I Just Had My Worst Financial Year as a Business Owner

Summary

Podcast Summary: Beauty with a Twist - "I Just Had My Worst Financial Year as a Business Owner"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Beauty with a Twist
• Host: Dede
• Guest: Leslie Mendoza, Owner of Prime Boudor
• Episode: I Just Had My Worst Financial Year as a Business Owner
• Release Date: May 16, 2025

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1. Introduction of Leslie Mendoza and Prime Boudor

The episode opens with Dede welcoming Leslie Mendoza, the owner of Prime Boudor, a brow business based in Whittier with a station in Granada Hills, California. Leslie introduces herself and shares her passion for brow artistry, emphasizing her long-term commitment to the beauty industry.

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2. Leslie's Journey into the Beauty Industry

Early Passion and Career Shift

Leslie reveals her longstanding love for eyebrow styling, a hobby she began as a teenager during recess. Despite her passion, she initially pursued a different career path by attending medical school to learn coding and billing. However, her true calling led her back to brow artistry.

Leslie Mendoza (01:09): "Everyone when you're younger, your parents tell you, you know, you're going to be a doctor and be a lawyer, whatever. So I never took it seriously."

Transition to Brow Artistry

Facing financial pressures after becoming a young mother and dealing with significant student loans, Leslie began offering brow services to supplement her income. She learned threading by watching a looped video at the Panorama Mall and honed her skills through practice and online tutorials.

Leslie Mendoza (02:17): "I did threading, and when YouTube came out, I found a threading video and learned the method myself."

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3. Growth of the Business

Establishing Prime Boudor

After gaining experience in various salons, including a challenging stint at a barber shop in San Fernando, Leslie eventually opened her own salon in Granada Hills in 2014. By 2017, she expanded to Whittier, becoming a prominent figure in the beauty community and earning the nickname "brow guru."

Leslie Mendoza (04:57): "She's like, we're doing it, we're doing it."

Financial Success Pre-COVID

Before the pandemic, Leslie's business thrived with multiple locations, high client demand, and substantial revenue. She managed a large salon with numerous stations and private rooms, steadily growing her clientele.

Leslie Mendoza (10:21): "I was charging anywhere from 20 to 25, and then I was charging 25 for stain, like about that."

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4. Impact of COVID-19 on Prime Boudor

Initial Boom and Subsequent Challenges

During the onset of COVID-19, Leslie experienced a temporary surge in business due to increased demand and financial support programs like stimulus checks and PPP loans. However, as restrictions eased, the business faced significant downturns.

Leslie Mendoza (14:39): "I was terrified of COVID. I didn't know what was going on."

Transition to Booth Rentals

Changes in labor laws required a shift from commission-based payments to hourly wages, leading Leslie to adopt a booth rental model. This transition was challenging, especially managing rent prices and maintaining staff morale.

Leslie Mendoza (19:08): "They could be commission or hourly, just depending on how new they were."

Employee Issues and Financial Struggles

Leslie encountered severe issues with employees stealing money and even suing her, which severely impacted her finances. By 2024, she faced her worst financial year, struggling to keep the business afloat amidst mounting debts and operational costs.

Leslie Mendoza (28:08): "2024, last year was the worst year I've ever had in my life. Income wise."

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5. Lessons Learned and Business Adaptations

Focusing on Booth Rentals and Regular Clients

To reduce stress and manage finances better, Leslie fully transitioned to a booth rental model. She emphasized the importance of focusing on regular clients rather than chasing new trends or high-paying influencers, prioritizing authentic relationships and consistent customer service.

Leslie Mendoza (33:56): "A lot of people are holding on. During COVID, it was easier to get into the education game because everybody else is doing it."

Emphasizing Personal Growth and Customer Service

Leslie highlights the importance of internal growth, authenticity, and exceptional customer service in sustaining and growing a business. She discusses how her experiences humbled her and reshaped her approach to managing Prime Boudor.

Leslie Mendoza (66:10): "And your talent will grow as long as you're open to learn."

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6. Advice for Upcoming Brow Artists

Key Attributes for Success

Leslie advises aspiring brow artists to prioritize drive, determination, and a willingness to learn over pure technical skill. She emphasizes the value of authentic interactions with clients and the importance of solving their problems effectively.

