Today we’d like to introduce you to Berenice Lopez.
Hi Berenice, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born in the Dominican Republic in a small town called Moción, I was raised by my grandmother Evangelista Cruz and my grandfather Isidro López since I was 4 years old. My young mother had to go to another city to support my family and me. My father was not financially present in my life, in those times his days were difficult.
At the age of 9, I returned to live with my mother, by then I was in Venezuela when the country was prosperous and free. I had a good job as a stylist and our life was calm and stable. Thanks to my mom. Although I missed my grandmother a lot, I started my new life, new school, and new friends. At the age of 14, I started as a hairdresser’s assistant in the city of Caracas where they did Miss Venezuela’s hair. I learned a lot about hairstyles and designs.
I came out of there as an expert in hairstyles and with the strong conviction to study beauty like my mother!!! It was when it all began, I studied school in the morning and beauty in the afternoon, and I graduated with the title of cosmetologist at “Kismet Academy”. When I turned 16 my mother decided to move to New York in 1986. When I arrived, I began to study English and work in my aunt Clara’s salon. I did not know any word in English, just “yes”. Soon I learned some words, I could see the joy of my clients when I cut their hair, or when I did different hairstyles.
I remember that they came every Friday with their hairstyles intact, but ready to be washed and styled again, it was time!!! I used to do all the services: hairstyles, cuts, manicures, pedicures, wax, and I was delighted that every day I learned more and more about beauty and English because practice makes perfect!!! In 4 months, I could speak English! English from the street! I worked in different salons where I learned the art of treading, an Indian technique for removing hair from the face. At 18 years old, I met the father of my 4 children, and of course, I was in love! My first experience with a boyfriend.
After a few months, we consolidated a relationship and my first daughter María Victoria (currently the owner of the Berenice spa, and an excellent stylist in Cuenca, Ecuador) arrived. Those were difficult times, being an only child leaving my mother alone was hard, I felt guilty, after being separated from her for so long during my childhood…. My pregnancy changed everything. I was brave and told her “Mom I’m expecting a baby” Her little face turned sad, she expected more from me, as a mother she wanted to see me shine!
When I became a mother, everything was more difficult. After a few years, I got married. I worked in Manhattan at the Sheraton hotel, where I met celebrities like Omar Sharif, an Egyptian actor, and Jerry Orbach from the movie “Dirty Dancing”, Prince and Demi Moore. Meanwhile, my mother decides to open her beauty salon. We work hard, we achieve a large clientele, we turn “Flavia Unisex” into a success and it remained so until her retirement.
Those were prosperous times, we went to courses and shows, always updating ourselves on the latest Cuts, trends, new hairstyles, color designs, products, etc. At the age of 25, I have my second son Luis Enrique, he did not like external beauty but he loved Medicine, he is a Doctor currently in Barcelona Spain taking his specialty in intensive care. After 2 years the father of my son decided to go to his country of origin “Ecuador”, for another change, a new culture, and new challenges, it was difficult but not impossible!
Shortly after arriving in Ecuador to the beautiful city of Cuenca, a city with incomparable weather, always spring full of flowers and fruits with beautiful colonial architecture. Shortly after, my third daughter Esmeralda arrives. Beautiful as her name, currently an Esthetician and lash artist in my current salon. This was a hard but wonderful experience full of learning. After 3 years of living in that beautiful city, I made the decision, which would have changed my life, the doors of “Berenice the art of hair design” open.
My salon and spa saved me! Everything started to flow easily, people started to come to my business fluently and it was fantastic! I could take care of my children and work at the same time. They were always by my side waiting for the end of the day to go home. The days passed and the business grew, 4 years later, life rewarded me again with another beautiful gift, my little Khalindy, named after a goddess, (currently the receptionist in my current salon).
Meanwhile surviving in marriage…. Life goes on…..as a woman, mother, and wife, I wanted to get ahead, be brave, strong, and always positive. Thanking God for life. Giving an example of strength to my children and the women around me, I became famous in the city of Cuenca for my work and my great personality, always with good vibes and a smile on my face. 25 years of struggles, successes, and defeats passed, and with that came the divorce. It was time for a change and the internal search for a new horizon began.
Freedom was what I felt, my work and my children came first. I dedicated myself. I became a master stylist. Designing Haircuts and colors according to your face and your personality for men and women, I dedicated myself to perfecting mn techniques, focused on the unique details of each person.
After 5 years in 2016, I met a very special person. I never thought that someone who would fill my heart with hope and love lived just around the corner. Diego Duran, my husband, thanks to him I am in Minnesota because I never thought to come to this state. My idea was to return to New York, a familiar place for me. When I met Diego we went out for about 3 months and we separated.
One day, he wrote to me, I’m in Minneapolis, I was surprised!!! We started with the messages and the relationship activated again. I traveled to Minneapolis to meet him, it was a wonderful trip. It was in July in the middle of summer, in a clean and beautiful city with its beautiful lakes, with my heart in the love decided of my life! to come and live in Minnesota.
After 15 days, I returned to the city of Cuenca, Ecuador, and I began to sell everything, Berenice the art of hair design continued to work under the ministry of my eldest beautiful daughter Victoria, currently (Berenice studio) at that time my youngest daughter was 17 years old! What a coincidence! I was the same age that I was when I arrived in New York!
We both traveled and when we arrived in the city of Saint Anthony I could not believe the difference between New York to Minnesota, with large parking spaces, and beautiful apartments, for half of what they cost in New York! And our adventure began without fear of success. I worked in different places: Minneapolis, Bloomington, and New Brighton. In 2020 Diego and I got married, it was a pandemic marriage, we all ended up with COVID, nothing serious, we felt like we had a cold… and it’s been 3 years of happy marriage.
For convenience, I changed jobs to New Brighton where I met wonderful people. I thought that was everything, I rented a chair and I felt in my comfort zone until the 2023 game with a great opportunity! I took it. I told myself to feel the fear and do it anyway. I found the salon of my dreams, in New Brighton 2170 silver lake RD 55112. A wonderful place is full of light with very high ceilings, “Berenice Salon Spa”.
I am grateful to God for life. My daughter Esmeralda has been in Minnesota for 1 year and we have formed a fantastic work team. With her experience as a lash artist, allows me to provide this service to my clients. I want my spa not to be just a salon but a place where the New Brighton community can rely on and feel supported by our products and services, a place to come and relax.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a master stylist specializing in dry haircuts, I help women enhance their natural beauty with my customized signature dry haircut design, framing your face according to your factions and personality. Regardless of your hair type or length, the results will be amazing!
I am also specialized in bridal hair design, I help women make their dream hair come true on their special occasion day with trendy or legendary updos that will be unforgettable! Color design is another of my specialties.
I will achieve your dream color design with my unique techniques that will add a solid or dimensional result bringing light to your face and life to your style. Threading is also one of my signature services, being a friendly method to remove hair is suitable for everyone!
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Berenice salon spa is an exclusive Aveda salon. We love to take care of everybody, working with natural products, 100% vegan and no animal tested!
Contact Info:
- Website: msha.ke/berenicesalonspa
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berenicesalonspa/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090256214240&mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/berenice-salon-spa-new-brighton
Image Credits
Gratitude Photography
