May 16, 2017

Meet Julia Laviero of Hair by Julia in Northcenter

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia Laviero.

Julia, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Ever since I was about 6 years old I wanted to “grow up and become a hair dresser”. There was no pressure or deep contemplation when it came to what my plan was going to be once I graduated high school. Right before graduation I visited Chicago, for the first time, with my mother. I instantly fell in live with the amazing city. In two short days, I inquired, toured, gave a down payment, and enrolled in Paul Mitchell Cosmetology School. A month later I moved my life from a small town in Connecticut to Chicago and started school full time.

About half way through schooling I landed an assisting job at a salon located right in the heart of downtown Chicago on Michigan Ave. I stayed with this salon through graduation and earned a position behind the chair after about a year. In 2015 I expanded my career’s horizons and started working as a hair stylist/colorist in Northcenter. It was an adjustment going from a 10 chair salon in the fast-paced downtown scene to a 4 chair salon in a laid-back neighborhood on the Northside, however, this is when I truly fell in love with my passion. Being in a smaller environment I was able to connect on a more personal level not only with my clients, but with myself as a hair artist.

I became manager in fall 2016 and did a brand new buildout of the salon. After only 5 months, I received news that the owner of the building was putting it on the market and that the salon would be closing. It was hard news to digest considering how emotionally invested I was in the salon, but I knew I could only move forward from there. After looking at all my options and possible places of employment, I made the decision to continue my career as an independent hair artist. With the support and encouragement of my family, friends, and amazing clients I was able to make it happen in two short weeks. In spring 2017 I became HAIR by JULIA.

To grow as a person you need to take risks. I took the risk of moving to an unknown city at age 18, where I didn’t know a soul, and just 5 years later I’ve gained the experience, skills, and motivation to be my own business. “Success is on the other side of your comfort zone…”

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The optimistic side of me would say it has been a smooth road. One struggled I did face along the way was being away from my family. The older I got, the more I wanted to move back home just so I could be closer to family. However, I knew if I did that I would not only be leaving behind my friends and clients in Chicago, but I would have to start all over again. I would need to build up a whole new clientele, which could take years.

The next biggest struggle would be breaking through my comfort zone and really putting myself out there as a hair stylist. At first, nothing was more uncomfortable than approaching a stranger on the sidewalk and asking them for their business. To this day it is still not easy, but I have gained confidence along the way which helps immensely.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with HAIR by JULIA – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am an independent hair artist and work as HAIR by JULIA. I rent space at a salon in Northcenter, Chicago. Things I specialize in include: haircutting (especially bobs), keratin treatments, custom coloring, and blowouts. What sets me apart from others is my passion for educating clients on how to maintain healthy and beautiful hair on their own. I believe this is the most important part of any salon service! In addition to that, I take the time to teach clients how to style their hair on their own. I found this is something that most clients have difficulty with. Whether it’s recommending a new brush and dryer or handing them the flat iron while they are sitting in the chair, guiding them through the steps of styling their own hair makes it much easier for them than watching a YouTube tutorial.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Right now, my plan is to grow my business to the point where I can’t do it without an assistant. At that point, I would love to find somebody who is just starting out their career and mentor them through this industry. When I was just starting out I was surrounded by such inspiration and knowledge which helped me gain the confidence I have today. And being able to give that gift to somebody else would be so rewarding.

After that, moving to a larger space and eventually hiring employees would be my ultimate goal.

Contact Info: