Meet Jessica Nguyen of Hair Design by Jess N in Old Town

Jessica, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Eight years ago, I was at a crossroads, unsure of what my future would look like. I was leaving behind an opportunity to further my education at UC Davis in Neurobiology, and with the support and encouragement from my parents, I entered into Cosmetology school to find something that made me passionate. I’ll admit hair wasn’t an obvious passion for me; my skills basically peaked at putting in a ponytail. However, with the help of an admirable teacher, Mrs. Charlotte Rankin, I found a passion in the chemistry and art of all things hair. I continued my education by assisting at a salon in Mission Hills, where I started the beginning of a wonderful and fruitful career. Through constant education and many delightful clients, I was able to build a clientele full of strong, passionate, and thoughtful guests who taught me just as much as I was able to educate them on hair. About six years into working at Salon Ink, I felt confident and ready to embark on starting my very own small business. I currently operate out of Santo Tomas Collective, a collection of vibrant, encouraging working professionals. In the next year, I am hoping to expand my business by adding assistants to my work staff and guiding them through the beginning of their career. I also am hoping to start educating within certain beauty brands that help sustainably keep the industry moving forward.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
This is an interesting question for me because it wasn’t smooth by any means, but it was so rewarding at some points it almost felt harmonious. I had a lot of mental health struggles that was particularly difficult being a first-generation Vietnamese descent. Mental health was always a “commercial diagnosis” in my cultures beliefs. I mean I constantly was under the giant cloud that was the hardships my parents endured in order to flee fro their country to give my sister and I the best chance we could at life. It was and still is a lot of pressure. So leaving behind a college education to pursue a career in laborious arts was futile for my future. However, the feeling of confidence, purpose, and happiness that cosmetology has brought to my life could never be replaced. Leaving my safety net of a salon to embark on my own business adventure was terrifying. There are constant waves of self-doubt and loneliness to go out on your own. Today and every day will always be a fight to keep progressing in this field, but it’s a gratifying and beautiful fight.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Hair Design by Jess N – what should we know?
I’m in the business of building relationships. Relationships with my incredible guests, their hair, and my relationships with others in the hair industry to keep this field moving and fruitful. I am passionate about all things hair; coloring, cutting, nourishing treatments, education, but what I feel like sets me apart is I really set aside time for all of my guests for me to listen. To whatever it is that needs to be said everyone, and I mean EVERYONE needs to be heard and unfortunately behind the chair and in regular life that doesn’t happen all of the time. I will sit and chat about what our goals are and what is a realistic approach to get to that goal with health of the hair in mind. I’m very solution-oriented so working with people who need to have an issue solved is so gratifying to me.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Oh my, this is a loaded one. I would not ever be where I am today without my loving parents, siblings Yvonne and Eric, and of course my sweet fiancé Dylan. Their encouragement, support, and the necessary bits of tough love was always flowing right into my mind to keep me going. As a young female, I always had the feeling that I had to please everybody and be liked. While I know that life isn’t always so shiny, they always helped me find the bright side. In the industry itself, I had very talented guidance that helped me become the hairstylist I am today. One very important duo, Liz Salcedo and Henry Monreal, operates a lovely salon called Salon Ink, where I began assisting right out of school. With my eagerness to learn, they shaped and molded me with strong, skilled techniques and savvy business guidance to become who I am in the industry today. There I was given many opportunities to learn and educate, and that is something I will carry through my career forever. Of course, everyone needs an army, and I had a fabulous group of brilliant hairstylist that I was always able to count on for ideas and inspiration. Lindsey Vertere, Lisa Ramirez, Apri Sanchez, Rodrigo Matias, Gabie Plazola, Gabby Stanzel, Erin Serratos, Jacque Valleau, and Blanca Hall, just to name a few.