This Aspect Hustle Highlight Q&A options Kayla Valerio. Valerio owns Haus of Coloration, a six-figure salon enterprise specializing in vivid hair colours.
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Haus of Coloration. Kayla Valerio.
What was your day job (or different sources of revenue) while you began your facet hustle?
I used to be nonetheless a hairdresser and doing hair however on a a lot smaller scale. I would been a hairdresser for years, doing facet jobs right here and there to assist me fulfill the dream of opening my very own salon at some point.
When did you begin your facet hustle, and the place did you discover the inspiration for it?
I have been doing hair for nearly 16 years, working at a mom-and-pop salon and constructing out a various guide of purchasers over time. I’ve all the time been drawn to designing vivid, brilliant and colourful hair designs, however I did not have many alternatives to experiment whereas working full-time. With a second right here and there, I honed my expertise as a vivid colorist, working with clients on the facet. There have been numerous school college students within the space who needed to attempt my aesthetic.
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My ardour for the vivid seems to be fueled my inspiration for Haus of Coloration. Lately, I am solely taking up new purchasers who need wealthy, vivid colours and types. These are the types that I like to do, and the work simply fills my soul. In the present day, we are the high vivid hair salon within the space, and purchasers journey close to and much to us after seeing our work on Instagram and social media.
What had been a number of the first steps you took to get your facet hustle off the bottom?
Covid modified my complete view on the trade. After I was working solo, it was simply me, and my purchasers had been sporting masks. It was actually very lonely. It made me notice how a lot I missed being round individuals and needed to have my very own salon. I dreamed of an area the place I may have a group, welcome purchasers and revel in a stupendous neighborhood area.
What had been a number of the greatest challenges you confronted whereas constructing your facet hustle, and the way did you navigate them?
I am behind the chair full-time, so the most important shift was balancing my day-to-day shopper work whereas managing operations. At my earlier salon, we used a reserving system to coordinate the enterprise, however once I went off by myself, it was simply me scheduling bookings, responding to potential purchasers and managing the funds. As soon as my enterprise began choosing up, I knew I could not return to pen and paper.
Choosing the right software program to run a enterprise is not simple, however to scale, I knew I had so as to add some tech to my combine. The software program platform GlossGenius sucked me in immediately. I would by no means seen a reserving website so stunning or so cute and kitschy and enjoyable. Their design facet instantly locked me in, and I used to be like, Oh, yeah, I am right here for the lengthy haul. I used to be capable of double after which triple our bookings.
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Haus of Coloration has developed a lot all through the years. In the present day, the enterprise has grown right into a full-service brick-and-mortar salon, and we’ve seven stylists and a nail tech.
Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Haus of Coloration
When did you are taking the enterprise full-time? What does development seem like now?
I took Haus of Coloration full-time in Might 2021. It was very laborious to make issues work, contemplating the pandemic was nonetheless very a lot in impact. I began with one stylist and me, and it has blossomed into seven full-time stylists and a nail tech. It took constant effort and time and lengthy nights and days to make this as soon as dream a actuality.
What do you take pleasure in most about working this enterprise?
The Haus of Coloration salon has grow to be a second dwelling for my group and purchasers. We’ve got such an important artistic area, and I like to open it as much as our neighborhood, particularly our proficient, wonderful purchasers.
A variety of our purchasers are tattoo artists, and we have arrange tattoo pop-ups, that are widespread. There’s all the time a line across the constructing. Throughout the holidays, Haus of Coloration hosts tables, and my purchasers convey their home-made items and we promote them. I’ve met many creatives by way of internet hosting occasions. It has been a good way to construct our clientele and our bigger neighborhood of artists.
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Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Haus of Coloration
What’s your recommendation for others hoping to begin profitable facet hustles or companies of their very own?
You will discover success in doing the work that you simply love. After I began Haus of Coloration, I took a wager on my creativity and artistry. I now have a group of proficient stylists and purchasers who’re simply as passionate in regards to the vivid aesthetic as I’m. It is introduced an unimaginable area, group and purchasers into my life.
