Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Santos.
Hi Richard, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I came to the USA about 25 years from Puerto Rico as a college program for WDW while working my way around the park doing food & beverage, retail, working at Pleasure Island. After a while, I was recruited to work at Banana Republic, at Point Orlando on I Drive, shortly I became the Visual Specialist, following the POV (Point of View) book that corporate send in every month to do our windows and displays I became more knowledgeable wardrobing and dressing and been involve in the store outside activities. One year I worked at the Millenia Mall for fashion week, and when I saw the Hair & Makeup part of it that immediately open a curiosity in me. I though to myself I will love to be able to do if all. I’m 2008, my position had a cut, and for me, that was the perfect opportunity to go to Hair school; I did me research and found out Orange County had a vocational school that offered it, so I went for a tour and end up signing up while in school 7 am to 2 pm, I went to work at ulta. After school ended, I went to work at a couple of corporate salons where I got a lot of knowledge, techniques, and education. In 2014 I had moved to Atlanta; I was a little bummed because my cosmetology license didn’t transfer; I was hired as the Color Lead for Sephora while working there, I garter a lot more knowledge in the makeup area. In 2015 I got an invitation to summit a portfolio to be part of the International Atlanta Fashion Week. I rapidly submitted it and got selected. 7 days of nonstop hair, different venues, and different designer from all the around the world. A Dream come true! The following year I worked as part of the recruiting department for Hairstylist for AIFW. 2 years after I move back to the Orlando area, I went to work at Marilyn Monroe Spa in Winter Park; about a year after been there they close, and it was the perfect opportunity for me to go on my own and open my own studio. As of today, I’ve builded a pretty consistent client, doing extension, color, and specially my blonds.
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?
Building a clientele takes time, hard work, and consistency. It has not been a smooth road at all, People move, they find someone closer, and take the chance, sometimes the comeback .The hair industry is a very competitive industry. But the main part of what makes me stand out it CONSISTENCY. My clients can come to me over and over and know they will get the same result over and over.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
When you come to my hair salon you come in to relax and get the best treat y with quality products. I’m pretty well rounded in all the aspects of the industry, you can come in for an extension installation, for a haircut, fir a wash and blow dry, for highlights, any color service, a balayage. And you can expect the same consistency in all of your services and professionalism. I think what sets me apart from others is that I’m just me; I’m an honest hairstylist, I’ll always care about the condition of your hair before I get to make money,
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Thru out the COVID-19 crisis, I learn that clients are more comfortable coming to a smaller private setting like my studio, instead of the big box salons, they know that I clean all my workspace between clientes, the know it’s just going to be them for the entire time of their service, and there will not be other clients or costumer and that gives them a sense of relief.
Contact Info:
- Website: Hairbyrichardsanto.existir.com/rshair
- Instagram: Hairrehabstudiosalon
- Facebook: Hair Rehab
