Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenda V. Olivas.
Brenda, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started cutting and coloring my own hair senior year in high school. I was always changing my hairstyle at that time and having five siblings going to the salon was a luxury. I remember one night I took my dad’s razor and gave myself a pixie cut. Surprisingly my friends loved it and the next day I was cutting their hair not having a clue just winging it. I was the go to friend to get your hair curled or makeup done before going out.
I started getting asked to do proms and quinceaneras for friends it was truly an honor. I quickly learned how to work with emotional clientele early on something this business is full of. I had the patience and love for it then so I knew it was something I could do for enjoyment and a career. I enrolled into beauty school that same summer after graduating and started chasing my dream to become a great HMU-artist.
I learned pretty quickly hands-on and mastered in coloring which is my biggest passion, coloring hair and faces doing SFX. I’ve been extremely blessed to have a supportive family and friends I do. They would go to my school as models where I would practice on them that’s where the trust began. Which eventually lead to them asking for in-home visits after school hours. I was getting so many requests I couldn’t keep up going to everyone’s house so I set up shop in mine and it took off from there.
I loved helping people achieve the styles they wanted for a reasonable price. I always told them you can have beautiful, hair and it doesn’t have to cost a leg which I thought was ridiculous what they were paying for and what they were walking around with. It was mostly word of mouth all of my family and friends sent me numerous referrals. I’m pretty bad at marketing myself so I tell everyone my hair and my client’s hair speaks for itself that’s honestly how people got introduced to my work. Continuing my education after beauty college, taking online courses for business training and attending makeup and hair seminars really helped shape my unique style and talent.
I never stopped learning in this industry there’s something new every day think that’s why I love it so much I’m never stuck in one place. Which is why I’m in my cozy little salon suite now ten minutes away from the place I first started off in. I love what I do and I like things a certain way after working so many minimum wage jobs being my own boss has been the most rewarding. It’s definitely not for everyone I am a one-woman band. I am my own CEO, accountant, receptionist, janitor, shampoo girl, sales associate, graphic designer, social media manager the list goes on and I wouldn’t trade it for the world, it’s hard work I learned from both my amazing supportive parents.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Oh, definitely not! Starting your own business from the ground up with absolutely no savings or investments is always a struggle. That’s where the hustle comes in and making it one way or another. I never wanted to go back to a 9-5 quitting wasn’t an option. So when times were rough on my health through hospitalizations and doctor visits, I always had to find a way to push through and have some sort of income. I had the misfortune of being diagnosed with type two diabetes a couple years ago runs in my family. That including a heavy workload and absolutely no help with poor diet and exercise lead to high blood pressure and anxiety later on.
Certainly, a wake-up call to get my health and personal life together. I can truly say after getting married having a baby and moving into our first home my life has gotten a whole lot sweeter, without the diabetes now thank you baby Jesus. I would do lash extensions because it meant not standing on my feet for 8hrs a day. Also doing makeup on the weekends for big events was usually my preference. For a professional makeup artist having invested hundreds and thousands of dollars into a well-built makeup kit already meant full profit when booking.
Thankfully I was taught in hair, skin and nails with a full cosmetology license so I had plenty of options to fall back on when times got tough and being in a salon wasn’t an option.
Alright – so let’s talk business. What else should we know about your work?
Brenda V. Artistry offers a variety of beauty services from hair to lashes and makeup. I specialize in hair coloring-corrections and blondes, I was certified in school when I worked my way behind the color bar and never left. I think having colorful hair also sets me apart sure does gets me plenty attention and clients. If I can do it on myself and pull it off I can definitely take on any other color challenge fixing hair is my forte. Everyone would always ask how I can achieve the colors I do without frying off my hair.
With a ton of practice honestly and working gradually with the best hair products possible, I learned to master taking damage unhealthy hair back into lively shiny locks. Not an easy feat or cheap for that matter yet again we’re kind of asking for the impossible bringing something back from the dead. That’s really what I get most requested now color corrections and vivid mermaid hair. Since they’re not attainable hairstyles for many but highly in demand, I always take that into consideration when consulting a client to find the most affordable way for them to achieve it. If it means working in sessions or paying in installments any way to help.
I’m quite known for being “affordable” people’s nice way of saying cheaper than most but I’ve always worked that way and I don’t think I’ll change much. Even though everyone gets onto me to increase my prices. In time with more education, and skills I will, when I’ve hit that mark where I feel I deserve to drop a price and not budge oh I sure will. For the meantime, I work with everyone’s budget and schedule. I’m more than accommodating after hours, miles away for wedding venues even out of state and off days people need me I’m there.
I take payment plans too. I don’t think there’s many or any other stylists out there who lets their clients pay off their appointments as they go. But hey when half your loyal clientele is stayed at home moms with tight budgets and kids uniforms to buy first you make it work for them. I would say I go above and beyond for my clients I mean without them my baby and I wouldn’t eat, I wouldn’t have the roof over my head. Being more than accommodating and educating my clients is what sets me apart.
I love teaching them new hair care regiments and product knowledge I think everyone should know. I know many stylists don’t even bother but I feel it helps our clients have the healthier hair we always ask for. How would they know if no one teaches them, that’s what a hair professional is for and what I offer for all my clients. The more you know I always tell them, help me help you healthy beautiful hair is the goal.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I would say I have been lucky many times in my business. I’ve gotten great opportunities to work with some talented stylists and even met some celebrities. Very grateful some of those have credited me. Through social media tags and mentions, I’ve gained many followers from doing hair and makeup in music videos and photo shoots. Very fortunate to network with amazing professionals in my industry.
Pricing:
- Children’s haircuts $15
- Women’s / Men’s haircuts $25
- Balayage Haircolors $175 and up
- Vivid Mermaid Custom Colors $250 and up
Contact Info:
- Address: 3110 W Illinois Ave
Dallas, TX 75211
United States - Phone: 469-321-2882
- Email: belleamour09@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/bv_artistry?igshid=c56turt4yqmh
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/BVArtistry/
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