Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Duran Olmeda.
Hi Mary, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started school with the intention of being a nurse but quickly realized that field was not for me. I wanted to work with people to help them feel their best version of themselves. So I started hair school at the age of 20 and have not looked back since. On my first day of hair school, they asked me to write down what my career goals were. My goal was to own my own salon. So my teacher asked to write down when I was going to do that. I said “today is my first day, how am I supposed to know that?” He responded, “Well, be realistic, it’s not going to happen next year or probably the year after that so make a realistic goal.” So I said ten years. At nine years of doing hair, I realized that I was becoming stagnate and longed for more growth within. That was when I started to look into places that I could open and call my own. So at ten years of doing hair, I was ready! My teacher knew what he was doing making me set that goal for myself because that timeline stuck with me. So at ten years of hair, I open Lavish Beauty Lounge in Chapel Hill. In August of 2021, we will have been open for three years!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My biggest obstacle in opening my salon was knowing the business side of everything. I knew the hair, that was the easy part. When I mean the business side, I mean learning to negotiate my lease terms, my AC broke three months after opening and per my lease agreement, I was responsible for paying for a new unit. If I had known that I could negotiate that from the beginning that would have been so helpful. The bookkeeping and finical aspect of the business has been a learning process as well. Everything gets easier day to day but I’m still learning everyday.
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 am a hairdresser and I make people feel like their best selves. My specialty is balayage and lived-in color. My salon is a very comfortable place for everyone, whether you are the trendsetter or looking for help being on trend. I am proud of the growth of our salon. In the first three years of business, we have been nominated in the Indyweek for the top salon for our area every year! My salon is very approachable with that luxury feel.
Pricing:
- Haircut $75
- Highlights $165+
Contact Info:
- Email: lavishbeautylounge1@gmail.com
- Website: lavishbeautyloungenc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lavish.beautylounge/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lavishbeautyloungech
