Today we’d like to introduce you to Lydia Ciuraru.
Hi Lydia, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I actually started cosmetology school after finishing my bachelor’s degree at UW–Stout. During my senior year, I realized that hair was what I really wanted to do. I was always the one doing everyone’s hair and makeup before socials, so looking back, I think the signs were always there! I also come from a family with a lot of stylists, so you could say doing hair runs in our family.
I attended Aveda and then spent a year working at a salon before eventually making my way to my uncle’s salon in Highland Park, which was always where I knew I wanted to be. I worked incredibly hard to build my clientele from the ground up because I was essentially starting with nothing. I spent nine years there and absolutely loved it.
Then COVID happened, and everything shut down. My clients still wanted their hair done, so for a while they would come to my house and we would literally sit outside. I would apply their color, and they would go home and wash it out themselves. It was definitely a crazy time!
That experience made me realize that people were looking for a more private, comfortable way to get their hair done. I had an office space in the front of my house, so we decided to turn it into a full salon. That’s how Beauty by Lydia was born.
Looking back, I’m so grateful that I took that leap. Shortly after opening, I became pregnant, and having a salon in my home gave me the flexibility to be close to my babies while still doing the career I love. I even had a nanny who was here with them, so I could step away from my clients and see my babies throughout the day. It really gave me the best of both worlds—being a mom while continuing to build something of my own.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have definitely been challenges along the way. The hair industry can be a little cutthroat at times, and building and maintaining a clientele takes a lot of work. I also took two maternity leaves, and with each one I inevitably lost some clients. It was hard to step away knowing that some people might find another stylist while I was gone, but being a mom was—and still is—something I never wanted to sacrifice my career for.
Another challenge with having a home salon is that you don’t have the benefit of walk-in clients or the same visibility that a traditional salon has. You really have to be intentional about marketing yourself and continuing to build your business.
I’ve also had to learn how to set boundaries with myself. When your salon is in your home, it can be really easy to feel like you should just drop everything and take a client because, technically, you’re already “at work.” I’ve had to get better at remembering that just because my salon is at home doesn’t mean I have to be available all the time. Learning to separate my work life from my home life has been a huge part of making this business sustainable for me.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I absolutely love doing color and creating a great haircut, but I think what I love most about my work is the people. I’m a very approachable and easygoing person, and I want my clients to feel comfortable the moment they walk through the door.
One of the things I’m most proud of is the incredible range of clients I’ve been able to build over the years. My clients range in age from 3 to 92! I’ve had the privilege of doing generations of the same families’ hair, which is something that means so much to me.
I genuinely love getting to know my clients and hearing about what’s happening in their lives. Because I work in a private home salon, I think I’m able to create a more personal and relaxed experience than you might get in a traditional salon. My clients aren’t just appointments on my schedule—they become people I truly care about.
I think that combination of great color, a great cut, and genuine relationships is what sets me apart. I want people to leave my chair feeling beautiful, but I also want them to feel like they’ve just spent time with a friend.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My biggest piece of advice for someone just starting out is to never stop learning. I wish I would have had a stronger apprenticeship experience when I was starting out, and I also wish I had traveled more to learn from stylists I really looked up to\. There is so much to learn from other people, and sometimes you have to step outside of your comfort zone to find the education that’s right for you.
Education is key in this industry. Trends, techniques, products, and even the way we run our businesses are constantly changing. I try to take advantage of every opportunity I can, whether that’s a class, a hands-on training, or simply learning from another stylist\. Even after being in the industry for many years, I never want to feel like I’ve learned everything there is to know\.
I would also tell new stylists not to get discouraged if they don’t build a full clientele overnight\. I started with very little and worked incredibly hard to build mine\. It takes time, consistency, and a lot of patience, but if you genuinely love what you do and keep showing up, it can become an incredibly rewarding career.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @colorxlydia
- Other: https://www.vagaro.com/bbls7b
