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SEARCHI’m almost 80. I’ve had plenty of time to reflect. How did salon work shape my life? If I could live it all over again, would I choose this path? My answer: absolutely. Here's why.
Carlos Valenzuela has been educating and advocating for many beautiful years.
I stayed. Did you?
Those who stuck it out.
The ones who survived those first two tough years in the salon. We know one thing now: our hands hold power. Real power. The power to make people feel good about themselves in ways no one else can. And that feeling? It ripples far beyond the mirror.
I’ve had plenty of time to reflect. How did salon work shape my life? If I could live it all over again, would I choose this path? My answer: absolutely. No hesitation. It’s the ultimate school of life.
Nowhere else can you get these lessons.
They’re free—if you pay attention. Stand behind the chair, ears open, mouth shut. When you pay tuition to start your training, you had no idea what you were really buying. It wasn’t the basics of hairdressing. No. It was a ticket. To the big game.
Truth is: hairdressing gives you exactly what you put in. Minimal effort? Minimal results. Big effort? Big success. It’s that simple. No shortcut.
I saw it all. The beauty. The heartbreak. Life’s messy, wonderful ways. I’ve cheered for the underdog. I’ve gone home and cried. I’ve comforted a jumpy bride. A heartbroken widow. And once, a teenage girl—someone I first met as a baby—walked in, ready to take on the world. These moments pass quietly, often unspoken. But they’re everything. They’re the heartbeat of what we do.
I eventually learned to listen. Really listen. No judgment.
I learned patience—the kind you need for those unreasonable clients. And this simple truth: kindness can change a day. Sometimes, it can change a life.
We learn to read people in a flash. The glint of excitement in their eyes. The slump of their shoulders when they sit down, not for a haircut, but for hope. Maybe a fresh start. Maybe just a compliment.
There’s grace in this work.
Grace in helping people feel beautiful. Grace in showing them a kinder version of themselves.
To everyone behind the chair: your work matters. More than you’ll ever see. More than you’ll ever hear. Keep shaping the world—with your hands, your heart, your kindness.
And remember this: beauty isn’t just what you create. It’s what you leave behind.
Carlos Valenzuela: Author and Speaker
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