Daily Inspiration: Meet Maritza Rodriguez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maritza Rodriguez.

Hi Maritza, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have always been into beauty but before YouTube all I had was the subscriptions to CosmoGirl and Seventeen magazines. I went straight into the dental field soon after graduating high school and started doing makeup as a side gig early on but the security of having my dental career never pushed me to pursue that passion, until I was 10 years into it and realized I could not see myself doing dental for another 10. It was a pivotal moment because dental was all I knew since graduating high school so I had to dig deep to find out what and who on earth I was as a person to know what I wanted to do. I loved everything Esthetics offered and that is how it all started. I decided to work part time and go to school part time in fall 2019. While in school, I came across a brow trend, Brow Lamination, and I was in love with the feathery brow look so I looked for training and found a class that was happening right in my city, Raleigh, so I signed up! I attended the course and never imagined being dedicated to it up to this day. I wanted to learn more, master it and grow in it. Unfortunately, COVID hit and a week after the course all beauty salons and spas were instructed to close. I practiced on myself, took multiple online brow courses over the pandemic and by May, salons/spas could open with restrictions, so I followed the same guidelines and started practicing with close family/friends from home. In September 2020, I graduated Esthetics school and I went back to work full time in dental while doing brows at night from home. I was burnt out 24/7 but there was still a fire that kept me going. A few months later, the same instructor I took my first lamination course with was opening a brow bar and I sent in my resume for an administrative position. I wanted to be in the beauty industry but was afraid to go full force so I figured in an admin position I could ease my way to where I’d like to be, long story short, she interviewed me for a brow artist position and later I was offered a part time position. I was still working my full-time job and working a part time job, so part time brow artist sounded great to me, or so I thought until I realized I would be working 7 days a week between all 3 jobs. As the grand opening of the brow bar got closer, I had to get real with myself and decide if I did all this just to be a part time artist or if I was ready to give it all even if it meant sacrificing my comfort for the time being. So, I gave my notice with my dental job and decided I was going to make the best out of this and build the life I want. 4.5 months in, and I have been able to add more days which means meeting more faces and working more in my purpose.

While in school, I came across a brow trend, Brow Lamination, and I was in love with the feathery brow look so I looked for training and found a class that was happening right in my city, Raleigh, so I signed up! I attended the course and never imagined to be this dedicated to it up to this day. I wanted to learn more, master it and grow in it. Unfortunately, COVID hit and a week later all beauty salons were instructed to close. I practiced on myself, took multiple online brow courses over the pandemic and by May, salons could open with restrictions, so I followed the same guidelines and started practicing on close family/friends from home. In September 2020, I graduated Esthetics school and I went back to work full time in dental while doing brows from home at night. I was burnt out 24/7 but there was still a fire that kept me going. A few months later, the same instructor I took my first lamination course with was opening a brow bar and I sent in my resume for an admin position. I wanted to be in the industry but didn’t believe in myself enough, so I figured if I could get my foot in the door by being in an admin position, I could ease my way to where I’d like to be, long story short, she interviewed me for a brow artist position and later I was offered a part-time position.

I was still working my full-time job and accepted to work part-time as a brow artist but realized the days I would be off from the dental office I would be at the brow bar which meant working seven days a week. As the grand opening of the brow bar got closer, I had to get real with myself and decide if I did all this just to be a part-time artist or if I was ready to give it all I had to get to where I wanted to be even if it meant sacrificing my comfort. So I gave my notice with my dental job and decided I was going to lean into this fear and make the best out of it. I am six months in from my transition and now have my own brow business.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
God, no. I was not a happy person, I was burnt out in every area of my life and career, severely depressed and dealing with anxiety but I wanted to change my narrative for my son. He is the source of my drive and ambition. Every decision I make will influence my son and it was inevitable to play this guilt trip with myself of “if” going back to school and cutting back to part time work would benefit or harm us in the long run, but I went with it anyway. Halfway into esthetics school, COVID happened and our schools closed so we went virtual and I wasn’t able to return to work but still had to provide for us and fund my schooling… just reminiscing gives me anxiety all over again. Fast forward to early this year, my dad became ill and he was unable to keep working so my son and I decided to move back home, an hour from Raleigh, to retire him and help with expenses but even as challenging as it has been, I am still the happiest I’ve ever been doing the things that make me happy, like brows!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?

I am a brow artist, specializing in all things brows BUT brow lamination has my heart and what I’m mostly known for. This industry is so rewarding, and I love the transformations I can create but I am most proud of the reactions I get from clients when they see their new and improved brows! As far as what sets me apart is, I try to see every client from a different lens. I want to know about them, what they like and do not like, what lifestyle they enjoy, what work do they do, which in return helps me create a brow experience that is fitting to them and what their brow goals are.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The beauty industry is growing so fast and continuously changing. I still have so much to learn and who knows what trends will be up and rising in that timeframe but I’m excited for the ride. 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: (919)926-8011
• Instagram: GlamRoseBeautyx
• Facebook: Glam Rose Beauty