Leslie Mendoza (41:57): "It's kind of 90%. It's really, honestly 90% your drive, your determination, and, like, your hunger to learn."

Building Authentic Relationships

She underscores the significance of building strong, authentic relationships with clients, ensuring consistent quality and customer satisfaction to foster loyalty and retention.

Leslie Mendoza (43:46): "Another thing I tell my students is we're here to solve a problem. That's it."

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7. Closing Thoughts and Inspirational Quotes

As the episode concludes, Leslie shares a motivational quote that encapsulates her philosophy on business and personal growth.

Quote: "Your business will only grow as much as you do internally."

She reiterates the importance of continuous personal development and exceptional customer service as foundational to business success.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Leslie Mendoza (01:09): "Everyone when you're younger, your parents tell you, you know, you're going to be a doctor and be a lawyer, whatever. So I never took it seriously."
• Leslie Mendoza (02:17): "I did threading, and when YouTube came out, I found a threading video and learned the method myself."
• Leslie Mendoza (28:08): "2024, last year was the worst year I've ever had in my life. Income wise."
• Leslie Mendoza (41:57): "It's kind of 90%. It's really, honestly 90% your drive, your determination, and, like, your hunger to learn."
• Leslie Mendoza (66:10): "And your talent will grow as long as you're open to learn."

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Conclusion

In this candid episode of Beauty with a Twist, Leslie Mendoza shares her tumultuous journey as a brow artist and business owner, highlighting the highs of entrepreneurial success and the lows of financial crises exacerbated by unforeseen challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic. Her story serves as both a cautionary tale and a source of inspiration for those in the beauty industry, emphasizing the critical balance between business acumen, personal growth, and the unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction.

Transcript

[Leslie Mendoza]

Hey, guys.

[Unknown Host]

Welcome back to a new episode and a new season of Beauty with a Twist. I'm super excited for this new episode because we have a special guest. Go ahead and introduce yourself.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Hi, everyone. My name is Leslie Mendoza and I'm the owner of Prime Boudor and we are in Whittier, and I also have a small station in Granada Hills, California.

[Unknown Host]

Oh, you guys. So we have another bra artist in here. I haven't had a browse artist, I should say, in a minute.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Really.

[Unknown Host]

It's been like other, like, it's been like facials and estheticians, like, different.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

But just to have you here, girl.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Oh, thank you.

[Unknown Host]

I'm so excited. So tell me a little bit about yourself, your business, how long you've been in the industry.

[Leslie Mendoza]

I'm like, deep breath. Because I've been in the industry for a long time. I'm like, where do I start? Queen.

[Unknown Host]

She's been in the og. Okay. Don't worry.

[Leslie Mendoza]

I know. So I've been doing this professionally probably about 15 years. I. Long story short, I. I love brows. I've been doing brows since I was a teenager. I love doing brows. Recess time at school. Never thought it was going to be like an actual thing that I could make money with. You know, everyone when you're younger, your parents tell you, you know, you're going to be a doctor and be a lawyer, whatever. So I never took it seriously.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

So anyways, long story short, went to. I actually went to medical school and I went to learn coding, billing, all that stuff. Oh, yeah.

[Unknown Host]

She had seven lives, y' all.

[Leslie Mendoza]

For real? For real. So I did that and I. I hated it. Absolutely hated it. And I actually got in a lot of trouble during my externship because I would be doing brows in the break room.

[Unknown Host]

Shut up. On the clock.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Well, no, I was on my. I was on my break time, but so I'm sure I went over a few times. Yeah. And the. They were like, what are you doing? So I would get in trouble all the time. Story of my life. And was always in trouble. So anyways, just to supplement my life, I ended up having a child when I was 18, turning 19. So to supplement my life, I was like, you know what? I'm gonna do brows. Because I went to school. I have this fifty thousand dollar loan that I. How the hell am I gonna pay that back? I'm actually broke because I have a baby. Yeah. And anyway, so I started doing brows on the side. Still trying to work. But before I even went to college, I was Making, like, I don't know, eight bucks an hour, ten bucks an hour. I mean, this is a long time ago.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

By the way, this is like 15.

