Today we’d like to introduce you to Angelica Galindez.
Angelica, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started Cosmetology/Barbering school while I was in high school. A friend of mine at the time begged me to take the program with her and I wasn’t that interested but I still ended up taking the program with her. I surprisingly fell in love with cosmetology and proceeded with the program.
In 2012, I graduated from high school with my cosmetology/barber license. Immediately after I went to Utah State University to major in business but I ended up leaving college to pursue my career in cosmetology. I started at a franchised salon and went on to do hair at a day spa. After a couple of years of working for different salons and spas, I decided to take my career into my own hands.
There were 3 reasons why I decided to start my own business: financially I was struggling, I wanted a more flexible schedule due to my unstable health and I was sick of all the discrimination I had faced due to being a bald stylist in an industry so focused on society’s beauty standards. So I started taking house calls in 2015 and then my clients convinced me it was time to get my own place of business.
I got my LLC and started booth renting at a local salon in Cottonwood Heights for nearly 2 years. In 2018 my friend at the salon said she was looking to move and I started thinking about moving too. So when she showed me where she was moving to, I fell in love with the space and the owner’s vision of the salon. I immediately moved into Le Beautique, LLC salon a couple of days later and have been there ever since. Fast forward to 2020 when the pandemic hit, I was quarantined from March 2020-February 2021. I thought I had lost my whole clientele but gratefully I didn’t. Some waited for me and some were taken care of by my colleagues but they all came back.
2021 the salon owner offered her salon to me. She was uprooting her whole family to Florida and wanted someone she trusted to continue on her version for the salon. I told her I couldn’t do it alone because I had just gotten out of quarantine, and I needed to make sure I could afford and have time for such a huge opportunity. So we offered co-ownership to one of our employees at the time and she said yes! So long story short, I am now the co-owner of my salon home, Le Beautique Salon.
Aside from being co-owner and operator of Le Beautique, LLC Salon, I also own my own business, ANGELICA GALINDEZ, LLC where I am a creator on social media, and then I’ve recently started a new business with my friend called Umoja Kulay where we offer an in-depth Natural Hair Certification class to stylists and students in the hair industry.
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?
It has not been a smooth road. I experienced low wages which put me into debt and discrimination because I’m bald. I have many stories but I’ll just tell you one.
I had a customer leave her pedicure appointment because she was upset that management scheduled her pedicure with someone bald. The owner of the establishment had a meeting with me to suggest that I should wear a wig and that did not sit well with me.
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?
-As a salon owner I’m proud to provide a safe space to our diverse clientele and stylists. I’m also proud that our salon is a Green Circle-certified salon so we recycle up to 95% of our beauty waste.
-As a cosmetologist, I specialize in color corrections and special event hairstyling. I’m also proud to have worked on some film productions and a tv show.
-As a content creator, I focus on Alopecia Awareness, Alopecia Makeup, and wig styling.
-As an educator for Umoja Kulay, I focus on providing real education on curly/coily hair.
-Some achievements:
I competed without a wig and won one of the top 5 major titles, Miss Philippines Water USA 2014 at The Miss Philippines Earth USA Pageant in 2013 which got me and the alopecia community a lot of exposure in the media. I was featured on the front page of yahoo, an article in Huffington Post, a feature in the Mario Lopez show called EXTRA, Ellen Degeneres Show’s Facebook page, along with many other articles.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/angelica-galindez_n_4226535
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/tagged/health/shine-beauty/bald-woman-wows-at-beauty-pageant–wins-our-hearts-202521286.html
I then was the closing speaker at the National Alopecia Areata Foundation Conference in 2015.
In 2015, I also spoke at the Utah Alopecia Club Conference and became one of their Utah mentors and admins of Facebook.
Since then I’ve continued mentoring children, parents, and adults with alopecia.
I was the closing artist in the RAW Artists show in 2018 showcasing my hair art.
I am Professional Hair Labs Brand Ambassador.
-I am also the Committee Chief of a local Utah Non-profit called Utah Beauty Project where our mission is to promote and teach professionals, clients, consumers, and our elected legislators about the true nature of our education and workplaces.
-What sets me apart from others? Aside from the fact that I’m literally bald working in the beauty industry… I’d say I’m myself and that’s what sets me apart from others. There is only one me and that alone is unique. Hopefully, that doesn’t come across as cliche lol.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out.
Stay true to yourself, ALWAYS. Remember why you started. It’s okay to change your mind and pivot. Continue your education and stay humble.
Say yes to more opportunities that you know will benefit you even if you’re scared. The unknown is scary but all you can do is prepare and work hard. Let time play itself out and be patient WHILE also making moves!
Contact Info:
- Website: styleseat.com/v/thebaldstylist and https://linktr.ee/angelicasgalindez
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelicasgalindez/ and https://www.instagram.com/imthebaldstylist/ and https://www.instagram.com/le_beautiquellc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angelicasgalindez
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AngelicaGalindez
- Other: https://www.eofebony.com/buy
