Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacey Zayas.
Stacey, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I went to beauty school right out of high school. At 19, I graduated and received my cosmetology license. I spent my time working as an assistant, booth renter, and/or commissioned stylist for four years and opened up my 1st salon with a business partner at age 23. Opening My own business would allow me to have far more control of revenue and more control of products, services, satisfaction & retention. Honestly, going into business for myself, although difficult at times with a steep learning curve, has taught me a lot. As tough as it can be from time to time, I take great pride in guiding new stylists into taking control of their output and elevating their skills. After parting ways with my business partner of 12 years, I opened my very own salon. Always eager to learn new processes, I stumbled upon a hair smoothing treatment that seemed to be taking root in Florida & the east coast – so I became among the 1st on the west coast to offer these treatments within my salon.
It only took about two years before I realized that the smoothing treatments offered in the salon accounted for over 50% of the overall revenue! But there was a serious issue that needed to be addressed. I was only able to allow for 1 of these processes to be done in the salon at a time – and would further need to make sure the other clients were okay with the process being done. The issue was that these processes created a smoky, fume atmosphere in the salon, and some people would get irritated eyes. As it turns outs, it is very important that this service is done in a very well-ventilated room. We tried everything; I had spent a great deal of money & time figuring out what extraction systems were able to manage the smoke/fumes and wound up with the realization that none of them were able to clear the air as much as the salon required. Fast forward a couple of years, with the help of some local HVAC guidance, I was able to design a commercial-grade extraction system that would allow for every station in the salon to have smoothing clients all at once – thus, The Smooth bar was born!
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Some of the early struggles were things like training – these treatments were not very widespread. We needed to train people from the ground up and have the means to ensure all the stylists were able to execute to the level that a specialist should be understanding – again, not being as widespread as say. For hair coloring, the public in general, needed to understand what these treatments could offer them.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Smoothbar?
The Smoothbar offers over a dozen different hair treatments focused on repair, conditioning, and smoothing. Some of their most popular services include the Brazilian Blowout, Global Keratin, Kera therapy, Pure Brazilian, and their signature Smoothbar Exclusive Treatment. The Smoothbar Exclusive Treatment is a formaldehyde-free smoothing solution, with options available from almost complete curl reduction to the preservation of beautiful, bouncy curls. Many of the salon’s treatments approach hair health on a molecular level, providing long-lasting results that simply can’t be achieved with at-home products. Compared to a typical salon – which might have one or two basic treatments at most – The Smoothbar aims to provide a robust selection of services in order to tailor a solution that meets client expectations regardless of hair type or texture. The treatments are highly advanced but affordable, and the salon’s specially trained staff can tackle even the most severe hair challenges. When you visit The Smoothbar, you’ll immediately receive a warm welcome. With a modern interior and high-end atmosphere, The Colony salon is the perfect setting for a truly five-star experience. Choose from espresso, tea, or even wine to enjoy during your visit, then relax while your hair is expertly treated. Because The Smoothbar has implemented a top-of-the-line fume extraction system, clients can have the peace of mind of knowing that they are in a healthy and safe environment. And even though this is a first-class salon experience, the surprisingly accessible prices put these hair solutions within easy reach.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Think outside the box. Try new things, and be bold.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thesmoothbar.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesmoothbar/
