Stylist Spotlight: Andrea Aguilera, Rooted Salon

Stylist Spotlight: Andrea Aguilera, Rooted Salon

Our Affiliates play a crucial role in the VirtueⓇ community. As shepherds of the brand, they are our feet on the ground and our voices behind the chair. Each Affiliate Spotlight, we love sharing with you these stewards of style who share our vision that everyone deserves to have truly healthy hair. They remind us that teamwork makes the dreamwork, and we’re so grateful they chose our team.

Owner/stylist Andrea Aguilera of Rooted Salon in Redlands, CA, grew up in the salon. “My mom has been a hairdresser for 30 years. All my kindergarten papers said I wanted to be a hairdresser when I grew up,” she says. After high school, Andrea got her bachelor’s in business while working at salons in Pasadena and L.A. Then just last year she and her mother decided to hone their combined powers and opened their own salon. “We work together like yin and yang,” she says. Here she shares her love of silence after a long day, all the different places she stashes her Lifting Powder, and how, eventually, she’ll find a work-life balance.


Q: What insights do you have for the pro community regarding re-openings/navigating the new normal?
You really have to go with the changes; they’re constant. Your business will be successful if you can adapt. Since we couldn’t be behind the chair, we had to change what we offered, like more products and videos. If you’re not stubborn to change and adapt to the now, that will make the transition easier.


Q: What’s your favorite memory from your journey? When did it feel like you caught your “big break?”
When I started working for my boss Sarah Conner. She works in Beverly hills at high-end salons, and it was just such a blessing to get that experience. I really appreciated the different lifestyle and education.


Q: Is there anyone in the industry or beyond that you really admire, or someone who inspired you in your career?
I look up to my mom (Rosie) and Sarah so much. My mom has accomplished a consistent clientele. Sarah has made a living out of doing hair, and she showed me that it’s possible. Rosie and Sarah never say “no” and they do everything; they have so many skills, which allows them to reach different clientele.


Q: What’s your favorite way to unwind after work?
I love to just sit in the quiet since I’m in such a busy, loud environment all day. I would never mind a beer.


Q: If you could spend the day with someone who you consider a “style icon” who would it be? What would you do?
I would want to spend the day with J-Lo. She has her life together––from hair to makeup to workouts to personality and style. I would just like to see how she runs her life. I’d want to do a workout together, hang out in her glam room, go on set of World of Dance, and hang out with A-Rod (that would be cool).


Q: How do you like to stay up to date on the latest trends, techniques, and styles?
I feel like being in L.A. helps with staying up to date on trends. The environment does the majority of it. Instagram also helps a lot.


Q: What’s a trend that you hope comes back? Never goes out of style?
I love a good French bob. It hasn’t necessarily gone out of style, but it’s not the latest trend.


Q: What do you value most about being a Virtue® affiliate?
I love how Virtue® values community and relationships; they’re hands-on and value the bond with us as stylists. I know many of the Virtue® team members by name because they call, offer classes, and work to establish good relationships with us.


Q: What was the worst haircut you ever had?
When I was 5 I begged my mom to cut my hair into a bob. I had long ringlet curls down to my butt; they were super pretty. She wouldn’t do it. So, I went around to every stylist in the salon asking them to do it, and she finally caved. It was a bob with bangs too.


Q: Worst haircut you ever gave someone else?
Probably a men’s haircut. I just did my boyfriend’s hair and he ended up shaving it all off.


Q: What was the first hairstyle or technique that you mastered? The hardest?
The first technique I mastered was braiding. I’ve been braiding hair on all my friends since I was young. All different types of braids. That was a lot of fun. The hardest has been men’s cuts.


Q: What’s your personal hair routine? Your favorite part of your hair routine?
I use Full Shampoo and Smooth Conditioner. Then I use Un-Frizz Cream because my hair is wavy. I kind of twist my finger to make ringlets around my whole head. Then I use Lifting Powder on my roots and a little on my ends to make it a little wild and textured. I love a natural curl with a lot of texture. The Lifting Power has to be my favorite part. I have one in my car, one in my makeup bag, one my bathroom... I need one everywhere because I use it all the time every day. I like that it kind of works as a dry shampoo too. It’s like a two for one.


Q: What other things are you passionate about that aren’t hair related?
My family, my friends, and sleeping.


Q: What’s your favorite guilty pleasure to indulge?
Eating ice cream while watching trashy TV. I love The Real Housewives.


Q: How do you manage work-life balance?
Working in L.A. and having my own salon in Redland, I feel like there is no balance. In the hair industry, if you say no, you don’t make money. It’s like I have to say yes. I feel like I’ll balance my life when I’m in my 30s.


Q: What’s next for your career?
Establishing my business. We just opened this last year and are still learning so much. I’m excited for us to get a nice rhythm of just maintaining the new salon.


Q: What advice would you give to your younger self?
Learn how to balance my life. Try to be more disciplined with work and personal time.

Stylist SpotlightsStylist Spotlights
2020-09-10 19:06:00 0 viewed