want to do their best. And when your team wants to do their best, everyone wins.
I honestly couldn’t do all this without the support and help from my husband Chris and team. I’ve been doing most of this on my own until I met my partner and now co owner. I am the creative and visionary and he is operations and support. In any business there has to be leaders with two roles. I lead our team daily and he’s behind the scenes making sure our numbers and production are inline. Entrepreneurship is not for the fainted heart. I might be a sensitive empath, but my determination and resilience overcomes the obstacles that get thrown into ownership.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
There have been many lessons on my journey, but honestly experience in failures has taught me the most. For every win I have lost at some point. But that can only happen if you recognize the situation, put your ego aside and learn from it. Asking those questions, what was my part? How can I improve? What structure do I need to put into place? How can I protect myself for next time? And all the step that got you to where you are at today had to happen, or you would be in the same place as last time. Learn from every moment and it will get you closer to your goals and success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thelabasalon.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelabasalon/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thelabasalon2582
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-lab-a-salon-san-diego
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@thelabasalon?lang=en
Image Credits
Rick Saa
@zenproductionsofficial
