Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariadna Chavez.
Hi Mariadna, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My interest in hair and makeup developed in middle school, but it really took off in high school. I was the girl doing her makeup in class, then doing my friends’ hair and makeup just for special occasions or just for fun.
Growing up I thought I wanted to be a pediatrician, but I went to a high school focused on medical careers and it just wasn’t my passion. I wasn’t sure college was for me either, despite being an excellent student, so after graduation I went into the service industry since my high school focus had been food management. From there I spent almost 15 years moving through serving, hosting, restaurant management, retail, wholesale, and luxury sales, always at small mom and pop businesses. I was lucky to have bosses who trusted my discernment and let me figure things out as I went. Looking back, all of those roles highlighted one thing: I knew how to talk to people, make them feel listened to, and figure out whatever needed figuring out.
I’d always wanted to pursue cosmetology, but life had other plans until Fall 2020, when I left a managerial position at a local pastry shop. I was burned out, it felt like the world was ending, and I needed to focus on my family and myself. Putting in my two weeks notice in the middle of a global pandemic was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done, but my now husband, Rik, kept encouraging me to finally pursue my passion. A long 1,000 hours later, I was a licensed cosmetologist. I held onto my part-time job at an art gallery and furniture store until I finished school, then dove into hair full-time.
I chose to be a curl specialist because of my own struggles finding a stylist who could do something with my hair, especially once I started wearing it natural. My hair isn’t even super curly, so I couldn’t imagine what people with more textured hair were going through. I’d spent time in salon environments that didn’t align with my ethics, and I realized I’d rather build something of my own than keep adjusting to someone else’s.
So I started Raíces Studio, I focused specifically on curly and textured hair, to serve an underserved demographic on my own terms, ethically, honestly, kindly, and respectfully. Today I run my business out of Mane Lounge here in Dallas. It’s been a process of building slowly and intentionally, and I’m proud of where it’s landed and excited to see where it goes from here.
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?
Is it ever a smooth road for anyone? Because it’s definitely been a bumpy one for me.
At the start, just finding a curl-focused salon where I could complete an apprenticeship was a struggle. If I knew then what I know now, I would have approached it completely differently, and I would have listened to my intuition more intently. I thought I was vetting places and making the right choices for me, but we live and we learn.
Also, just making the decision to go to cosmetology school was a leap of faith for me. Leaving a stable, salaried position to pursue something I never thought would be possible was terrifying, even with the support of my partner. I had no guarantee it would work out, and I was starting from scratch at 30.
Then after getting my license and working at different salons, I had to figure out how I could afford to invest in curl-focused education since I wasn’t able to find a reliable mentor. I had to make the decision to go out on my own, even when I felt I wasn’t ready, a little over a year ago.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a curl-specialist and the owner of Raíces Studio. My work focuses on curly and textured hair and scalp health, with an emphasis on treating hair the way it actually grows rather than forcing it into a one-size-fits-all approach.
I’m known for taking the time to really understand someone’s curl pattern, hair history, lifestyle, and what they’ve experienced when trying to learn how to treat, style, and care for their hair. A lot of my clients come to me after years (or a lifetime) of not knowing what to do with their curls, so building trust and educating people on their own hair is a huge part of what I do. Some of my clients are growing out relaxers or have mechanical damage from styling, so we really are starting from a place where we’ll be resetting and getting on a routine so their hair can be rehabbed and thrive.
I’m also incredibly patient and light-handed, which is why a lot of parents bring their kids in to get a haircut and learn how to properly care for their babies’ curls from the very beginning.
What I’m most proud of is building Raíces Studio on my own terms: ethically, honestly, kindly, and respectfully. I pride myself on focusing on the health of the hair and scalp before even considering any color services, and I attend continuing education classes regularly. The hair industry changes so rapidly, and it’s important to be knowledgeable about trends, new products, new techniques, and just to always be willing to learn something new to better serve our clients. I also serve a bilingual clientele, which lets me connect with people in whichever language feels most comfortable to them, English or Spanish.
What sets me apart is that I don’t treat curly hair as an afterthought or a specialty add-on. It’s the entire foundation of my business. I built my systems, education, and even my product knowledge specifically around clients with textured hair, so nobody who sits in my chair is getting one size fits all advice, they’re getting a stylist who specializes in exactly what their head of hair needs for their specific goals and lifestyle.
How do you think about luck?
I don’t really believe in luck, I think fate has played a bigger role in this season of my life. I feel like I’ve found my purpose. Recently Nicole “Coko” Taft, a panel speaker at CIRL, a curl-centered education experience founded by Savannah Hicks, said something that stuck with me: we can’t fail on purpose, because if it’s our purpose, we can’t fail. I’m planning on making it.
I’ve been blessed to meet stylists who’ve become friends, people I can call when I have a question, need a second opinion, or just want to bounce ideas off of. Omar Perez, the owner of Mane Lounge, opened his doors to me and has been incredibly supportive. My salonmates are there whenever I’ve needed help formulating color or just need a hand with something in general.
Despite the REALLY rough patches of my life, I’m grateful for the lessons I’ve learned. Some were hard lessons learned, but I wouldn’t be where I am today or be who I am if things hadn’t gone the way they did, you know?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://raicesstudio.glossgenius.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/manesxmariadna
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/manesxmariadna
- Other: https://titok.com/@manesxmariadna
