Hidden Gems: Meet Karla Monagas of XI•XI BEAUTY STUDIO

Today we’d like to introduce you to Karla Monagas.

Hi Karla, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
First and foremost, thank you so much for this interview is a blessing for my business and I. My name is Karla Yussell Monagas (That’s Karla with a “k” lol). I am a Paramedical Licensed aesthetician, founder, and owner of XI•XI BEAUTY STUDIO in Lakewood, Colorado. I am from the dominican Republic. Raised in the Dominican Republic and here in Colorado from late childhood, through my teenage years and into adulthood. As a child, I admired and aspired to be like the strong beautiful woman that surrounded me. My Grandmother was the most influential. She was an incredible entrepreneur, and like myself she started her professional career in the medical field. From a young age, I admired everything about my grandmother, I wanted to be as graceful, compassionate, artistic, intelegent, and as strong as she was. I am very blessed to have learned from her and be inspired by her while she graced this earth, She is now one of my angels in heaven, but I feel her presence always guiding and protecting me throughout my life, and now more than ever in my entrepreneurial journey.

As a young adult, immediately after high school, I entered the medical field through dentistry as a Certified Expanded Duty Dental Assistant. I thrived in my career and I was great at restorative dentistry; working my way from lead assistant to back-office coordinator up to Dental office manager, and also as a dental assistant instructor various times in my career.

Achieving more and more throughout the years. And yet I found myself yearning for the adventure of, “what if I go after my dreams”. The entrepreneur in me was not trying to be detained any longer! It was apparent that from a very young age I had a passion in beauty and esthetics like my grandmother had. But a full college degree is what I was raised to try to achieve so though deep down I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur in the beauty industry, I believed I wouldn’t be succeful in it, or that it may not be profitable enough to have the life I aspired to have. I wasn’t fully convinced to go the traditional college route so I did the logical thing for me at the time and got my foot in the medical field assisting (via dentistry).

I dedicated over a decade successfully in the dental world but I felt a very strong vocation calling to fulfill my purpose and go after my dreams! I wasn’t getting any younger; so eight years ago I decided to go for it and my real entrepreneurial journey began. I went back college to become an esthetician!!

Right at the beginning of my new career path, I went through some life-altering events that didn’t allow me to complete my boards examinations at that time. Life through such a curveball my way that it moved my immediate family (Husband, son, and I) to the East coast…

We relocated to Florida and left my extended family in Colorado!

Upon arrival to Florida, I wasted no time and signed back up for college to complete my Esthetician licensing. To my surprise, the esthetician program was on such high demand, that it had a heck of a waiting list.

Meanwhile, I waited to enter the Esthe’ program in West Palm Beach, I took full advantage of Florida’s state regulations. I began my Business with the certifications that I had already obtained.

Year one of entrepreneurship, I became a licensed tattoo artist and focused on permanent makeup.

I opened up a small suite-only offering cosmetic tattoos until I could complete my full licensing.

The waiting list for the esthetician program seemed to be getting me no where; So, I began to take matters into my own hands. For a few semesters, I waited until midnight when the college would post the new courses available, but by 12:01am the class would already be full. It took a little over a year of doing that constantly, until one day, instead of it saying the class was full, it actually allowed me to register.

I took myself back to school (again) but this time I was able to completed my mission!!! I passed my all my examinations and practicals and became a fully licensed professional. It was a triumphal moment for me! Not only did I accomplish a huge goal of mine but now my license allowed me to offer more services in my business within the scope of my license of course, but giving me the possibility non the less to become more profitable (Ends Year Two of my entrepreneur journey).

Then…

2020, the first quarter of year three in my entrepreneurship. Everything was going great (keeping in mind the first five years of a business are the hardest, but everything was running smoothly and I was finally beginning to pay myself a little something) until… the Pandemic began.

It not only became difficult for all small businesses but it affected me by completely stopping all my operations for a few months consecutively. Because I worked with open pathogens, and we knew nothing (at that time) about the virus, not performing my services and quarantining was the only way to keep myself and my family and myself safe. It was a scary time; my husband and I were both furloughed from our main sources of income and we were expecting our second child eleven years apart from our first. We found ourselves not knowing how we were going to maintain our residential and commercial responsibilities without producing. Because of the state of emergency, we had to make an executive decision. After a lot of prayer and dwelling, we felt guided to close down shop permanently.

It was heartbreaking for us! I felt as if I failed myself and my dreams, but It just wasn’t smart for us to continue considering how much of a loss we would have at the end of the pandemic. It was a lot of uncertainties. Through that heartbreak, I wanted nothing more then to be back with my extended family; and so, at 35 weeks pregnant, my family and I put everything in God’s hands and we said goodbye to the East Coast to return to colorful Colorado.

God is so merciful that it wasn’t long before we found an affordable commercial rental and decided to invest our savings, and reopen shop.

This is year one my entrepreneur journey (again), but this time in colorful Colorado which I consider home.

After a lot of hard work and rennovations, we now have a storefront with five treatment areas. We are expanding by growing our team with ethical licensed professionals, offering even more services (for the convenience of our clients).