[Unknown Host]

16 years by that time. $8 is a lot.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

Back in the day is like, a lot. Yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

You know, so I was. Well, I was making that when I went to school. They're promising you 20 bucks an hour. Get out of school. I'm making 10 bucks an hour. And I'm like, I can do three eyebrows and make 30 bucks an hour at least. You know, $10, whatever, plus tip. And this is like, again, 2009, 2010. So I was like, screw this. Like, I'm going to do brows.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah. So I remember that when I went to. I. I had never heard of threading. Like, I. I would just tweeze people I went to.

[Unknown Host]

Not even wax. You would just tweet.

[Leslie Mendoza]

I didn't know how to wax. No. I had gone straight to school. Like, I. To medical school. I never went to esthetician school. No. So then. Yeah, so then I had heard of threading. And I was like, this is so cool. What is this? I remember I went to the mall. I went to the Panorama Mall. You guys. Very ghetto. Yeah. And then I. They had a tv. They had a TV playing, and it was just a loop. A loop of someone threading. And I was like, this is so cool. And again, this is how old I am. We didn't have YouTube back then. So I just watched the video and I. I did it. I did it and I did it and I kept practicing. Finally, when YouTube came out, wasn't that soon after. I remember YouTube came out. I googled it, or I searched it, and I found a threading video, and it was threading the eight Method eight. So it's like with your hands, not with, like, your neck or with your mouth, which, thank God I found that one. Cause that was pretty easy for me. So I learned it and that was it. That was just the end. All the people I had done in junior high, all my friends, my best friend's cousins, people who had always come to me. And I never thought I was gonna make money. I just love to do it. Yeah. Were paying me. And then kind of like I was telling you before, like, I had been following, like, Damone Roberts, and I had been following Anastasia Beverly Hills. And then.

[Unknown Host]

Oh, geez.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah. Like, Kelly Baker was a Damone girl. And I was really young. I was probably, like, 17, 16. And I was like, you know what? Like, I am going to be a demo girl. Like, I am going to do this. Like I was so like, like just.

[Unknown Host]

Convinced yourself that you're gonna do it?

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah, I was just so like an awe of like, oh my God, browser is so beautiful. But of course I never thought it would make me money. So. Yeah, so then I just kept doing and kept doing. And then I remember one day that one of my friends, when I was done doing her brows, and I've actually told her this recently, it was so funny. Cause she had no idea. Her name's Lauren, we work together. And she was like, when I was done, she's like, you're the brow guru. Like you're literally like a guru. And I was like, that's the, that's the name I'm keeping. Like, that's the name I'm going to keep. So.

[Unknown Host]

So she helped you pick out your name?

[Leslie Mendoza]

She totally picked out my name for me. And it was kind of a joke. Like I didn't take it seriously.

[Unknown Host]

But yeah, I don't know any other brow guru. Real. Yeah, it's so like unique.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Cuz it's trademarked.

[Unknown Host]

Oh, and now you really can't use it. Okay, don't, don't try it. Seriously. So then you got. So you were just threading and then did you kind of get into wax and then. Yeah, how did like the whole like you do nano brows too, right? Or microblading?

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yes, I do microblading. So how that worked is I started. So long story short, I started working for a barber shop in San Fernando. I was terrified. I hated working there. It was like a barber shop. Like it was male type of like drinking.

[Unknown Host]

Oh my God.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah, it was crazy. So like they did a lot for me. He was so nice. There were, there are weeks where I could even pay the rent was 30 bucks a week. I couldn't even pay that sometimes. Like, I'm not even joking. So he was so, so sweet and he, there were, there was so much time that I would like, I was, I wouldn't pay for months. So anyways, long story short, again, he, he, he was like, you know what you need to do better than here. Like, this is not your vibe. Like I would be so scared to bring my clients in. So I started working for another salon. Actually, she, her cousin came to me and found me and was like, hey, I heard you're really good. But like I, you know, you need to get out of here. You're in the hood. I was in San Fernando and she moved me to Granada Hills, which is a much nicer area. And I Started working with one of my mentors, who now is like, one of my really good friends. We've known share 20 years. Like, you know, she's. My daughter's like, Nina, you know, so, yeah, she told me, like, come work for me. She had no idea I didn't have a license. I didn't know how to wax. And she's like, oh, no, girl. Like, I wax. She's like, you need to learn how to wax. So she taught me how to wax. I had no idea. And then she's gonna be so mad I said this, but I. I remember one day, stateboard came in, and I had already been there, like, three or four years, and I was like, the guru. I was, you know, I was so lucky because she had so many clients that I was feeding off of her clients. She would pump my head up. She's like, you know, I went to Anastasia, Beverly Hills, went with one of their girls, and you're just as good. So we need to charge this much. We need to charge 15, 20 bucks. And I was so scared, but she was like, no, we're doing it, we're doing it. So she pushed me a lot. But back to state board. Walks in, I walk out. Like, I run out. You're like, you see him?

