Conversations with Audrey Valdez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Audrey Valdez.

Hi Audrey, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Growing up, I always had a creative spirit and knew my path in life wasn’t going to be a typical one. I knew college wasn’t going to be my thing. I never had the best grades and my family definitely couldn’t afford it. I thought of going to beauty school as a way to help fund and propel me into the next chapter.

I graduated from beauty school in 2007 and jumped right into working at a larger commission-based salon that really honed in on continuing education. What I thought was going to be temporary, lasted 8.5 years. I fell in love with the industry and saw the impact I was able to make on people.

In 2012, I got married. Our first child was born in 2013 with our second not far behind in 2015. The set 5-day-a-week schedule was becoming harder to manage as I had kids to get to and from daycare and a husband who worked an inconsistent schedule making it impossible to rely on him for help. I always dreamed of being a mom but I also loved my career. I begged for a lighter schedule to make both possible but it just wasn’t an option they were open to.

I decided it was time I needed to make a change for myself and my growing family but I was terrified! I was told that if I left, I would never make it. I had been in a culture where independent stylists were looked down upon while working late, through lunches and on weekends was the only way to get ahead.

Challenge accepted. I quit. I went out on my own as a solo artist. It definitely wasn’t all butterflies and rainbows as I began learning how to navigate the business side of the hair industry but I was willing to read or listen to anything I could get my hands on. I was going to figure it out and I was going to make it work!

In two years, I went from being a suit-rental stylist to opening a small 2-3 chair booth rental salon and I could not be happier! I still have big dreams and goals that I am working towards but I learned it is absolutely possible to have an amazing career and be an amazing mom at the same time!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Absolutely not! Being a new mom and trying to start a business was HARD.

Especially starting one on my own. There was plenty of room for self-doubt. I was always someone that leaned on other people for confirmation or reassurance on any ideas I had but without a team around me, I really had to learn to stand on my own two feet.

There weren’t as many resources for support on being a solo artist as there are now.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am the owner/hairstylist at L.Evate Hair Design Studio in the New Braunfels area. I am a Bellami-certified extension stylist who specializes in lived-in or dimensional color and custom cuts.

I believe what sets me apart from others is my ability to connect with people. I know what a great hair day can do for someone and I love being able to make a difference for someone in that way. I love educating them about every little detail so they are able to succeed after they leave my chair.

My vision at L.Evate is to create a small space to work more intimately with my guests and create a true experience for them.

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Oh yes. People show stress in so many different ways. Stress-related hair loss can be a big deal in some cases and less noticeable in others. It can appear in circle-shaped patterns ranging in size.

Some may have just one or two, some may have many. During the first year after returning to work from the shutdown, I noticed so many of my guests with a lot of very small, pea-sized at most patches of hair loss in multiple areas of their scalp. To be safe, I always encourage someone to see a doctor when I see something like this.

Most times it’s small enough, they have no idea. Being a service provider during the Covid-19 Crisis was the most stressful time of my career but it was very stressful for my guests as well. It was for everyone. I am not seeing this type of hair loss very often anymore.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.levatehairdesignstudio.com
• Instagram: @L.EvateHairDesignStudio
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/L.EvateHairDesignStudio 

Image Credits
Wisebird Design