Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Gutierrez.
Hi Michelle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in a household with my parents Hector and Joann Gutierrez. My parents were very hard workers. All my life I saw them get up early in the morning and work late nights striving to give me the best. My parents help push me to graduate high school and get a career. They worked really hard not only for themselves but to give me a better future. I’m the baby in my family. I come from a family of 6 siblings. They were all older than me, about 14 yrs older than me so it was like having all these parents around me, watching me grow up, giving me advice on life and showing me right from wrong. They all wanted the best for me. Even though at times they were tough on me. But I knew it came from a place of love.
I knew one day my brothers and sisters would be so proud of me. They helped me open up my first business and I am forever thankful for them. Michael, Cindy and Queena and Dad and Mom. I love you all and to my sister Celia and brothers Juan and Tommy I hope I’ve made y’all proud.
I took cosmetology school my junior year at Lanier High School. I was super excited to start this new school with some of my best friends I grew up with Maribel Trujillo (Rest in peace Best friend) and Tanya Montoya. We go way back. So my journey started at that school with the love of doing hair. My class went on and held a huge hair show where I saw hairstylist’s perform their best cut and colors on stage and after that I was hooked, I wanted to know more about the hair industry and wanted to one day become a platform artist like the stylists I saw on stage.
Senior year I went to Thomas Jefferson high school C/O 2001 to graduate. After high school, I attended Texas Beauty College where I graduated and got my cosmetology license. I failed my cosmetology test three times and on my fourth try I went back and I passed. I didn’t give up.
During that time I was pregnant with my daughter Gabriella and because of her, I knew that I couldn’t give up. I knew I had to be strong and independent. The first job that I got was a Fantastic Sams. I worked with that company for about three months when I ran into TONI&GUY hairdressing salon at Ingram Park Mall.
Once I walked in I was in awe of all the hairdressers. Loud music pumping through the whole salon, fashion forward hair aka “Scene hair” was very popular early 2000’s era. Everyone looked so cool with crazy haircuts and colors and the way they dressed, so I knew I wanted to work there.
2003 is when I applied and started my hair journey with the company. I started as an apprentice for the company which meant I had to help out all stylists with shampoos and toners and on top of that keeping the salon clean from the front to the back meaning scrubbing toilets, sweeping mopping, cleaning baseboards etc. This part of the program was very discouraging, because I automatically thought I was gonna be put out on the floor to take clients. I struggled at times but again I knew not to give up. I stuck it out and with my head held high I was proud to go through this intense training, promised education once a week so I can become a master of haircuts. And one day make it out onto the salon floor. 3 months of hard work and dedication I was out on the floor. My whole program was 1 year to finalize. One of the Proudest moments of my life. To have complete my cutting program and raise rank in the industry. But again I was only 19 going on 20 yrs old with a baby.
As we say in our training “only the strong survive” and I am proud to say that I survived my apprenticeship at TONI&GUY. Literally blood sweat and tears but I enjoyed every moment with this company.
I put in 18 years of my life working for this company. I did leave at one point because I was young and wanted to see if the grass was greener on the other side.
So within time that I was gone from the company that raised me I found myself to be lost there was not much education in the salons that I was working at. So I went back to Toni&Guy in 2011. By this time
I was a little much older when I came back and a little bit wiser and more appreciative of coming back to work for the company. I was coming back stronger. I told myself that I would make it a career and not just a job and I kept my word. In the last 10 years of my life working for that company not only did I become a stronger hairdresser I became a mentor to others, a Creative Director 5, Educator, and also a Salon Assistant Director, those titles mean a lot to me because I worked hard to get to where I was at, not only did I build relationships with my team but I helped in building a great team with TONI&GUY at La Cantera Mall.
We competed every year with other TONI&GUY salons nationwide for the top awards and we went ahead and won Best Salon Team, Best Cut, Best Color, Makeup, EDITORIAL, TOTAL LOOK and put the San Antonio location TONIGUY La Cantera on the map worldwide and I’m so honored to say that I was a part of that with OUR team. Not only did we do shows but we were the headliners for San Antonio fashion week. We did the hair for all headlining shows for San Antonio fashion week for four years straight in a row.