[Unknown Host]

You see the clipboard?

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah, I saw the clipboard. I saw. And if you guys know, there was only one state board lady back in the day. She was like this cute little black lady. She had the clipboard, and we knew all I knew. I ran out the back door, and I remember she calls me and she's like, why are you running? And I was like, girl, I don't have my license. And she was like, oh, hell no. And I was like, I told you that. And she's like, I forgot. And I was like, she's like, you need to go back to school. So I was already the brow guru. I already had thousands of followers on Instagram, and I had to go back to school. School. And I'm glad I did. I'm glad.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah, because you. You wanted to, like, actually, because there's a lot of people that don't have licenses, but they're really good. But obviously you need to legally work. You need that. You know what I mean? So you could be the best. I see so many people are like, such bomb artists but are not licensed, you know, because again, it's just a piece of paper. And we're licensed. Right. But then they do teach you in school, like disinfection and infection control and all that. So they don't teach you the actual artist work, you know, the artistry, but they do teach you, like, infection control and stuff like that, you know?

[Leslie Mendoza]

Exactly. Yeah. So that was super important. And it was fun. I had a lot of fun. I made friends. Like, it was funny because people would come to school. I didn't want to tell anyone. I was embarrassed. But I was also, like, charging a good amount and people would come and found out that I was doing browser. So they would pay like five bucks to get their browser. I mean, I'd be so mad. So whatever I did that for, like, back then, I mean, everyone's so lucky now. I think it's only like, what's. What's esthetician now? Like six months, I think. Or it's like.

[Unknown Host]

I think it's like less.

[Leslie Mendoza]

No, because.

[Unknown Host]

Shortened it because we don't do. They don't do practical.

[Leslie Mendoza]

No practical. Only theory.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah, it's only theory.

[Leslie Mendoza]

So back then, I think I.

[Unknown Host]

It was 600 hours.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah, 600 hours.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

I don't remember how many hours I did, but I was definitely there like a year and some change. Like, it was a long time, which. Whatever. I'm like, that's a whole nother story.

[Unknown Host]

We always talk about that.

[Leslie Mendoza]

I know.

[Unknown Host]

Beauty school is like a whole nother. That's a whole nother two hour podcast.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Seriously. So, yeah, so then. And that was it. And then I started working with her at her salon. And then it wasn't just my. It wasn't really my vibe anymore. And she owned a building next door. And I was like, please let me have it. Please let me do brows. She's. And this was again, 2010. Like, this was a long time ago. And she was like, you know, there's no way, like, you could make. Pay the rent off of, you know.

[Unknown Host]

Brown what you're making right now.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah, Like, I was barely making the rent there. Like, she was pretty expensive, but it did build me. It helped me save money and everything, but she was higher end, you know, it definitely wasn't 30 bucks anymore. It was like 300 bucks a week now. So. Yeah, it was a long time ago in 2010. Yes, girl. Yes. Stop. I swear.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah, that's like, now.

[Leslie Mendoza]

I know. It is, it is. But we were. We were making good money back then. Yeah, I was literally doing everyone's brows. I walked in there and she was like, I think we had maybe 10 to 12 hairstylists there. Like, it was a booming salon. It was huge.

[Unknown Host]

And how. How much do they charge for brows?

