
How to Build a Sustainable Beauty Career Without Burning Out
LifeSpa leader Ali Yanez explains why strong mentorship, predictable income, meaningful recognition and the right work environment help beauty professionals build careers that last.
We checked-in with one of our mentors and motivators, long-time MODERN SALON blogger, Carlos Valenzuela. After 40 years as a hairdresser, educator, and industry expert, he has some words of advice for stylists navigating our current situation.

Carlos Valenzuela is an international educator who has taught thousands of beauty professionals how to have a thriving career.
Carlos Valenzuela is the ultimate champion and cheerleader for hair stylists. He has guided us through so many tricky situations, including telling COVID-19 not to mess with stylists, and then some important basics like self-care tips, how-to fire a client or avoiding gossip in the break room (remember break rooms? *sigh). In this piece, as he was preparing to enter a new phase in his life, he reflected on his 40-year career and talks about what he might have done differently. We call Carlos our Spirit Guide because he has so much insight and such a big, generous heart. (See below for more links to Carlos' blogs on MODERNSALON.com)
Here's a recent ZOOM call in which Carlos and I talk about how hard this crisis is hitting stylists, especially newer stylists--who may have been living paycheck-to-paycheck--and some suggestions for taking care of yourself and your bills, right away, along with a reminder that others are also suffering and we must continue to reach out.
We'll continue to check in with him as we weather this storm, to get our daily dose of Carlos.
See more from Carlos Valenzuela here:
Thoughts On Retiring My Shears

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