Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Rodriguez.
Erika, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was blessed to be born with the gift of hairdressing. For as long as I can remember, the main reason why I would get in trouble as a little girl was because I would use the family’s shampoo on my Barbie’s hair. As soon as I was about to graduate high school, I knew that my next step was to become a hairdresser and firmly assured my parents that this is the profession I wanted. Little did I know that my journey to becoming a hairdresser was not as easy as I thought. You see my family and I are from Barranquilla, Colombia and when I was ten years old my parents decided that a better future waited for us in the United States of America by the example of my mom’s side of the family and all the opportunities for success they have worked for and the achievements of a safer and more progressive life. Unlike them, we had the life experience of 9/11 which was life-changing and eye-opening. Due to the 9/11 terrorist attack, we had to wait ten years in citizenship lingo. All customs procedures that had been submitted were on hold while the whole country mourned the loss of many innocent humans.
The ten years of waiting were marked at my high school graduation. I didn’t think I had a future in hairdressing much less in this country. Fortunately, six months after graduating, we received all of our legal documentation and I was able to apply to cosmetology school. I was so excited and relieved to start cosmetology school that I showed up a week before school started. Upon graduating cosmetology school, my parents asked me what I wanted as a graduation present and I asked for the opportunity to reconnect with my roots and my father who have both been left in Colombia for now 11 years. I presented the cosmetology state board test and the next day, I was on a plane to reconnect to what I felt like had been missing for a long time. I was in Colombia for a few months and when I returned, I was beyond ready to embark on my professional career. Ulta Beauty honored me with the opportunity to represent them in the hair department, and I was striving to be the most dedicated hairdresser they ever hired. I loved my job at Ulta! I had amazing co-workers and managers, I was surrounded by so many name brands of hair, skin, and make-up, and the best part I received education on quarterly bases with other Ulta employees. For me, this job was a dream come true! Until life gave me a wake-up call.
In October, my father had been diagnosed with lung cancer, and it did not look good. I was lost, confused, frustrated, mad, basically a piñata of blurred emotions. Along with my mother and brother, we quickly rushed to his side in Colombia. As a family, we attended all kinds of doctor appointments, just to receive the same prognosis. There was not enough time left for him. After a few months, I just took it upon myself to move back home to Colombia and be with him. If not enough time was left, then I wanted to take advantage of every second left. After a few months of me being there, he passed. Upon my return, Ulta Beauty was so gracious to honor me in my previous position as a hairdresser. Without hesitation, I took it knowing that I needed to keep progressing in my profession. I grew with Ulta for about 2.5 years, then moved to a smaller salon. The owner and I had been classmates in cosmetology school. Unfortunately, I was in that salon for a short time. The owner’s method of management was not organized or consistent, and I needed more concreteness in my profession. I then moved on to a much higher scale salon with a management style catered to education, progress, and success. I serviced guests in that salon for about three years, with nothing but dedication and commitment to becoming a very well rounded hairdresser.
Then the salon management dissolved, and the new changes removed my main core value of education. I was unable to see the potential growth of the salon without stylists being backed by education. Trends and styles are ever-evolving in the beauty industry. If beauty professionals don’t have the education, we don’t have progression. Fortunately, one of my colleagues felt the same and decided to take her professional growth into her own hands. She opted for opening up a salon suite. She encouraged me to do the same, but I told her that besides working full-time I was also going for my BAS in Supervision and Management. She didn’t even want to hear it and just repeated, you can do this. She went ahead and spoke to the property managers of the salon suites to set up an appointment with me on a Thursday, and I agreed to it. My former colleague was very persuasive. The managers explained to me the concept of a salon suite. A suite size salon (about as big as a hotel room) where all the essentials for hairdressing were included, like the hairdressing station, hair sink, cabinets for color and tool storage, as well as the communal areas of laundry, bathroom, and a small lobby where guests can wait.
The responsibility of a suite owner with the property managers is just to pay for rent. The beauty professional can arrange his/her suite any way they want to and has infinite autonomy regarding how they manage their business. I was intrigued by the independent concept of a suite salon. I accepted the preliminary background check, assuming that the results will take months. I figured it will give me time to finish my semester and then embark on this salon suite journey. Little did I know that the background check was cleared that Saturday and the property managers called me and mentioned that if I was still interested in the suite, they will honor me until Sunday to decide if I was interested in the suite. Of course, I did not sleep that Saturday. With the education I had acquired from business school, I created a business plan and counted on a small inheritance that my father left me after he passed.
On Sunday, I left my deposit and insurance fees to secure the suite. On Monday, I contacted all of my guests mentioned that I would be servicing in my salon suite. Tuesday before my first guest at my salon suite, I went back to the salon where I was employed and resigned effective immediately. On May 18, it will make five years that I decided to become a salon owner. A decade later, in the beauty industry, I can proudly say that I am amazing in my craft and a well-educated hairdresser who truly loves her profession. I loved education so much in my industry that last year I enrolled as an educator with a company called Brazilian Professionals. I now have the honor of going to up-scale salons and teaching other beauty professionals how to perform a smoothing treatment called Brazilian Blowout. I love my profession, mainly because of how happy I can make someone feel and let that good feeling create a ripple effect on their community, family, friends, and loved ones.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The only thing smooth in this road is all the hair I’ve styled. In the beginning, there was the uncertainty of being unable to enroll in cosmetology school due to the legalization limbo my family and I were in. Turns out you need to be a USA citizen to study. Then, when my dad passed it caused an unbearable heartache and instant emotional growth spur in my life and how much I appreciate it. The few times when I had to resign from the jobs where I wanted to create long-term roots and establish my professional career. Also, the beginning of my journey as a salon suite owner. I mean, I had to learn how to do all the roles in business while being a student in business school. I have to admit though, that these struggles have helped me realize the expansion of capacity I can extend to.
Shinieshears – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Shinieshears is a suite salon located in the heart of Coral Gables, proudly delivering healthy hair services to women and men with different hair types. Services include hair colors like Balayage, Highlights, Gray Coverage, as well as Brazilian Blowout Smoothing Services, Haircuts, Special Occassion Styling, Halocouture Hair Extension, Facial Waxing and A LOT of education on the best in-home hair care practices available for each specific hair type. Hair Consultant, Erika Rodriguez, provides individualized hair services and thorough consultation for each guest before providing any service. -Directly from my website-
I specialize in all services, but I’m mastered in education. That means that before and even prior to receiving your hair service, especially color, you will have a very detailed consultation and personalized educational plan to understand what I can deliver, what your hair can sustain, and what best practices to implement at home.
Education is my competitive advantage. I always tell my guests, “you spend more time at home than you do in the salon”. If I don’t guide my guests with the best hair care practices for home use, I’m not doing my job.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Well, I have to admit that being interviewed by VoyageMIA Magazine is right there at the top. Also, winning the category of best “Red Carpet Ready” look by a hair contest designed only for Salon Suite Owners by Redken. The contest was held last year during August-September and at the end of October, the winners were announced, and I was honored to be one of the winners from three categories. Also, this has been the first contest that I’ve ever entered in my ten years of being in the beauty industry.
Pricing:
- All services are A La Carte
- Haircuts start at $75
- Shampoo and Style start at $55
- Brazilian Blowouts Start at $300
- Babylights Start at $230
- Balayage Start at $280
Contact Info:
- Address: 155 Majorca Avenue suite 202 Coral Gables, FL 33134
- Website: shinieshears.com
- Phone: 7867757105
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @shinieshears
- Facebook: @shinieshears
- Yelp: @shinieshears
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