We are spotlighting the winners of Beauty Launchpad’s 25 Under 50K contest, sponsored by Platinum Seamless.
Meet Ernesto Meneses (@ernestomeneses). He is a hairstylist and salon owner of Vesper in San Francisco, CA.
Q&A:
Beauty Launchpad (BLP): What is a fun fact about you?
Ernesto Meneses (EM): I’ve seen every single Zombie movie ever.
BLP: How did you get your start in the industry?
EM: In high school, I started playing with everyone’s hair. That led me to seek more ways to explore the craft. After high school, I went to Cerritos Community College in Norwalk to get my license, then drove to Beverly Hills to get my first job as an assistant. I landed at Planet Salon where I got involved with Aveda, which opened a lot of doors for me as a young stylist.
BLP: What is your proudest accomplishment?
EM: Getting my cosmetology license because it allowed me so many options, and I could finally do what I wanted to do.
BLP: What is your current favorite hair trend?
EM: Perms and longer fuller looks.
BLP: What is a tip you have for your fellow stylists who are looking to grow their following on socials?
EM: Just post! Don’t overthink it, just do it. The stuff I started with is hilarious, but I got out of my way and took action. It will get better. Over time, you will develop an eye for your own style. It’s just like cutting hair.
BLP: What advice would you give to the younger version of yourself just starting out in the industry, looking back on your whole career?
EM: I struggled with alcohol and drug abuse early in my career. I drank and used because I wanted to be this rockstar hairdresser. When I stopped, I realized most of the people I admired were sober. I realized I wanted to be sober, and now I am. If I could speak to my younger self, I’d say, “You think you need this but you don’t. Drinking and using is just going to make your journey harder.”
BLP: What is a valuable hair tip that you want to share with your fellow stylists (whether it’s a business tip or something related to styling/working with hair)?
EM: Take charge of your day. Always arrive 30 mins before your first client. It helps you calmly prepare and sets you up for a smoother day.
BLP: What inspires your work?
EM: I find inspiration in many different places but a lot comes from music and film. Every look I create has a soundtrack or song behind it.
BLP: What is something that keeps you passionate and motivated in the industry each day?
EM: Getting to meet new people, create new looks for my existing clients and playing new music in my salon.
BLP: What changes would you like to see the industry make in order to grow/change/evolve/be better than it was before?
EM: I would like to see the industry be more inclusive and diverse across the board. However, since this article is about social media, I would like to see more diversity in the pictures that get posted there. Seeing all kinds of people is inspiring, and – as a stylist – posting pictures of all your clients helps you build a more diverse clientele.
BLP: What is a career goal you have for yourself?
EM: I just accomplished a pretty big goal, opening up a salon. I was always working for someone, and I wanted to see what it was like going solo. It’s been an amazing adventure, and I'm planning other moments soon, but I’m just enjoying this one right now.