I am beginning to feel proud of myself and starting to see my business becoming profitable, and it’s truly a blessing to see all my hard work excelling. Since begining my entreprenurial journey, our business has grown and so has our family. We now have a teenager, a one year old and a four month old, and of ocurse the biggest baby of all, our business.

Although entrepreneurship is a roller coaster of finances and emotions, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I’ve evolved into a complete beauty boss, I feel myself reaching and accomplishing all my goals and aspirations. I follow my business plan to a “T”. Accepting my past failures as leassons learned, while giving all praise to God, staying dedicated and determined to growing my business and growing my professional team while striving to thrive… This “take two” is slowly but surely realizing all my dreams.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not picture perfect smooth no. I’ve experienced a few bumps along the way!! But besides holding back when begining my professional carreer and not pursuing my actual dreams because of fear/judgment, I truly believe my biggest struggle was how much Covid -19 affected my business and my family.

At that time, losing our jobs and my business was detrimental to my family and I. And it was very emotional. I instantly felt like a failure allowing self-doubt in, making me feel like I was better of going back to Dentistry. And after the birth of my second son, back to dentistry I went. To my dismay, I felt as if I no longer belonged there. As confusing as that feeling was, it helped me regain strength to attempt a “Take Two” at entrepreneurship. It gave a new drive to my strive! Any struggles I have faced now have not been as bumpy as that. However, my most recent struggle is definitely our economy. Which was also affected by the pandemic; making small business owners less production as the world and our clients/customers/consumers are trying to overcome all of their losses as well; But I keep my faith strong and my perseverance active, I am not giving up! After all I’ve been through, I trust in the lord and I truly believe this too shall pass. Our economy will rise and it will be restored, so our entire nation can prosper.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about XI•XI BEAUTY STUDIO?
Let me tell you about the biggest misconception with my business name (becoming my biggest ice breaker with my clients and I, thought it was never intended to be confusing). Everyone thinks that XI•XI BEAUTY STUDIO (sai-sai) beauty studio and its actually 11•11 beauty studio (XI•XI is eleven•eleven in Roman Numerals).

It’s turns out to be pretty funny now every time the topic comes up; like a little ice breaker before getting down to the needy greedy and the fun part, which are my services.

At XI•XI BEAUTY STUDIO, we service and treat Skin, Brows, and lashes. Our Services include hair removal (waxing depilation method), facials treatments for all skin conditions, some signatures facials as well as Some great add-ons that further benefits your skin and fully customizes your treatments. We also offer, Individual lash extensions, Permanent/semi-permanent make-up including Microblading (hair strokes), Microshading (ombre), microcombination (the combination of both), lips, facial pigmentation (freckles), micro-pigmentation removal and Makeup applications for any occasion.

My business slogan is “Enhancing Aesthetics Through Art” because our craft is art. It’s our passion! My team and I work ethically with pride, to provide quality services specialized and mastered through years of Experience and education. I’m dedicated to finding more licensed professionals that would like to join my team and service our community, bringing more services and treatments to offer our clients and making our studio well-rounded in all aspects of esthetics and beauty.

Something else I could tell you is that I learned a lot from my medical background in dentistry. I truly have incorporated all my experience into my beauty studio. I run my practice just like I managed dental offices. Running my treatment areas, the same way I ran the back office of a Dental practice. From being OSHA compliant to sanitatizing using medical-grade products and taking all universal precautions. To even charting my skin analysis and procedure notes, and allocating them with my client intake forms, medical history and consent forms as well. While also running my reception area just like I would Manage the front of a dental office, from confirming appointments to reconciling my books. I treat my clients with the same care and compassion that I would a patient. And I treat my beauty studio as I would a dental practice. I also invest into furthering my education a lot. Taking Continuing education courses to not only advance in the industry but to also stay current with all new practices; I believe this makes me more authentic and stands me out from the rest.

What would you say your specialty is?
My Specialty is Permanent make-up (though I love Facial treatments and extractions because I was somehow blessed with magical healing hands), my expertise is permanent/semi-permanent make-up. I love giving eyebrows a defined appearance, from bold brows to the more a natural look; I believe eyebrows gives my clients a more youthful appearance and helps them express themself better with their facial expressions.

Pricing:

• Facial treatments starting at $75.00
• Waxing services starting at $8.00
• Microblading/Microshading starting at $350.00
• Semipermanent tattoo removal starting at $200.00
• Individual lashes extensions starting at $150.00

Contact Info:

• Email: xixibeautystudio@gmail.com
• Website: www.xixibeautystudio.com
• Instagram: @xixi.beauty.studio
• Facebook: XIXI_beauty_studio
• Youtube: XIXI Beauty
• Other: https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&output=search&q=XI•XI+BEAUTY+STUDIO&ludocid=2676317590682201169&ibp=gwp;0,7&lsig=AB86z5WUoegnc5ta–B-c4TjAMeX&kgs=bd5491791c184640&shndl=-1&source=sh/x/kp/local&entrypoint=sh/x/kp/local