Conversations with the Inspiring Alondra Calderon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alondra Calderon.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am one of eight kids with me being the second youngest and only 1 sister. So, growing up with all boys, I was a tomboy growing up. I started to show interest in hair/makeup when I was 13/14 years old behind closed doors, nobody really knew it was an interest of mine. I started sharing more and more of it when I reached high school. Watching lots of YouTube and practicing all the crazy things on myself. But it still is a hobby of mine. I always wanted to work with marine animals and that was going to be my goal. As for the hair just being a hobby of mine, I always just thought I could just walk up to a hair salon and say: hey, hire me and teach me and I’ll learn more, not really what it actually took to be a hairstylist. So, all my years of high school, I was practicing to do hair on some of my friends not really knowing what I was doing, but here I was. My senior year of high school, I was enrolled into Maxwell Highschool, where I managed to do an introduction to cosmetology. First semester flew by and I absolutely fell in love with everything and was determined to learn more. I also realized I was terrified of the big body’s of water so much for working with marine animals.

After I graduated high school, I was so determined to go to hair school not knowing how much it actually was or what it took to make it. Unfortunately, I wasn’t qualified for any financial aid and I didn’t come from a wealthy family to expect financial help from my parents which forced me to take a year off and save my butt off for this which really forced me to grow up faster than some people my at my age.

A year later, I was able to put myself through hair school putting what I have saved and being able to make monthly payments. Fortunately, I took the introduction to cosmetology in high school that lowered down my tuition and what would have taken two years only took ten months.

Towards the last couple of months, I was able to land a good salon job which started me out as basically an assistant and go through more intensive training. I was not able to take any clients until six months of training on the floor. I had the best mentors and stylist friends there. I learned there in a couple of months that I would have ever learned in school. Of course, the school only prepare you for the state board test. I can say I’m the stylist I am today because of the amazing people I was surrounded by. So, three years in with that company and I knew I could do more, I wanted more. So, I made the big move from Buford to Midtown! Going from suburbs to the city is a pretty scary thing! Especially in this industry, where you grow a clientele in one art, you’re scared no one will make that drive. Boy! Was I wrong! I can say 85% of my clients all followed me to continue this hair journey of mine in the big city.

Working in the city was always a huge dream of mine but I never knew how I was going to get there. I was so surprised, I did it in such little time and I had the support I had. Being in this industry has definitely been life-changing, it has taught me so much and help me grow professionally and personally. It definitely has its challenges, it wasn’t all that great. Sometimes, days where I wanted to quite like. Million times, I have definitely been belittled, mocked, and criticized. Learning everything so fast and being so young people definitely looked down on me and took advantage of that. You definitely have to get a backbone for this it’s hard sometimes, and you can’t let people bully you. But all in all, those experiences help me learn and shape me into a better stylist and person. I honestly don’t ever have that dreadful feeling like, ugh, I have to go to work. It’s more I have somewhere to be. I can’t quite explain it but never feels like work. I can be having a bad day or just not feeling like myself but when I tell you once I start do color, I swear I’m having the time of my life, I feel like all my troubles are all gone for those couple of hours of doing hair. Some people come dreading their day and somehow mine is better. I have met the most amazing people who are not a huge part of my life, most even went to my wedding! I have clients who I’ve been doing their hair since high school in my room. The amount of love and support is what keeps me going to better myself, to keep learning, to continue to be successful.

I have been doing hair behind the chair as licensed cosmetologist for only four years and overall six years of doing hair and loving it. It’s a never-ending industry where you have to keep learning and have to want to keep learning. It’s always changing constantly moving and social media definitely takes a big role in that. There are so many new trends coming and going and coming back, you have to say on top of it all, it can be overwhelming! It’s a very competitive industry there’s always the next hit thing killing it. But what I always say, there’s enough room for everyone. We can all win, but your heart has to be on your passion, for this will take you a long way. Anyone can go to school and learn it, but if you don’t have the passion, you won’t make it. Passion is what kept me going to practice and keep learning and can’t be afraid to fall. I can honestly say I put my blood sweat and tears into my career to get me where I am today and I’m not even done yet, but I’m still going!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Not at all! All of them! From not having enough money to put back into it, it’s a lot of investment. To getting discouraged, to not being taken seriously. Not exaggerating but life really falling apart!

I would say to anyone starting out, don’t lose your passion for it because it’s not an easy road by any means, but the passion for your craft is what will get you through it. I never thought I’d make it but my life for this industry is real. My passion for it what kept me practicing. It won’t happen overnight and don’t get discouraged as long as you put your all, you’ll be ok.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m a hairstylist! I specialize in hair coloring, in general, color corrections to funky colors to hair painting!
Because of it being such a huge trend since I started my career and being so young, I attract all the young girls who want to be chic and trendy, I am definitely known as the Balayage queen since I started my career.
I think my corrective colors was a huge obstacle for me and being able to overcome that has to be my biggest proud moment. I’m able to take on any color corrections that sits in my chair.

I think for me, what would set me apart from others is that even I’m known for blondes and balayage, I was able to do a variety of hair coloring! And I’m not afraid to either! Most stylists want to just do blondes, they want to just do vibrant colors, or just color corrections. For me, bring it all! I love having that dynamic, I love a challenge giving me to think! I’m also not afraid to tell you no! I don’t sugarcoat anything! In a nice way, I can say no! And that’s really important for a stylist not to get bullied by clients. But hey, they come back for a reason. As a professional, it’s our job to guide our clients to the best hair route we can.

Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
As a Latina female, I will always say, Selena! This woman broke boundaries as a woman in a male-dominated field. She did things her way, in her own style and was able to touch the hearts of millions of people! She was so empowering to other women and that’s just what we need more of! Her soul was just so beautiful. As a woman striving to be my own boss, I hope I can empower other women to do something they absolutely love.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @nonastylez

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