Fox Valley Entrepreneurs: Brandy Bialek

by | Mar 6, 2019

Brandy Bialek, the owner of Structure Salon in St. Charles, is a hair and makeup master. She’s also my first subject in this new series featuring interviews with entrepreneurs in the Fox Valley.

Brandy Bialek owns Structure Salon in St. Charles.
Image via Jennifer Ostler Photography

My mind is always looking for ways to better my business and keep my clients happy.

Brandy Bialek, owner, Structure Salon

I had the privilege of redesigning Brandy’s website for her and in the process, I got to know her fairly well. Brandy is skilled in all of the latest hair trends (balayage, anyone?) and can do cuts both classic and edgy. She also offers bridal hair and makeup packages, both at her salon and on-location.

Brandy provides some great tips below. I hope you enjoy this peek into what it takes to operate your own salon!

When did you realize you were interested in hair and makeup design?

I have always been interested in all things beauty; I remember my mom buying a book about braids and trying different looks on my hair.  I think it helped me to realize there is so much you can do with hair.

Did you always know this is what you wanted to do?   

Since as young as I could remember, I would tell my mom how I wanted to be a “beautician” when I grew up. My Barbie being my 1st client, then graduating to my friends in middle school and high school. My sophomore year in high school I started attending a vocational cosmetology school. I was licensed and working in a salon by the time I graduated high school.

What is it that you love about your profession?     

I love making people feel good about themselves and I love the connections I have with my clients. I have been in the industry for 22 years and have seen my clients through marriages, divorces, births, deaths, and everything in between. I have quite a few clients I have watched grow up into mothers/wives and husbands/fathers.  My clients are a family to me and I love that they put their trust in me. Not only with their hair, but with their lives.

What do you love about owning your own salon?    

I love being in control of how I want the salon to be. I sit back and think “Would I want to be a client here?” It makes me give 100%.

What is difficult about owning your own salon?    

It is difficult because I am always “on duty.” Sometimes there is no off button. I am in constant contact with my clients; such as returning phone calls/texts, booking appointments, emailing wedding contracts, organizing wedding day timelines, attending classes, researching new trends. My mind is always looking for ways to better my business and keep my clients happy.

What advice do you have for others who want to own their own salon businesses?    

Put in the time.  Owning your own salon doesn’t happen over night. I worked in salons for many years building a great clientele and learning from my fellow stylists. I also reached out to any salon owners I knew for advise and would pick their brains. It helped me to really understand what I was walking into.

In retrospect, is there anything you wish you would have known earlier that would have made your entrepreneurial path easier?   

I don’t think so. I feel like I had a pretty smooth transition into owning my own space. I feel a lot of that had to do with being an independent stylist. I believe making the transition to having employees will be a lot different.

What do you love about being your own boss?    

I love that I can adjust my schedule as needed to be with my family. I am able to change my schedule to accommodate my clients and still be able to attend events for my kids and family. It’s great that I can do both.

Structure Salon is located at 457 Dunham Road, Suite 113 in St. Charles, IL.

Lisa Koivu
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