Life & Work with Antonia Garcia

Today we’d like to introduce you to Antonia Garcia.

Hi Antonia, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am the cliche where I always knew I wanted to be a hairstylist. At a very young age, I was always doing my sister’s hair, friend’s hair, and would constantly get around bush stuck in my grandmother’s hair. Fast forward years later after attempts at college and convincing myself and others that trade school was okay I am now living out my dream career.

My journey into my career: I heard about Melissa Kelly & her extensions through a friend of mine/ a client of hers at the time. I loved it and wanted to know more. So I made an appointment with Melissa as a client. At the time she had a chair in the lash house. I loved her and her extensions! I continued to go to her for months until I finally asked her to be a part of what she was doing. I was in school at the time and she was just switching over to another salon she was opening. I asked if I could just come in once a week for a few hours. I didn’t want anything from her other than to sweep their hair and to be surrounded by her. I just had the excitement of “WOW this is something great! I want to be here.” She didn’t hesitate saying yes. She quickly became more than just a person I was just standing behind.

I had plenty of struggles getting to where I am. I was working 2 jobs and going to school and still trying to maintain an everyday life. It was a lot of work and very crushing.

What I do now: Extension and bridal specialist

Melissa then opened a salon called Bellohaven which I followed her to. I am a stylist at the salon and I also am a lead educator for bellohaven extensions. I travel all over the US and teach host salons about our method of installation, hair extensions, and about the culture of Bellohaven. I always want to share my knowledge with other stylists. I am competing with no one but myself. I want every hairstylist to be able to create magic and to have their clients leave their chairs so happy. This is why we are in this industry. I want to make everyone feel their absolute best! Every client should be given the opportunity to feel confident and beautiful. I can’t touch every client’s head but I can try to teach as many stylists as possible.

I also am a bridal hairstylist. I LOVE love and I am always so excited when my beautiful brides pick me to help get them ready for their big day. These girls truly are my friends once I leave them to walk down the isle.

The last and final job I am also a stylist at Fifty Two Eighty salon in cherry creek. Everything I do as a stylist for bellohaven I also do in cherry creek, it is just a lot closer of a drive to home for me. Lol.

I truly am blessed and so grateful that I get to go to work every day and love what I am doing. I constantly tell my Fiancé Lance that I am going to hang out with my friends. His response, “no you’re going to work, seeing your friends is just a part of it”. Lol

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Not at all. And still isn’t!

I have had plenty of struggles and unexpected life changes. At the beginning, I was bartending, and assisting, while going to school. This was hard lol you are poor and cry all the time but there is absolutely nothing you can do except keep going. My father was sick. I had just been dumped lol Every single part of my life was changing. I just remember everyone close to me telling me to keep going. Melissa told me numerous times,” it will all be worth it. It’s hard but it will all be worth it.’ This is something I even tell future hairstylists. Gosh, it’s so hard but it is so gratifying when you’re done.

Even now there are still challenges.

The beauty industry is cutthroat.

You would think that we would stand next to each other rather than against one another. I think this is slowly something that we are starting to see.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in extensions and bridal hair. This is def what I am known for. There are so many things I am proud of accomplishing but I am always setting my goals higher.

– I am grateful to have seen my brides in Rocky Mountain bridal and other bridal magazines. I think this has been a huge accomplishment. And it’s happened multiple times for me.

I would say being asked to fill out this interview is also something I am proud of. I work with some great ladies and for them to think I am equally as great is amazing.

I think what sets me apart from others is that I genuinely care. I care about my clients, their families and their interests. I want to give everyone beautiful hair it’s not just a paycheck for me.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success to me is knowing that I am bettering people’s lives when they are in my chair or next to me. It is not what I wear or the objects I have. It is how I treat people and how I make them feel.

Contact Info:

• Email: Antoniadgarcia@outlook.com
• Instagram: @antoniadg

Image Credits
Portrait shot – photographer @danjabarberphotography