Exploring Life & Business with Liz Sarlo of Elizabeth Rose

Today we’d like to introduce you to Liz Sarlo.

Hi Liz, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Denver. I graduated from South high school and after a couple odd jobs, I started a career in special education. I loved it and I met such incredible people. I dedicated myself for almost 10 years. But to be honest, working for Denver Public Schools burned me out. I had to have two other jobs in addition to teaching just to afford rent in an apartment in Denver by myself, and I was taking home anywhere from 10-20 hours of paperwork every week.

I did hair and makeup as an amateur for my friends and family on the side. Weddings, special occasions, etc. I always had this idea that when I retired from teaching, I would turn this into a way to earn a living.

My idea came to fruition earlier than I would have imagined when I first started that career, but in the end I had to make a tough decision. And that was to be selfish. I enrolled at the Aveda Institute of Denver in November of 2018. After 1500 hours of hard work and dedication, I graduated and passed the test to get my cosmetology license.

I did a work study to earn some money while I was in school but towards the end of my program, I got a job as a receptionist for a salon near my apartment. I completed a six week apprenticeship there and then right after I completed it and got the green light to start seeing clients on my own, Covid hit and our salon shut down for a month and a half.

It felt like such a setback but thank God for unemployment checks, family, and my amazing partner who supported me during that time. As soon as the salon reopened, I hit the ground running. I could not wait to see clients on my own. I started to crave more and more independence and eventually, I built up enough of a loyal clientele to take a leap of faith and go out on my own. It’s been about 1 year now since I started my business. It’s overwhelming sometimes because I have to wear so many hats but it’s absolutely worth it. I’ve created something I’m so proud of and I get to do what I love with infinite potential to grow.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My decision to switch careers came from a place of grief at first. Throughout my career in education, I had always taken gigs as a DJ on the weekends. One night, a good friend of mine was working around the corner from one of my gigs and lost his life to gun violence. It was so devastating. I felt guilty for not texting him that night like I was supposed to, and I blamed myself because I felt like if he would have been with me, it would have never happened. But with some good grief counseling and support from friends, I was able to push forward and make some really positive changes in his memory. I realized that I was complacent and losing myself in the field that I was in and I wanted to get the most out of life that I could because it’s so short and fragile. I’m grateful for the perspective that it gave me but I still struggle to make sense of all the gun violence in this country, including his death.

I also struggled a lot with my finances when I went back to school. There was a time when I didn’t have enough to pay all my bills so my power got shut off and I wasn’t able to get it back on for almost a week. It was one of the coldest weeks of the winter and I had to do my makeup and hair in the rearview mirror of my car to get enough light. It was a secret I kept from most people because I was embarrassed. But my hope is that this reaches someone who’s trying to pursue their dreams but struggling with the basics behind the scenes. I hope this helps you find your own strength and stay focused on your vision!!

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?
My business is centered around custom precision hair services. I offer haircuts, hair coloring, eyebrow tinting, and facial waxing. I specialize and am known for my haircuts. I feel confident in my hair cutting skills across all textures and types of hair. What sets me apart from others is the fact that I never shy away from a challenge. Brand wise, I am most proud of the fact that I only use products that are cruelty free, vegan, and climate friendly.

What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is that everyone who comes to see me for a service leaves knowing that they’re worthy of care and celebration of themselves.

Contact Info:

• Website: Elizabeth-rose-hair.com
• Instagram: @elizabeth.rose.hair

Image Credits
Michael and Alicia Lozano