[Leslie Mendoza]

I think at that Time, I was charging anywhere from 20 to 25, and then I was charging 25 for stain, like, about that. So I was making, like, a good 50, 55, you know, plus, I was doing makeup. I was trying to do whatever I could. I was doing lashes, too. Like, not anywhere near, like, what you guys do now, but, you know, like the little clusters or whatever. So I was trying to do anything I can, girl.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah. So. So then I had to wait a couple years, and I didn't open my salon, which was next door, until 2014, but I did it. Like, I opened it, and I was, like, so happy. And it was tiny. It was, like, literally, I think, 500 square feet.

[Unknown Host]

Oh, my gosh. Tiny.

[Leslie Mendoza]

It. Really tiny. The. The building was from the 1920s. It had, like, the worst air conditioning ever. It was, like, just. It was an old building, and. But I loved it. I loved it. It was my baby, and it's still my baby. Like, it's not mine anymore now. It's. I let it go a long time ago. In 2020. I let it go and have my way.

[Unknown Host]

How long is it?

[Leslie Mendoza]

I was there from 2014 to 2020.

[Unknown Host]

So, yeah, like, six years.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Six years. And then in 2017, I opened up Whittier, which. That's a whole nother story, because I had absolutely no ties to Whittier at all. And now I'm, like, the mayor of Whittier. No kidding.

[Unknown Host]

The guru. Okay, Whittier.

[Leslie Mendoza]

No, I am, like, so, like, I'm very involved with, like, you know, the. The Just, like, the chamber. I'm on the association. I'm on the board. Like, I'm just super involved. And I just. I'm just like that. I love doing that. I like to be part of the community and stuff. So I opened that one because I wanted a business that was very. Not so close to my house, because I had. At that time, again, we weren't, like, brow artists weren't that famous or popular. Like, they are now, like, glass artists and nail artists and estheticians.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

So I would have people coming to me and, like, flying to me from different cities in Texas and Hawaii and Arizona and New Mexico. People would come in to get their brows. I mean, it was an honor. So I was like, you know what? Let me get another place. So I looked in Burbank. I looked in la. I looked in Downey. I looked everywhere. And then I remember I was driving up Whittier Boulevard, and someone was like, go to Uptown Whittier. It's kind of the same vibe as Granada Hills, where I was at originally, which is a very, like, quiet, sleepy town. Beautiful trees. Same thing with Whittier. Beautiful town. So I went up there and I was like, oh, my God, this is perfect. I think that was a Friday. I was signing my lease on Monday for a town I have never been to.

[Unknown Host]

So it was kind of like a fucking. Like, it's going to. We're going to do this.

[Leslie Mendoza]

We're going to do this. I was like, I already have the A1 8. Let me do the 562. Like, I just wanted a whole other. You want to expand? Yeah, I just want to.

[Unknown Host]

Did you know any clients from the 562?

[Leslie Mendoza]

Nobody's like, no one. The only one, the only person I even knew remotely was I had at that whole time. This was 27. No, 2016. When I signed my contract. I had met a woman that I had taken my first microblading class with in like 2015 or then of 2015, beginning of 2016, I can't remember. And she lived in Whittier. So, like, that was the only other time I'd really even heard of Whittier.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

And she was like, hey, girl, if you open, I'll work with you. And I was like, fuck it. That's all I need. Like, I just need one person to help me pay the rent. It was super cheap at that time. I'm not gonna lie. It was like a thousand bucks. Maybe it was, girl. Yeah, super cheap. A lot cheaper than even my other one. Double the size parking spree. Beautiful spots. I was like, there's no brainer. Like, I could afford. Yeah, so. So, yeah, so we did that. And I hired. I had maybe four girls at the other spot. And at that spot, I had. I think I had about four girls usually at one time. I usually have about four or five girls at each school. Renters? No, they were. They were hourly employees. Or at that time back then, the laws hadn't changed it. So they were either commission or hourly, just depending on how new they were. Now basically everyone's rent right now. But yeah, so then I. I opened, had two salons going, and then 2020 came and me up. Did you dirty a little bit. At first. At first.

[Unknown Host]

Oh, my God.

[Leslie Mendoza]

But then it's the first time.

[Unknown Host]

I'm hearing this because everyone loved Covid. I know, like, it was a tragic, like, opinion, and that was going down with, like, everybody. But for business owners, it was like.

