| Beauty Articles :: Stylist Profiles :: Changing Lives with Salon Management |
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| Changing Lives with Salon Management |
| by Amanda Fornecker |
When Martha Ibanez Vengoechea came to America from Colombia more than a decade ago, she struggled to stay afloat. She didn't have a car, a way to make a living, or even enough money to buy lunch some days. But after 12 years in the beauty business, she says she lives very well, in a nice apartment, with a car, and the means to travel whenever she desires. She also owns and runs her own hair Salon , The Makeover House, which has been recognized by the Miami Herald, she says, as the number one salon in South Florida. The secret to her success in salon management? Beauty Schools of America (multiple campuses).
"I didn't have much when I decided to go to school. I didn't even have a scholarship," Martha says. "However, there were many ways to work something out with the school. I'm so grateful to them because they really helped me." Not only did they help make the school financially affordable, but Beauty Schools of America also helped change Martha's life. "I was so depressed when I enrolled," she says. "But when I got there I never wanted to leave and I completely immersed myself in the work."
The best part of school for Martha was the classes that taught her the skills to be a Colorist. This came naturally to her, as she was a fashion designer when she lived in Colombia and worked with color often. And, to top it off, learning about color is what led her to her four-and-a-half-year stint as Shakira's colorist. She traveled with the Colombian pop singer while she toured, did her hair, and got to experience a lot. When she returned to Miami, she was able to work in salon management by opening her own salon. But it took a while to get there.
Martha says she enjoyed all her classes at Beauty Schools of America. She took all the classes she could possibly take or have an interest in so that she could get the most out of her experience. She's taken classes in aesthetics, Electrolysis, salon management, and permanent makeup, among other things. "I looked for lots of knowledge so that I could build a base," she says. She also gets a thrill out of teaching others and because of this she says she learned even more. "I love to teach. I helped my friends pass their exams and I, too, learned. I also learned a lot about people and how to work with others." Once out of school she worked with private companies, was an instructor for beauty classes, and worked at a beauty supply store.
Beauty Schools of America has various programs in the beauty field. "Each program," says President John Rebstock, "has its own unique training environment which mirrors the look, feel and function of a productive cutting edge salon or spa." The aim of the school is to really help their students get the most out of their experience and ensure they have a steady path to follow toward a job. "Research and find a mentor," says Rebstock. "In the case of the highly motivated student who wants to start a new business, we suggest that they work with our Career Development Department to create a list of potential salon owners who enjoy the mentoring process. It is advised that they work for at least a couple of years before attempting to open their own salon."
The work in salon management can be challenging because you have to know how to deal with people. Says Martha, "People will study but don't like working with people. If they can't develop people skills it's probably a hard career. But Martha really loves her career in salon management and suggests that anyone with an interest in beauty look into getting a salon management education. "It's a flexible job that is a lot of fun," she says. "Every half hour there's a new soap opera in the salon. I never come home extremely tired or have a feeling of not wanting to come to work. It's very stable. Anyone can do it."
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