Today we’d like to introduce you to Nory Cruz.
Hi Nory, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve been a hairstylist for 30 years, and I can truly say this industry has been such a huge part of my life. I started behind the chair with a love for making people beautiful, but over the years, that passion grew into something much bigger. In 2013, I took a leap of faith and opened BeYOUtiful Salon in Belton,TX.
What started as a dream has grown into a salon with an amazing team of over 20 people. Becoming a salon owner has thought me that my purpose isn’t just doing hair, its developing people. I’m passionate about mentoring young stylists, creating opportunities for them to grow, and building a culture where people feel supported, challenged, and celebrated.
Giving back is also a huge part of who we are. Our salon partners with organizations like CASA and Foster Love, and I’ve also had the incredible opportunity to travel to Guatemala to teach hairstyling skills and serve communities there. My faith is at the center of everything I do, and I truly believe that when God blesses you, you have a responsibility to use those blessings to serve others.
The journey hasn’t always been easy. There have been plenty of challenges, sacrifices, lessons and moments when I’ve had to keep going even when I wasn’t sure what was next. But every season has shaped me into the stylist, leader, business owner, wife, mom, grandmother, and a woman I am today.
Almost 30 years later, I still love this industry, but what fulfills me most now is watching the people around me grow. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built at BeYOUtiful Salon, and I’m excited to see where God takes us next.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not! It has been a beautiful journey, but far from a smooth one.
Owning a business has challenged me in ways I never expected. I’ve experienced financial struggles, staffing changes, difficult seasons, and the constant pressure of being responsible not only for a business, but for the people and families who depend on it. There have been seasons when I questioned whether I could keep going, but quitting has never felt like an option.
One of the biggest lessons has been learning that growth can be uncomfortable. As the salon grew, I had to grow too, from being a hairstylist who owned a salon to truly becoming a leader. I’ve had to learn how to delegate, have difficult conversations, make decisions that aren’t always popular, and understand that I can’t make everyone happy.
My faith has carried me through the hardest seasons. There have been many times when I couldn’t see how things were going to work out, but God always reminded me why I started. The challenges have made me more resilient, more compassionate, and a better leader. I wouldn’t choose some of the hard seasons again, but I also wouldn’t trade what they taught me.
As you know, we’re big fans of BeYOUtiful Salon. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
BeYOUtiful Salon is so much more than a place to get your hair done. From the beginning, my goal has been to create a salon where people feel welcomed, valued, and beautiful both our guests and our team.
We are a full-service salon specializing in customized color, blonding, haircuts, and transformations, but I believe what truly sets us apart is our culture. Education is huge for us. We have an associate program where newer stylists work alongside experienced mentors, receive hands-on education, and are given a clear path to build successful careers. Watching young stylists grow in their confidence, talent, and careers is probably one of the things I’m most proud of.
Giving back is also at the heart of BeYOUtiful. We partner with CASA through our retail sales, provide haircuts for children through Foster Love, and look for opportunities throughout the year to serve our community. I’ve always believed that our success should allow us to bless other people.
We’ve also been incredibly honored to be recognized by SALON TODAY as a Top 200 Salon for Philanthropy two years in a row, and this year we were featured on the cover. That recognition means so much to me because it represents what I want our brand to be known for—not just beautiful hair, but beautiful people doing meaningful things.
At the end of the day, I want people to know that BeYOUtiful is about people first. We want our guests to feel like family, our stylists to know there is no ceiling on what they can accomplish, and our community to be better because we are part of it.
What’s next?
My future plans are really centered around developing the next generation of leadership at BeYOUtiful Salon. One of my biggest goals is to prepare the leaders I have poured into to eventually take over my position and continue what we’ve built.
After almost 30 years in this industry, I’ve learned that true leadership isn’t about being needed forever, it’s about developing people who are capable of carrying the vision forward. I want to continue mentoring my team, strengthening our leadership structure, and giving them the tools and confidence to lead BeYOUtiful successfully without me having to be involved in every part of the day-to-day operations.
That doesn’t mean I plan on disappearing! I love this salon, this industry, and my team way too much. But I would love to eventually step into more of a mentorship role, spend more time educating and giving back, and have the freedom to enjoy my family and travel more.
For me, that would be one of the greatest signs of success—knowing that I built something that can continue to grow and impact people even when I’m no longer the person leading it every day. And as always, I’m trusting God with what that next chapter looks like.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.beltonbeyoutifulsalon.com
- Instagram: @beyoutifulsalon
- Facebook: Be.You.Tiful Salon