I helped produced two of the biggest hair shows that TONI&GUY had within fashion week. Now that I had my feet wet everywhere in the company I decided to venture out into the Sister company TIGI. I became an educator with the brand and was invited to Denver Colorado to do a big fashion show with the team I worked alongside big-name hair artists and got to meet hair artists from all over the world that worked for other brands that are out there.
So covid happened and coming back to work really made me realize that I was ready to venture out on my own TONI&GUY help me understand the business side of the salon environment and I knew that I was being molded into an entrepreneur. It was going to happen that one day I would part ways with my team.
Feb. 2021 I open the doors to my own suite MICHELLE G. STUDIO in February 2021
Michelle G.Studio is my baby and I have been open for about a year and a half, this has been a ride of its own.
I will not say that it has been easy but it has been an adventure. So many teachable moments. I have learned a lot being on my own I am a one-person suit so it’s just myself. I do all my book work, appointments, etc.
Hair is my passion. Education is my passion. Teaching is what I love to do. It comes naturally to me. I was so scared to become a educator because of public speaking. My accent. I’m a girl from the West Side of San Antonio and traveling I was always told I had an accent. I was like nah I don’t . But my mentors told me to just be “Me” . So that always stayed with me. And I never again doubted myself in public speaking.
Building relationships with my clients and students is the reward. I was an educator for 10 years and helping my students grow was my reward to see them become the hairdressers that they are today.
I believe God gave me this talent with my hands to help serve others. I have served so many people throughout my hair journey that I knew I was able to give them some words of encouragement not only to look good but to feel good too. I believe you treat people the way you want to be treated. My mother has taught me that and that has always stayed with me.
Thank you God for being a step ahead of me and leading the way . I would like to thank my mom for showing me my truth. My father and my mother for showing me what it is to work hard for what you want with the sweat off your back. Plus helping with my baby. My daughter Gabby because of you mamacita , mommy gave you everything. I knew I had to push myself.
No excuses
My boyfriend Nelson thank you for sticking by my side and riding the wave with me. Thank you for your support babe.
My team at TONI&GUY La Cantera thank you for all the memories all the laughs all the cries, to my family for backing me up 100% and my clients thank you so much for your support.
Without you, I couldn’t even imagine me doing this without your support.
Alright, 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?
Opening for the first time was very challenging. Thankfully, I had friends/clients who were able to help me out with certain things. No one shows you how to open up a business or where to find info or like How do you get an LLC. Taxes, etc. That was the hardest understanding of what it takes to open up a business. Over coming these challenges were to just breathe. Trust that everything would be ok and I did. My LLC got approved by the state on my birthday so that was good sign that everything was going in the right direction.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Michelle G. Studio?
Michelle G. Studio
A hair studio. I specialize in transformation Haircut/ colors. My studio is open to everyone. My brand is catered to that girl growing up in the ” hood” knowing who you are and where you come from, knowing her worth.
Just because we come from the hood doesn’t mean we are supposed to be looked down on. Rise up Mammita!! I’ve worked out on 1604 most of my life and I will never forget where I came from.
The West Side.
We talk a certain way. We have a certain style. I had people make fun of me for how I talk or tell me don’t come to in here wearing your “Shrimp earrings”…but hey that’s me. I can give you customer service type of voice too lol.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
My favorite childhood memories are of my teenage years. My friends and I would hit up all the Quinceañera‘s/ teenage clubs every weekend we would listen to freestyle music and just jam out making routines outside for Cumbias and freestyle music.
My nephews and my niece were a big part of the childhood memories. We all grew up together I loved spending time with them and hanging out. With no worries in the world. Just being kids. MICHELLE GUTIERREZ
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.michellegstudio.com
- Instagram: @michellegstudio