[Leslie Mendoza]

No booming business wise. I did make a lot of money. Honestly, I was terrified of COVID When Covid happened, I'm so gullible. I thought if you would have told me there were zombies coming, I would have believed you. Like, I didn't know what was going on. I was like, what is happening?

[Unknown Host]

Like, you were kind of like, what the. Is. Is the world ending? Is this it?

[Leslie Mendoza]

Like, I literally. I watched too many scary movies, cuz I was terrified.

[Unknown Host]

Those crime documentaries that you're on, the.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Podcast that you're listening to, that's what I listen to. It was so bad. I was terrified. Um, I don't think I left. And I don't know if you remember in that time, like, people were fear mongering so bad online. Like, there was like, people were like, I can't believe you're going outside or you're even going to the park right now. Like that. And I'm like, dude, oh, it was such a huge. Oh my God, it was so bad. And I was like, I get it. Like, let's try to contain this. But like, I need to go to the park, girl. Like, I need to touch grass right now. Like, it was. It was insane. So I.

[Unknown Host]

So you completely stopped working?

[Leslie Mendoza]

I did, I did. I was probably one of the rare ones that was not. I did not say this. Like I. And then I had just had a baby. My baby was only one. She literally turned one.

[Unknown Host]

Really just stopped.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah, I was like, no, I would too. I'm not doing this right now. So then I stopped. But I did open up again. I want to say June or July.

[Unknown Host]

The 2020.

[Leslie Mendoza]

The. Yeah, 2020. And by that time my lease was up in Granada Hills, and my lease still had a couple years in Whittier. And I was like, you know what? Oh, the biggest thing too is I had just bought a house. I bought a house in Whittier, which I did not want to buy a house in Whittier. And not because there's anything wrong with Whittier. I just. I'm not from there.

[Unknown Host]

So you're kind of like, what the fudge?

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah. What.

[Unknown Host]

What am I doing?

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah. But I feel like God puts you in positions where maybe he had to take me out of, like, my normalcy. And like, you're. You only know the value. You. This is all, you know. And I just got completely thrown into another area which has come to become my family and where I'm so used to now and whatever, maybe got me out of trouble too. Who knows? But so anyways, so I. I'm in Whittier. The world is ending. I have this other salon that I'M I'm not able to pay for. Because I. You know, you're not working. You're not working. But also, I didn't save. I didn't think too. I never thought this was going to happen. I never. I had money, but I didn't have thousands and thousands of thousands saved, you know? But I was like, this is terrifying. So I let that one go. And I just now have my roots in WHITTIER, but in 2023, I have an older daughter. She's 21. She went to. She learned the tiny tattoos, so she really wanted to learn that. She doesn't want to. She does not want to be a brow artist. She's not going to follow my footsteps. So I said, you know what? Fuck it, let me pay for it, and you do it. I wanted her to do at the salon, but she's a Valley girl at heart too, so she ended up moving back to the Valley. She's like, mom, can you please pay for a studio with me? Let's share it. And I was like, sure, well, I'll share a studio with you and pay for it, but you need to give me a couple days. I want to work there too.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

So we went right back to my old salon. She had turned it into suites now, which was perfect. Everyone knows I'm there. They. People know me. I'm used to the area. I know where to park, I know where to eat.

[Unknown Host]

Like, you know where to go.

[Leslie Mendoza]

It's so easy.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

All my clients came back, I think. I. I'm not even kidding you. There's maybe like 10 people that I think of, and I'm like, oh, I wish they would come back. And I. Or I see them on, like, the Facebook, like, people you may know. And I'm like, it's okay. Like, I've lost, like, a few clients, but I've gained so many more clients. I'm completely booked in in Granada Hills, and I love it. Like, I'm so happy. I want to actually open one more day, but I don't think I'll ever open a salon again. Not there or just anywhere.

[Unknown Host]

So you're renting, like, a space in Granada?

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yes.

[Unknown Host]

With your daughter?

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yes.

[Unknown Host]

And then you have your still place in Whittier?

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yes, I have a full salon.

[Unknown Host]

Full salon.

[Leslie Mendoza]

4,000 square feet. It's huge. Yeah. 4,000 square feet.

[Unknown Host]

No, this is a thousand. I can imagine.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Oh, my gosh. How many rooms I have. I built a few of them. So I have four rooms, and then we have 10 stations. Like, actual stations. Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah, these.

