Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Juarez.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In high school, I loved grabbing a Seventeen magazine and recreating the looks of Gwen Stefani in my spare time. Cat eyeliner, glitter, using brown eyeliner as lip liner, I was obsessed with makeup. My father owned a hair salon so I learned how to style hair just by watching. I would sit in front of my bedroom mirror and braid these creations out of my hair and there was never enough glitter for my makeup.
Fast forward to my first big girl job in corporate America. I had my chest piece and remember specifically asking if I would need to cover them for my office admin job. They said no but when our first big name client visited the office, it came down from the CEO that he wanted my tattoos covered up. I made a decision pretty quickly to not have a job where people would tell me to cover my tattoos. When the first recession hit (I realize I’m aging myself here), I had enough money saved to enroll in beauty school. I went to my mom and gram to tell them of my plans and they were so relieved I was finally doing what they knew I was meant to do. I asked them why they didn’t tell me to go to beauty school to begin with and they said because I wouldn’t have listened and done my own thing. They were right!
To put myself through beauty school, I sold my car and worked overnight at the Hilton downtown. They’d provide a meal with my shift and overnight parking. I was broke as a joke and so dang tired. Overnights are followed by 8 hours of school during the day. I honestly don’t know how I did it but I was determined. I didn’t see my friends and my aunt would take me grocery shopping Saturday evenings. Thankfully, my friends and family stuck with zombie beauty school me.
When I graduated, I sought out an apprenticeship with a board-certified colorist. I knew I wanted to do it all. Cuts, color, styling. It was probably the hardest part of my career. Making $8.25/hr, no benefits. But she would feed me lunch and when we stayed late, we’d often go to dinner and talk shop over wine. I was young and learning how to put my ego aside while learning to hustle. I remember when I first started, she told me I would make a mistake so bad I’d cry that it was inevitable, all of her apprentices did so at least once. I am so OCD, I would double and triple check my formulations to ensure I never made that mistake. And I didn’t.
When I finished my apprenticeship, I began working as a part time receptionist/part time stylist at the same salon. I had a hard time keeping my head down and focusing on work instead of the social side of salon work. Everyone has their own personality/business/ego and I quickly learned you don’t always jive with everyone. I learned how to style hair from the owner of this salon and that’s where I knew I could make money to survive while building my clientele. I’ll admit, I wouldn’t take disrespect from the long-term stylists here and after a year or so in this position was let go.
This was the time when yelp was super helpful. I selected all the neighborhoods I wanted to work in and searched for salons. I printed out my resume and dropped off, in person. The last one I came to was Pearl Hair + Makeup studio on the east side. Which was a trip as I was so mad when they put up that condo building around the corner from my great-grandmother’s house on Comal St. I remember all they had available was a part time booth rent position. I didn’t have the clientele but I knew I could hustle with events and make magic happen. I called to talk with the owner and a stylist named Shondi answered. She asked if I’d be coming to work there and I admitted I was so scared. She said don’t worry, you can do it. And she was right.
I worked at Pearl from 2013 to 2019 when we were absorbed by Adore Makeup Boutique. I really honed my craft with both hair and makeup. I went to continuing education classes for color and cuts. I was obsessed with becoming the best. I built a loyal clientele who I consider close friends these days. When we moved to Westlake, I lost 2 clients which was wild to me. A majority of my clients have been with me for years and I’m so thankful for that. I have lost count of the number of weddings I’ve done. I so love watching my brides build their families and go on to have babies. When my brides refer me to their friends, I feel so grateful.
In 2020, during the pandemic, I became pregnant and moved my work to my licensed home studio. It was a tough call but I knew I needed to keep myself and my unborn child safe while focusing on individual appointments with my clients to ensure they felt safe having their hair done. The shift happened naturally and now I’m able to be a hands-on mama while working with my clients. I travel for weddings on the weekends but on a much smaller scale.
I’ve begun taking Reiki workshops so I’m able to offer energy work hand in hand with my behind the chair and on location services. My clients have always told me I have such a calming energy. I know I can build on this so my clients truly have a one of a kind experience with me.
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?
Definitely not smooth. Like with any career, there have been bumps and struggles along the way. I remember after my apprenticeship always told myself if I could survive a year and a half with my mentor, I could do anything. I just kept pushing forward. If I found a door closed because of my looks or skin color, I’d put my head down and keep hustling.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a master colorist & stylist. I’m known for rich, live in color, and effortless cuts. My clients keep coming back and I strive to be personable and attentive during their time with me.
An award-winning hair and makeup artist for weddings and events. I’m known as a calming presence who delivers one of a kind looks, tailored to my brides’ style. I’m versatile so whether it’s soft and natural or high-fashion glam, I have the tools and techniques to make it happen.
I’m most proud of pivoting my business to be a work from home mama. I never thought I’d be a mother. When the universe blessed me with my girl, everything shifted. I went from career driven, 2-4 wedding weekends and 7-day work weeks to saying no to things that would take me away from my daughter for extended periods of time. I worked till I was almost 35 weeks and had events booked 6 weeks after her due date. I don’t know what I was thinking, hahaha. She was 10 days late and once I held her, I knew life was going to be way different. While I’m still obsessed with my craft, I don’t want to miss a thing with my Lola Brazos. It’s important for me to always be present in her life.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I am so not a risk taker. I don’t do well with change. I knew if I didn’t want higher ups telling me to cover my tattoos, I’d have to get out of corporate America. I knew if I didn’t want to work in a huge salon with a bunch of different personalities, I’d have to hustle and build a clientele while booth renting.
I always say everything worth having is going to require hard work. Life isn’t easy and life is way too short to be unhappy. We’ve got to hustle while we’re able and make magic happen.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.andreamjuarez.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/loveofwildcat
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/andreamariejuarez
- Other: https://www.theknot.com/marketplace/andrea-juarez-hair-+-makeup-artist-austin-tx-665407
Image Credits
Jona Christina Photography
Sophie Epton Photography
Parker Chase Photography
Lauren Garrison Photography
Headshot by Sarah Smith Photography
