We had the good fortune of connecting with Angelica Montejano and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Angelica, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I started working in the beauty industry at age 17. I worked in a corporate chain salon in my home town. When I went through beauty school I tried working in different salons and still never felt happy. I learned a lot but I knew I wanted to create my own brand and business at some point. I absolutely hated the idea of working so hard and only taking home half of my paycheck. My goals were to create my own schedule and make enough income to live the lifestyle I wanted. When I finally became licensed and started working behind the chair I took full advantage of free advertising on Instagram. I took pictures of everything I did and it really helped me build my clientele. 3 years of building and learning, I was able to take the leap at starting my own business. My thought process was looking at my weekly income for a year. When I saw the consistency I realized I could afford to invest in myself. Its not as scary as it seems. It has given me SO much freedom and it was the best decision I ever made.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Continuous education helped me get to where I am today. Naturally, I am creative and definitely have an eye for my profession. Years of practice helped me get to this point. I am extremely proud of the work I do and I’m not afraid to tell people that. Being a hairstylist is not an easy job. We are talking all day long, standing, painting for hours at a time, cutting, shampooing, blowdrying, and having to do it all on a time limit. It’s not easy but once I mastered it, I became faster at everything I did. The hardest part for me is setting boundaries. I am in control of my schedule so I have to respond to messages and phone calls daily. It can be exhausting doing all of it on my own and I tend to take that work home with me and respond to messages about hair late at night or on my days off. Setting boundaries and giving myself a break is definitely something I need to be better about. But In the end its all worth it. This responsibility has given me that personal connection with my clients that I never really had in the beginning. The best feeling is when my clients give me freedom to be creative and we are both completely obsessed with the outcome. Along the way I have learned its important to say no. Sometimes a client will have unrealistic expectations, it is so important for me to tell them the reason why it cannot be done. That is my responsibility as their stylist to educate them on everything about their hair. I want the world to know that my goals continue to grow as a professional and I have faith that they will be there along the way.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There are so many amazing local restaurants that we love. I always recommend Rollies and BK for mexican food. Barista del barrio is my favorite local coffee and breakfast burrito spot.The best part about tucson is the open space outdoors. There are so many great hikes. Mt lemon is the most common place for hiking and beautiful sunsets. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This shoutout goes out to my clients. My day ones. The ones who have helped me grow as a stylist and the woman I am today. They don’t only sit in my chair for beauty services, they care about whats going on in my life and my career. The ones that treat me like a friend and not a robot that cuts hair 24-7. They never question my pricing, they care about my personal life, they encourage me and follow me wherever I go. I would also like to thank all of the talented individuals I have met in the industry along the way. I’ve learned alot and had help from so many amazing professionals. Last year was tough on our industry and I was stunned at how many clients reach out to pre pay for services knowing my situation. It was amazing and I’ll never forget that. I couldn’t do what I do without them.

Website: www.lushlocksbyangelica.com
Instagram: @lushlocks_angelica
Other: https://bit.ly/3hk602k Amika retail link. The all natural products I use and retail in the salon.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.