Today we’d like to introduce you to Sheila Maria.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My beauty industry journey started at the age of 14 in Ponce, Puerto Rico…
My mother passed away when I was 10. My dad went on a mission to help his kids cope with grief and look for ways to keep us busy. He picked up on my interest in hair as a kid due to my brother being a barber since the age of 13 and me always showing interest in my brother’s skills. My dad enrolled me in the 2005 summer program of cuts & styles at Emma’s Beauty Academy. I attended every Saturday for 4 hours and earned my first certificate! I was so proud of myself and used that feeling to be the go-to girl in school for basic hairdos. I’ve been practicing since.
In 2007 my dad had to make the decision to relocate to Orlando, Florida due to the recession. I came to Orlando at the age of 15 knowing very little English. I was enrolled in a charter school off of Curry Ford and Chickasaw area called NorthStar High School. The school at the time didn’t provide ESOL programs, but I figured out a way to be fluent in English in 3 months. We lived in a small home with my aunt and no cars were available to take me to school so I had to learn how to get around by the public Lynx Bus. I walked a total of 2 hours daily to get to school. I always carried my flat iron in my backpack to fix my frizzy humid Florida hair in the bathroom and shortly a few girls joined me. It became our morning ritual. In 2009 I graduated from NorthStar and was prom queen. I must say it was an easy title to win since there were a total of about 400 students in the whole school! And only about 30 seniors in my class! haha.
After high school graduation, I decided to take a year break from school and worked in the fitting rooms at Ross Dress for Less on Curry Ford and Semoran. There I met a few coworkers and shoppers that became my housecall clients.
In 2010 I enrolled at the Aveda Institute of Orlando and graduated with 1,600 hours in 2011. I loved my experience there and met lifelong friends as well as made great connections with educators.
After graduation, I worked at a few different salons, including Ulta Beauty in Waterford Lakes, trying to find my work home but wasn’t successful. In 2015 I decided to start as a solo hairstylist at iStudios on E Colonial Dr. I then moved to Phenix Suites in Winter Park. Then the pandemic happened and was forced to close my doors to the public. After that, I decided to fix my apartment and work from home. It went well and then inflation happened plus the realization of how much I missed working with a like-minded team and the toll isolation took on my mental health.
Now I am working at an amazing location and a great team in the Milk District called Mosaic Hair Studio. I am a Master Stylist specializing in blonde transformations.
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?
Many struggles! From not having transportation to go to work, having to move around not being able to afford rent, and having to deal with people that were selfish and had bad intentions.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a diverse hairstylist but I specialize in Blonde Transformations. Throughout my career, I’ve learned how hard it is to successfully take someone from dark to blonde with very little breakage to achieve a realistic desired shade of blonde. I’ve made it my mission to learn the ins and outs of this process as well as get to know the latest product technology and techniques that will help me deliver.
What sets me apart from others is my honest and ethical approach. I stay true to my knowledge. If I can’t predict the end result with my techniques and product knowledge, I will prescribe my client to use specific products at home, change their home routine and provide them with a realistic time frame on when will their hair be ready for such beautiful and empowering transformation. There’s no amount of money in this world that could make me go against my skill.
What matters most to you?
Having fun, being kind, and living an honest life that positively affects me and society matters so much to me. I want to make my older self proud. I don’t want to have regrets when I’m old and not able to walk or speak!
Pricing:
- Partial Highlights/Balayage starts at $200
- Full Solid Blonde or Color Correction starts at $500
- Full Highlights/Balayage starts at $300
- Haircuts starts at $68
- Pricing goes up depending on extra needed time. ($1 a minute)
Contact Info:
- Email: blondenirvanaorlando@gmail.com
- Website: blondenirvana.com
- Instagram: @blondenirvanaorlando
