Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Carneiro.
Hi Lisa, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve been working as a hair dresser for 30 years and in 2016, after working in a few different types of salons in Salt Lake City, I decided it was time to move into an ownership role, and open my own hair salon, Beyond Beauty. The name came from the idea that there is so much more that happens in my relationships with clients than just beauty. It is a boutique salon with a Mid Century vibe. We want clients to step back in time where life was more simple.
Initially I opened as a studio salon and three years later decided to expand it to a full hair salon. With 7 stations, waiting area, private bathroom, 3 washing stations and a kitchen/laundry area to offer better space for my clients as well as employees.
Today I employ 5 hairstylists. I always try to hire young stylists right after they graduate, as a way to give them an opportunity to grow in an environment that is welcoming, positive and supportive. I believe that a team environment is truly the best way to learn and grow.
I am always bringing in brand educators in partnership with CK SalonSolutions and ASP Hair America. They offer their expertise not only in color training, cuts and new trends, as well as helping with education on selling retail products and promoting themselves through social media.
We invest in advertisement through social media and Google to help not only the salon’s growth, but also to promote our new talented hairstylists in building their own clientele.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Any business owner knows that opening the business might be the smoothest step. Keeping it alive with a welcoming environment while making it exciting for clients and employees is paramount and the foundation of our mission statement. We opened in February of 2020, right before the Covid shutdown. Surviving through that showed me anything is possible with hard work and perseverance.
Salons are always evolving and have to adapt to an ever changing market. The main challenges have been in hiring and familiarizing past and current employees with the concept of branding, business understanding, customer service and up-sales, as well as developing close relationships with their clients, before, during and after their appointment. Building the habit of being focused on how satisfied and valued our customers feel after every appointment.
I’m very fortunate to have the group of young talented stylists I have now as they are very motivated, wise beyond their years, and that truly love what they do. It can be tricky with so many personalities to find a match for the vibe I want to have at Beyond Beauty.
Many young stylists are attracted by the studio salon model. I tried that myself, but I soon realized that the isolating limited space, with no waiting area for clients, common bathrooms, common laundry and sometimes noisy next door neighbors, would not allow me to offer the immersive, welcoming, comfortable atmosphere Beyond Beauty clients deserve.
And another significant aspect of a studio salon, this time for the hairstylists, is the very limited networking possibilities that a studio salon can offer. It is you and your client and maybe another stylist and their client, we are are missing so much in meeting other people that come and go in a full salon setting. I really missed the camaraderie that a full salon can provide.
People don’t come to salons just for a haircut. They come for the social interaction, the laughs, and networking with other people. Clients also come to feel safe and validated, because the world right now is a very tough place. These things all play a vital part in offering the experience our clients expect. We have a snack bar that is now famous, with a variety of coffees, teas, healthy bars, cookies and more. And a lot of our snacks are also Gluten Free!
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?
I have done hair for 30 years. When I started beauty school it was something that just made sense to me. I specialize in Haircuts, blondes, and color corrections. I really enjoy working with clients natural growth patterns and texture. A recent client asked me when do I know when I am done cutting. And the answer is I just know… I keep cutting using the mirror as a counter balance for the over all shape of the head and the look I am trying to achieve. Depending on texture, head shape, and amount of hair, once it all looks balanced to me then I am finished. Recently I am most proud of the opportunity I have to teach and share my experience with new stylists just entering into the salon world. I believe what sets me apart from others is the ability to communicate with my clients on a very deep level. Understanding more than just hair, through my own life experiences, I have helped many humans find their way through some of the toughest times of life.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t believe in bad or good luck. I believe in showing up, giving 100% of your best work and ethic, helping people grow, helping people unlock their full potential, caring, nurturing but also being firm when necessary. As a consequence, results come and success knocks! I believe if you don’t give up then you can’t fail.
If things are not working, you adapt, you reinvent, but never losing your core values and focus.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @beyondbeautyutah
- Facebook: @Beyond Beauty by Lisa Carneiro
- Other: https://www.vagaro.com/beyondbeautyutah