[Leslie Mendoza]

But four private rooms. Well, we have five, but one's a storage room. And then we have two bathrooms, so it's big.

[Unknown Host]

Okay.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Anyone wants to rent it, it's available.

[Unknown Host]

So how many booth. Okay, so let me ask you this before I get ahead of myself. Why did you stop, like, hiring hourly and going, just saying, fuck it, I'm just going to do booth rentals.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Oh, my God, girls. So when Covid happened. Which is another reason why I said Covid fucked me up. Like, yeah, we were busy. We made so much money. But everyone who was working with me, who. Some left on okay terms, some left on bad terms.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

But when Covid hit and that law came, what is it? The A B. Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

Where you can't do commission, it has to be just hours.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yes, exactly. Everyone was doing microblading. So people were like, you're not paying me less than 200 an hour. And I'm like, I can't afford to pay you 200 bucks an hour. This is right before COVID happened. So I told everyone, like, hold on, let me figure out what's going on. We're going to do rent, or let's try to switch. And then people don't want to pay rent either, because then it's like, why know you're making. I. What I would do is I would get, like, the 12 months, and I would say, hey, this is a trend of what you're making. After 12 months, you're making, I don't know, let's just say $5,000 a month. So I don't like, am I charging you $5,000 for red? Well, not 5,000, but you know what I mean? Like, do I charge you 2000? Especially when you started with me and I built you. You know what I mean?

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

So I didn't know what to charge him because I was like, that's ridiculous. I can't charge them $2,000 of rent a month. But I'm like, but I know they're making $5,000 a month. You know what I'm saying?

[Unknown Host]

Well, yeah, because then again, it's kind of. But, well, now how I base it off of. I kind of based off my. My rent, you know, and, like, the percentages and, like, utilities and stuff like that. So that's how I got taught. But I know a lot of people do go based off, like, the person, how much are they bringing in? You know what I mean?

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

So that would be, like, hard.

[Leslie Mendoza]

I mean, well, also, because that's not how, like, you came probably at a different Time where, like, you, You. You knew that way I. I came from, like, the old school.

[Unknown Host]

Oh, gee, like, you know, they're making this much. All right, I'm charge you this much. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

And then I was like, cleaning floors and like, you know what I mean? When I first, like, I was like the shop when I started. You know what I'm saying? Like, it's not like that anymore. Like, there's like, laws now, regulations. Like, wow, we don't get sued. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Like, the way that people would talk to me like my old bosses, it's just crazy. Like, I could have sued so many times. But anyways.

[Unknown Host]

But didn't that make you stronger?

[Leslie Mendoza]

It did. Oh, yeah.

[Unknown Host]

The you are now, right? Seriously, because it built like, it built you, like, it built like, I don't know, making you feel like a boss. Like, you know.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Oh, yeah, no, it's totally, like, made my leather, my height a little tougher, but. And I lost my way.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah. So how much. How much were you charged?

[Leslie Mendoza]

Okay, so. So I told them, look, I'll. I can pay you hourly. I don't even know what that figure looks like. Let me think about something that's good. I mean, I'm thinking 50, 60 bucks. But, like, what about the hours you're not working? I was trying to figure it out. So then. But it's not fair to them either. Like, they want to, and I want them to. I'm like, I love the commission base for microblading. You know what I mean? We're like, you're making, you know, whatever it was. 40, 60, or 50, 50, whatever it was. I rather you make that big chunk of money than me pay you a little bit hourly. Right? Like, it was just working. And I told him, like, I'm not going to get sued for this. I'm not going to go to jail. I'm not going to get audited. So let give me a second. Covid hits Everybody leaves. I had, like, maybe at that time, I want to say four or five artists that were making really good money before COVID So then when Covid hit, I came back to an empty salon. There was only actually one girl. One girl who's been with me since 2016. I love her. Shout out to Lori Beauty by Lori K. And she's been with me, like, from the jump. She's never left me. She's literally like my right hand. Anyways, so she's known me for a long time, and she was just like, girl is going on. And I'm like, I don't know. This is crazy. So we got a whole new crew, and that crew did not deserve the amount of people they got. Like, I'm gonna say that like it's tea. I wish I could name names. No, when I name names.

