Conversations with the Inspiring Heather Quintana

Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Quintana.

Heather, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Growing up I always had a thing for hair. I loved playing with my own and I always took advantage of any opportunity to do my friends hair if they let me. In high school, I played softball. I wanted to go to college and become a teacher. My grandma saw something in me that I didn’t and encouraged me to go to cosmetology school. At the time, I wasn’t really sold on the idea until I spent a weekend in a salon with Chuck Galo who later became my mentor. That very weekend sparked something in me. I decided right then and there this would be my career. I enrolled in Emily Griffith Technical College and graduated in 2006. From there, I worked at several salons, even owning my own barbershop. I missed the salon environment though. So, I closed the barbershop in 2013 and got back into the salon. That’s when social media was in the beginning stages of marketing for our industry. I then created Beauty By Heather Q LLC. Not only has that been an amazing building platform but also a great way to connect with so many other talented and inspiring hairstylist. Today, I co-own a space with three other amazing stylists in Wash Park.

Has it been a smooth road?
No, it really hasn’t always been a smooth road. In the process of building my career, I had my oldest daughter in 2009, then my middle daughter in 2013 and my youngest, 2019. Being a working mom and trying to find the balance between work and home life has been the most challenging part. I am raising three girls! Those beautiful eyes watch my every move. I want them to grow up and choose a career that they absolutely love. Something they enjoy doing every day. I was lucky enough to have people in my life who encouraged me to do what I loved. The biggest challenge of it all had to be when I had my youngest daughter. She was born with a rare condition called Epidermolysis Bullosa. At first, the thought of getting back into the salon was only a dream. After finding the right balance and having the most amazing clientele along with the most amazing co-workers, and the most amazing husband. I was able to get back behind the chair. I am and will forever be ironing out the kinks, but as of right now I feel so very fortunate to have the support system that I do, to not only do what I love but also be the best mom I can to my girls.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Beauty By Heather Q story. Tell us more about the business.
I like to say that I do almost all things hair. After finishing school I was always told to take as many advanced classes as possible. So, that is what I did. I have taken many color classes in many different color lines and techniques, I also took many Sassoon cutting classes. I am certified in Great Lengths Hair Extensions. The only way to grow is by taking as many classes as you can. I enjoy color the most. My specialties would include Denver Blondes and Color corrections. Blondes are all very different. There is totally such a thing as Denver Blonde. With so many people moving here, I have clients from all over and not one blonde is the same. The chemistry behind how hair color actually works can get pretty complicated. Color corrections seem to fall into my chair often. I tend to take on the most complicated scenarios. Cases that most stylists are afraid of. That’s what I love the most is the challenge. What sets me apart from others is my passion and my work ethic. Anyone who sits in my chair becomes almost like family. Some have been with me from day one of this journey, and some I’ve just met. No matter how long I’ve known each of my clients, I truly believe everyone ends up in my chair for a reason. Whether it is literally just to feel beautiful at the end of there hair service or for a therapy session. Either way, I am lucky enough to spend each day making everyone feel beautiful inside and out.

For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
I think women today are presented with so many challenges, but the opportunities far exceed the challenges. I think women are well-positioned for honestly any opportunity that presents itself. Successful women today have overcome so many challenges in the workforce. Women in leadership roles didn’t get to where they are by taking no for an answer. Instead, they took it as a challenge to strive for bigger and better. Women can’t be in leadership roles without also being mentors to other women. I see more opportunities for women in this day and age because women are inspiring other women and lifting other women up instead of the old competitive nature. Therefore building each other’s confidence to be able to go out and get all of those great opportunities. I see this all the time in our industry. We learn from one another and inspire one another to build each other up. I can’t say enough good things about all of the women I have worked with that have inspired me in one way or another.

Pricing:

• Haircuts start at $85
• Any specialty color such as balayage, hairpainting and babylights start at $250 depending on consultation
• Color corrections start at $350 also depending on consultation

Contact Info:

• Address: Beauty By Heather Q
  Mane Crew Hair Lab
  618 E Kentucky Ave.
  Denver, Co 80209
• Website: Beautybyheatherq.com
• Phone: 7209803508
• Email: info@beautybyheatherq.com
• Instagram: @beauty_by_heatherq_

Image Credit:
Tyler Quintana, Kyle Hall

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