Meet Trailblazer Emily Merino

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Merino.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
As a southern child of the 80’s, I discovered my love of hair through the infamous and glorious era of hard rock and roll. There is no denying that the metal legends of those times were also some of the greatest hair gods to ever stroll the planet. Axl Rose, Sebastian Bach; who can argue?! While other girls were playing with their barbies and dolls, I was perched up on the bathroom counter, curling and teasing my hair away. The hair motto of the 80’s was, “the bigger, the better.” And, I counted myself a loyal subject to live up to such a motto.

Now, I was no child of privilege; quite the contrary. As the decades carried on, so did I. Lots of hard knocks and rough roads. Poverty, abuse, and brokenness took up permanent residence in my small family. Much of my life was spent wandering, not having a clue as to who I was and where I was headed.

At the age of 16, I stepped into adulthood as a teen mom and high school drop out. I knew I had to find something to do with my life at that point so, I got my GED and started college a few months after my daughter was born. By 21, I was a college graduate and a high school Spanish teacher. After several years of teaching, I was faced with the glaring realization that I was miserable. I felt stifled by a broken education system and wanted out. Wandering once again, I found myself reflecting on who I was as a little girl. I figured I would be working for a long time and wanted it to be something I loved. “It’s not work if you love what you do,” they say. It was a no-brainer, hair!

Moving from Texas to Colorado, I finally embarked on a journey that would revive my dormant passion. I enrolled in The Aveda Institute of Denver as a cosmetology student and graduated with honors. The Aveda school opened up so many worlds to me within the hair industry. I finally found my place. Not just doing hair behind the chair, but so much more.

Post-graduation, I hit the floor running. Within five years, I built a successful salon business, became a published editorial fashion stylist, and founded a non-profit organization, The Nu.Yu Experience, serving domestic abuse survivors through the transforming power of hair and makeup.

2019 and my life is far from perfect. But, I would definitely say it’s perfectly imperfect. Reconnecting with my childlike passion has allowed much healing to take place within myself. I have found beauty in the pain, freedom in transparency, and joy in filling someone else’s cup. I do what I do for me, with no intended outcome in mind. It’s in the sharing that touches the hearts of others and, like a boomerang, fulfillment comes back to me.

I am the proud mother to four amazing humans; 21, 19, 16, and 11. These four incredible people have taught me more about life and love than all other experiences combined. If I could say anything to anyone it would be, “don’t resent your story.” Your power lies within the story. It’s what makes you uniquely you. Rather than resent it or wonder, ‘why me?’, use it as leverage to achieve your wildest dreams. I’m still working on mine; it’s a lifelong journey. But, every day is a day to cherish and a new day to go forward. Push hard; so hard that no one will ever want to get in your way. That’s a life worth living.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it has not been a smooth road. It’s been torturous at times, trying to say the least, and many times, seemingly worthless. My advice, keep going. Keep going, keep going, keep going. And, when it feels like you can’t go anymore, keep going. Draw your strength from within yourself.

Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m a bit of a hair addict and a lover of all things hair. I thrive in creating customized looks that empower and enhance one’s self-image. An artist at heart, my clients are my canvas. Through creative color, craft cutting, and timeless styling I am able to tell a unique personalized story for every guest. I serve my clients at two locations; The Oxford Club Spa and Salon in Lo-Do and in Evergreen at Bear Essence Salon and Boutique. My passion for hair and humanity goes way beyond the salon setting, as I believe in giving back and creating a culture of love and gratitude within my sphere of influence. In that light, I am also a hair color educator for Color.Me by Kevin.Murphy, the Founder and Executive Director of The Nu.Yu Experience and a dabbler in Editorial and Boudoir work.

We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
Women have the capacity to thrive in the beauty industry. With the age of the internet and social media, endless knowledge is readily available to enable continued growth and education. I would say complacency is a huge barrier to females in my industry and in general. It’s easy to get burned out and become stagnant. It’s a natural phenomenon we have to fight against with awareness and action. As women, we all too often look for a hero in the external world. Instead, dive deep into your soul and be your own hero!

Contact Info:

• Address: Two Locations: Denver @ The Oxford Club Spa and Salon
  1616 17th Street Suite 100; 80202Evergreen @ Bear Essence Salon and Boutique
  27614 Fireweed Drive; 80439
• Website: www.emilysuzanne.me
• Phone: 720.501.8133
• Email: emily@emilysuzanne.me
• Instagram: @hairbyemilysuzanne
• Facebook: @hairbyemilysuzanne

Image Credit:
Ronne Pierce, Ricardo Mejia, Douglas Chapin, Heidi Gress, Aubrecia Porter

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