Meet Monica Cantu | Hair Transformer

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

Hi Monica, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Honestly, my biggest motivation on becoming self employed was me being a mom! I have 3 beautiful children, and currently expecting my fourth! I love the flexibility I have with being in charge of who I service and how long I work throughout the days.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I definitely consider what I do for a living art. I love having the ability to be creative when my clients let me take the wheel. Especially when it comes to styling hair. In California I had the amazing opportunity to work on photo shoots and beauty pageants which I loved so much! Being able to work with a team that all comes together and creates different looks for one model was so satisfying to accomplish in my career. Most of these opportunities came from Instagram, passing cards and networking! You definitely can’t be shy in this industry if you want to do more than work behind the chair. I had a colleague refer me to work on film/tv and I regret that not working out, but honestly I believe it worked out that way because I started having more children and really needed the time to be here at home with them. The motto I live by is to not be scared of change, in fact embrace it! If I never moved to California as a single mom in my early 20’s then those opportunities would have never been in my path.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I went to hair school in highschool and completely finished the program, but I never was brave enough to go to state board and receive my license. That is until I worked as a receptionist in one of most reputable salons here in Arizona, Mane Attraction Salon in the biltmore area. There I learned the true meaning of professionalism within the beauty industry, and I owe that to the previous owner Kendall Ong (May he Rest In Peace). Working at his salon inspired me to go back to hair school and get my license. I actually received my license in the state of California and began assisting another amazing salon owner Victor Valverde (KutHaus Salon in Claremont CA). Here is where I met and assisted so many stylists that are very well known in the industry and I will forever be grateful for their time and knowledge!

Instagram: MonicaElizabethHair

Facebook: Beauty By Moni