Today we’d like to introduce you to Desiree Dominguez.
Hi Desiree, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve always known I wanted to be a hairstylist. Growing up as the youngest of three and the only girl, my two older brothers were my very first “clients.” They patiently let me play beauty salon on them until one day they decided to buzz all their hair off. My mom noticed how disappointed I was because my little salon had suddenly closed.
That Christmas, my parents surprised me with the popular life-size Barbie styling head, which today would be known as a Barbie mannequin head. I immediately started experimenting with color, taking apart my Crayola markers, soaking the ink in water, and dipping her hair into the homemade dye. When my mom realized my markers were mysteriously disappearing, she stopped buying them, so I got creative and switched to Kool-Aid instead.
As my confidence grew, so did my curiosity. I started cutting my Barbie’s hair, little by little, until she eventually had no hair left. I figured it was time for a new styling head, but my mom encouraged me to use my other Barbies instead. Looking back, she probably had no idea she was teaching me resourcefulness at such a young age.
By fifth grade, I had moved on from Barbies and started practicing on myself. I learned to style my own hair and spent countless hours braiding and experimenting on my childhood best friend, whose hair I still have the privilege of doing to this day. In high school, I became the go-to person for prom and homecoming hair and even found myself braiding classmates’ hair in the middle of class.
After graduating from high school in 2012, I enjoyed one last summer with my friends before enrolling in cosmetology school. I graduated just over a year later and landed my first salon job only one month after earning my license. That opportunity brought me to Boulder, where I’ve built my career over the past decade, growing not only as a hairstylist but also as a business owner.
Today, I’m the proud owner of Halo & Honey Salon, a dream that became a reality after years of hard work, education, dedication to my craft, and the unwavering support of my husband, son, family, friends, and all of my amazing clients. Next month, I’ll be celebrating my one-year business anniversary! Looking back, it’s incredible to think it all started with two patient brothers, a Barbie styling head, a best friend who let me try every hairstyle on her, and a lot of Crayola markers and Kool-Aid.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would say it’s been about a 50/50 journey. There have been incredible highs, but there have also been moments where I questioned whether I was capable of achieving everything I dreamed of.
I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression for much of my life, and there were many days filled with self-doubt. There were times when I felt surrounded by negativity, and it was difficult not to let those voices become louder than my own.
One of the hardest chapters was becoming a new mom. Experiencing postpartum depression while returning to work was incredibly challenging. Leaving my newborn son each day to build my career came with a lot of guilt, but I also knew I was working to create a life and future for him. That perspective kept me moving forward, even on the hardest days.
Owning a business has brought its own set of challenges as well. People often see the hours spent behind the chair, but they don’t always see everything that happens outside of appointments—marketing, social media, inventory, scheduling, client communication, bookkeeping, and the countless responsibilities that come with running a business. Then, at the end of the day, I close the salon doors and step into my most important role: being a mom.
Learning to separate work from home life has been one of the biggest lessons of business ownership. I’m still learning that balance every day, but I’ve realized that taking care of myself and being present with my family allows me to show up as a better salon owner, hairstylist, and mother.
Looking back, every obstacle, challenge, and season of growth over the last decade has been worth it. They shaped not only the hairstylist I am today but also the woman and business owner I’ve become. Opening Halo & Honey Salon was a dream years in the making, and every difficult moment along the way has made achieving that dream even more meaningful.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in lived-in and dimensional blondes and brunettes, custom color, all-over color, gray blending, men’s and women’s haircuts, curly haircuts, and Keratin Complex treatments. While I offer a wide range of services, I’m especially known for creating natural, low-maintenance color that grows out beautifully while still feeling luxurious and personalized.
One thing my clients often tell me is that they appreciate how much I educate them. Whether someone is sitting in my chair for the first time or they’ve been with me for years, I believe it’s important that they understand what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, and how to care for their hair long after they leave the salon. My goal isn’t just to create beautiful hair for one appointment—it’s to help my clients feel confident in maintaining healthy, beautiful hair every day.
One of the things I’m most proud of is the education I’ve invested in throughout my career. When I graduated cosmetology school in 2013, many of the lived-in and dimensional color techniques that are so popular today either didn’t exist or weren’t widely taught. As the industry evolved, I made it a priority to continue learning, attending advanced education and refining my techniques so I could continue giving my clients the very best. Hair is an art, and I believe there’s always something new to learn.
What truly sets me apart, though, goes beyond the services I provide. I want every guest who walks through my doors to feel comfortable, welcomed, and genuinely cared for. I don’t believe in creating a transactional experience where clients feel like just another appointment on my schedule. I build real relationships with the people who trust me with their hair, and many have become like family over the years.
At the end of the day, I simply show up as myself. I’m down-to-earth, I love to laugh, and I want my clients to feel like they’re spending time with a friend while receiving a luxury experience. I believe that’s what keeps people coming back—not just the hair they leave with, but how they felt while they were here.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
One thing that surprises people is that I’m actually pretty shy outside of the salon.
When I’m behind the chair, talking with my clients comes naturally. I can spend hours laughing, telling stories, and getting to know the people sitting in my chair. But outside of work, especially when I’m meeting someone for the first time, I’m much more reserved than people expect.
My family, friends, and longtime clients would probably laugh if they heard me say that because once I’m comfortable, I can talk your ear off. But the truth is, I’m usually not the one to start the conversation. I love connecting with people—I just tend to wait for someone else to break the ice first.
I think that’s one of the reasons I value the relationships I’ve built through my career so much. Over time, those conversations become genuine friendships, and that’s one of my favorite parts of being a hairstylist.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://humblemehairllc.glossgenius.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desiree_halo.honeysalon
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1D9BmdjjHk/?mibextid=wwXIfr
