Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Vella.
Hi Jessica, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Since I was a child, I’ve always said I wanted to be a hairstylist. Fast forward to today…it’s been 20 years in the industry and counting. Originally from CT, I moved to Orlando to go to the newly opened Paul Mitchell The School. It was an exciting experience and I developed a strong passion for my craft. I eventually moved to Broward to be with my now husband and started my career from scratch. Through the years I’ve worked for salon owners, and I’ve worked for myself while booth renting. Eight years ago, after I had my third child, I decided I would create an in-home studio to be able to stay home and care for my baby…something I was never able to do previously. I felt a strong pull to be more connected to my kids and so during that time, we started homeschooling! Crazy, right? Thankfully, I had just enough of a loyal clientele to sustain me, and I made it work. I still remember both the challenges and the special moments throughout that era.
A few years ago, my passion for doing hair began to dwindle and I began questioning if I wanted to do this for the rest of my working life. I loved my clients and found great pleasure in making them feel good about themselves, but I wanted to help them on a deeper level. I was beginning to develop a strong interest in health and wellness, particularly functional medicine. I’ve always been curious about root causes…and learning about the origin of diseases that have taken the lives of loved ones became almost an obsession.
During appointments with clients, we’d often discuss health challenges they were facing and I would share things I was learning. At one point, I was going through some health struggles and decided to take control. I followed dietary guidelines from a functional medicine doctor and after a month I realized I was feeling so much better! A fire lit within me to pursue something in the field of nutrition/wellness but I didn’t have the time or resources to go back to college and get a degree. That’s when I discovered the Functional Medicine Coaching Academy. When I decided to go through the year long program, I had so much positive feedback from my family and clients. After I became certified, I wasn’t exactly sure what I was going to do with it, but I knew it would eventually all come together. I began practicing my coaching skills on clients, and I soon realized there was a big need in the hair industry to bridge the gap between hair/ scalp issues and internal wellness. This was the time that I revamped my business and started to align it with my values…switching to low-tox product lines and honing in on hair health and integrity.
And I also began my trichology journey. Trichology (the study of the scalp and hair) deals with identifying hair and scalp imbalances and diagnosing any conditions related specifically to the scalp. Trichologists are scientists of the scalp, looking at microscopic pictures of the follicles and determining which solutions are best for their client. They often take a more holistic approach, leaning more on natural ways to support the body and bring things back into balance which in turn will greatly benefit the hair and scalp’s condition and growth. I’ve completed a Hair Loss Specialist course so far, and I intend to work through the full trichology certification as time allows.
In the meantime, I’m learning so much in an online community of like-minded stylists who are also on this trichology journey. It’s amazing how my passion for hair has reignited since starting on this path. It may not be the same focus, but it’s helping people become educated about ways they can support their health and natural beauty…something I can definitely stand behind.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Everything good in life has its challenges. Every obstacle is an opportunity for growth. For me, the most challenging thing was to gain the courage to go out on my own. This meant I had to learn how to run a business. I’m still learning every day. Owning a business is like having a child. It needs nurturing in order to thrive. And so when you have your own children while also being an entrepreneur, well that brings a whole other dynamic! It’s hard to find the balance sometimes. Between being a wife, mother, business owner, etc…it’s impossible to do everything perfectly. And that’s where we can be hard on ourselves. Because society tells us to keep striving and hustling for “success”. But what is success? I can only speak for myself, but I believe success is different from how this culture sees it. It’s not in how much money you make, your title, material possessions, or anything related to the flesh. It’s about building strong relationships with those around you and your ability to be fully present in each moment. It’s being able to have a sound mind when there’s chaos all around you. And so that is the challenge…to find balance in the craziness of life. And that comes with spiritual growth and maturity. Training the mind is the hardest, yet most important thing we as humans should be doing. I’m finding that the more spiritual work I do, the more grounded I feel when difficult situations arise. And that has been a major blessing.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Right now, I’m shifting my focus to helping people with hair loss and scalp conditions, however, the majority of my work is still haircuts, blowdries, low-tox color, and formaldehyde-free smoothing treatments. My long term plan is to slowly transition to more clinical type of services like Nutritional hair testing, wellness coaching, scalp analysis and treatments, and microchanneling with growth factors for hair loss. I’m doing these things now, but on a smaller scale. I love digging deep to solve things that conventional medicine can’t. I know a lot of people who are told there’s nothing they can do to help their hair thinning, or who are prescribed medication after medication when there are safer options out there. We need to approach the body as a whole and understand that there are many factors at play. I give clients the tools and resources they need to get a different perspective of their health. I ask lots of questions and listen intently to what they tell me. It is fully up to each client to do what they will with the information they receive.
All in all, I am glad that I followed my intuition and took steps to further my education and build something authentic and close to my heart. It’s stretched me in ways I didn’t initially believe I could be stretched. Being an introvert, it’s really hard for me to put myself out there and become a “business” person. I tend to shy away from networking opportunities but I’m continually working through my misguided fears by slowly but surely showing up in different ways. It’s not perfect by any means and I still have lots of work to do, but it’s progress!
What distinguishes me from others in my field is the genuine personal connection I build with clients, along with my commitment to truly understanding and listening to their needs.
Whether it’s a new hairstyle, an issue they’re having with their scalp, or other mysterious symptoms they discuss with me, I am there to serve in any capacity I’m able. I feel that I bring an interesting twist to the hair industry because of my focus on internal wellness and how it affects our external wellness. What I’m most excited about is the amazing technology we now have with Nutritional hair testing, which scans the hair bulbs electrical frequencies to determine what type of environmental challenges your body is facing. A 30+ page report is sent to each client with details about each factor and what foods they can incorporate to balance their bodies. Things like food sensitivities, vitamins/minerals, environmental challenges (ie. heavy metals, mold, chemicals…), amino acids, and more. So far the tests I’ve done are remarkably accurate and so fascinating! The test is meant to be done alongside bloodwork, to give another perspective of what’s going on inside the body. Bloodwork is helpful but it also doesn’t tell the whole story. Gaining different perspectives from different testing modalities is crucial if you want to get to the root cause. I’m currently offering a special on the hair test, so if anyone reading this is interested, please reach out! You don’t have to be local since the test kit is mailed directly to your house for you to take the sample and send out to the lab. I’m happy to answer any questions about it.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Happiness to me is quality time with family and friends, being in nature, and serving those around me. Again, being present in the moment is ideal and is how we’re meant to live! These are the moments I feel most alive and closest to my Creator.
Pricing:
- Nutritional Hair Test- $200
- Dermascope Analysis- Starting at $25
- Microchanneling with growth factors-1 session: $250, Package of 4 monthly sessions: $850
- Low-tox color (no ammonia, PPD, or resorcinol)-starting at $65
- Cut and blowdry- starting at $60
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.serenebeautyandwellness.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/serenebeauty21
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenebeauty21
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/serene-beauty-and-wellness-cooper-city-2
- Other: https://linktr.ee/SereneBW?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwMKM5pleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABpzvGHITsU8OlmDUbbLPpc2Q3_FRtEFD4BqFy-R62PksxgIFGcQhXa27mhK0m_aem_Y1Ze23T2xVaUcdNmSxbUig
Image Credits
Luisa Quintero
