Hidden Gems: Meet Ashley Sánchez-Minaya of Haus of Rizos Studio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Sánchez-Minaya. 

Hi Ashley, 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 backstories with our readers.
My journey has been unpredictable, but one thing that has never changed is my passion for helping people feel confident in their appearance. Since I was young, my friends and family have always sought my help with their outfits. I see each person as a unique canvas. Through personalized styling, anyone can feel confident and beautiful, regardless of body shape or size. I have always believed that when we feel good about our appearance, it helps boosts our confidence, empowering us to conquer the day! 

Initially, I had planned to become a fashion stylist and started studying Fashion Merchandising in college. However, I eventually dropped out to pursue a career in shoe retail. This decision allowed me to explore my passion and discover new ways to help people feel confident. After gaining expertise in shoe retail, I realized I craved more. This realization led me to enroll in Cosmetology school! I wasn’t exactly sure what my plans were after graduating, but I knew deep down that it was my calling. 

After blow-drying my hair straight for years, I decided that it was time to embrace my curls before starting Cosmetology school. Having a love/hate relationship with my hair made me excited to learn more about textured hair. While enrolled, I explored various avenues of cosmetology, including nails, haircuts/coloring, facials, event styling, blowouts, and barbering. I learned great things in Cosmetology school but was left uneducated about my hair. I felt frustrated but knew I couldn’t have been the only person struggling with their hair. I knew that if I could understand and learn to love my hair, I could help any woman love and feel confident in her hair. Then, it became my mission to master everything about curls and to get rid of the idea that curly hair is not enough. 

When I graduated from Cosmetology school in 2017, I jumped into a chair rental salon typically known for stylists with clientele and not newer stylists. I started working as an assistant at a salon boutique that catered to everyone but focused on men’s barbering. While considering my options, I initially thought about specializing in barbering and curls. However, I soon discovered that my true passion lies in working with women’s hair, regardless of whether it is straight or curly. As a result, I moved on from that salon to another one that would allow me to concentrate more on curly hair and not worry about barbering. 

After a few years in that salon, my friend and I decided to start our own business and open a salon suite! We each had our specialties that were different but complemented each other. We moved in two weeks before businesses shut down due to COVID-19. It was a bittersweet moment for me. I was thrilled to embark on this new journey and disappointed that I couldn’t work during the shutdown. I decided to find a positive in a negative situation. I used the shutdown as my time to focus on researching curly hair and not worry about administrative work. During this time, curly hair started to make sense! I understood how to cater to different curl textures. 

I had that business with my friend for two years focusing on curly hair. While building my reputation as a curl specialist, I also honed my skills working with straight hair. In 2022, my friend and I took an entrepreneurship course, Spring GR, to help grow our business. During the program, we learned that we had grown apart and were pursuing different paths, and it was time for my friend and me to part ways and pursue our respective ventures. After consulting with my business coach, Kris Mathis, I realized it was time to focus solely on my true passion – curly hair! 

I started Haus of Rizos Studio as a specialty stylist, combining ‘Haus’ meaning house and ‘Rizos’ meaning curls. My goal was to create a welcoming and inclusive space where everyone with curly hair, regardless of their curl pattern, can feel embraced. I opened my salon suite in February 2023!” 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would be lying if I said it was an easy path. After graduating, I assisted for one year and went straight into chair rental. Chair rental is typically for stylists with a solid clientele, which I didn’t have. I started with a few friends and family who would come in to support me. Being chair rental meant that I had to find my clients myself. So, I got creative by creating promotional stickers of work I’ve done and leaving them in public areas. I did a lot of word-of-mouth and referral discounts. I also used social media to showcase my work and connect with my Facebook friends individually to see if they would be interested in becoming my clients. 

Chair rental also meant being self-employed. I had to learn how to keep track of all my expenses, file for taxes as self-employed, and pay taxes. Things that I had never done before. 

On top of that, there was not much education about curly hair. When I found classes, they were too expensive for me as a newer stylist. I also had to get creative with learning how to cut curly hair. I utilized social media by following curl experts and studying their posts whenever they gave out curl education. I used what I learned in cosmetology school, assisting and researching everything I could on curls. I provided a lot of trial and error by using my close friends, family, and myself as models to learn how to cut, style, and color curly hair. 

I moved to a new salon location every two years, so I was constantly “starting over.” When I opened a business with my friend, that was a new ballpark. I had to learn how to run a business and work with a business partner while still being a stylist at the same time. 

When my friend and I decided to pursue our paths, I had to learn how to dissolve a partnership. Relearn how to start and run my own business all over again and rely solely on myself financially. 

It has not been the smoothest path, but I do not regret it! Every step in my journey has been a learning and growth opportunity. Without this experience, I would not be where I am today! 

As you know, we’re big fans of Haus of Rizos Studio. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
Haus of Rizos is a specialty salon studio that caters to all types of curls. Our exceptional services center around haircutting and coloring. Our top priority is educating our clients to embrace and care for their natural hair with low-maintenance, customized at-home tips. What sets us apart is our one-on-one focus on meeting each client’s unique needs based on their hair texture, current lifestyle, and environmental factors. The first appointment, we treat hair concerns and struggles like a doctor’s visit, going in-depth to find customized solutions. As the clients’ journey continues as their guide, we ensure that their hair concerns are addressed and that their at-home routine has boosted their confidence in their hair. Our goal is for our clients to understand their hair and feel confident styling it! 

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
To run my business effectively, I’ve learned that I must prioritize self-care since what happens in our personal lives can affect how we operate professionally. I start my day by listening to motivational speeches on YouTube, writing down my gratitude, and mentally preparing myself for any potential mishaps that may occur on that day. I am reading a book called “Life is Messy,” which teaches how to put your life back together when things are not going as planned. It serves as a great reminder that it is okay when life does not go as expected. I enhance my skills as a stylist and a business owner by tuning in to podcasts and audiobooks that focus on the business aspects of the beauty industry, such as those by Britt Seva and Nina Tulio, and just the business side of things like the book “Building a story brand” by Donald Miller. I also use social media, youtube, and the internet to study the science of curly hair. Most importantly, I utilize the people around me to help me grow as an individual, stylist, and business owner. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hausofrizosstudio.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/hausofrizosstudio?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hausofrizos
• Other: https://instagram.com/ashleysanchezcurls?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=