[Unknown Host]

But he.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah, girl. Because when we were able to reopen, they were making bank. Like, bank. Stupid bank. And they were not good.

[Unknown Host]

Like, were they. What were they hourly? They were.

[Leslie Mendoza]

I mean, that time we were doing. They're doing.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

But I was so busy. Like, I'm just giving it to everyone, people.

[Unknown Host]

So you were giving your clients to the booth rental?

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah, I couldn't even.

[Unknown Host]

Shut the fuck up.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah. And then my dumbass gets pregnant again. So I'm gone. I go on maternity leave. I feel like I was pregnant for four years. I was just pregnant, pregnant, pregnant, pregnant. And she's like, yeah, I know, right? So then I know for real. So I would feed, like, for retouches. Here, go to this girl. Go to this girl. Plus, they're doing brow lamps, brow waxes. They're teaching. They started working for my school and stuff. But these girls didn't know what they're doing. I'm just trying to, like. I'm just trying to, like, man the boat.

[Unknown Host]

Trying to balance your life, your personal life. We got going on at home. Your shop.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Covid's happening. Oh, my gosh, it was crazy. So they made stupid money. Like, stupid money. Like, it was just crazy. Like, my girls that I have now deserve that type of money so bad. And I feel so bad. And it's not. I feel like, just right now, like, you're talking about the recession. Like, it sucks because people are a lot more. What is that word?

[Unknown Host]

Reserved with their money.

[Leslie Mendoza]

More reserved. More savvy, too.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Like, we were making just like, dumb money.

[Unknown Host]

Well, yeah, because coven, you know, it was obviously, everything was going on, but we were getting money back. Like, they were giving us, like, what, the stimulus checks they were giving us. You know what I mean? Well, not me, but they were giving, you know, everyone else.

[Leslie Mendoza]

And then the ppp. Yeah. Yes. Like, people.

[Unknown Host]

It was just so much money that was just handed off for free. And I remember that we. When people would pay for me, they would, like, they pay for my services. They would use their ADD card. I'm like, how?

[Leslie Mendoza]

Like, oh, damn. Like, oh, yeah, the edd. I remember that.

[Unknown Host]

I'm like, like, you know what I mean? And then I was teaching at that time too, so Covid was like, for. For me, it was like the best thing that's Happened to my business.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

But it was like. It was so, like, girls would just drop money on. So I can imagine.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

How much your girls made.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Oh, yeah. They were making really good money.

[Unknown Host]

Everyone at that time was making bank, you know.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah. We were making really good. Really, really good.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah. And I feel like now it really did humble me. I'm not even gonna lie. Because for me, it was like I was making. Oh, my gosh. I can't even say the number.

[Leslie Mendoza]

I know.

[Unknown Host]

I was crazy, you know?

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

But let's just say, like, I paid this off cash, you know, that's how much money I had saved. But now, because of everything that's going on, and I was just. Just like you. Like, I had girls hourly. Then I had that commission going on. It was just a lot that I had going on. But for me, I just didn't want to deal with the stress of, like, payroll. One was a huge thing for me. Another thing was like, I don't want to be having to post the content to get you booked.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

I don't want to have that stress on me. I rather just. I know I'll be making more money doing that, but honestly, my self. My. My stress, my. You know, I just want to go home and chill.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

At the end of the day, like, I don't have to worry about, like, oh, my God, I got to make this contact. Got to put a schedule. I got to upload her stuff on Google. I got to do our website. Like, I don't want to have that stress. So I rather just make everyone booth rentals and they have to run their own page and run their own shit.

[Leslie Mendoza]

And that's it. Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

At the end of the day, it's going to pay my rent, and they're on a lease for a year. And, you know, I. Now I could say I have a really good team. It took a lot of trial and error.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

But I have such a solid team.

[Leslie Mendoza]

That's awesome.

[Unknown Host]

That I'm like, we in this for your life. I'm like, I just renewed my lease for another five years, so I know that, you know, and it took a lot of trial and error to get there.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

You know what I mean?

[Leslie Mendoza]

Oh, yeah, Totally.

[Unknown Host]

So I can. Girl.

[Leslie Mendoza]

I know, I know. Well, and then it's. It's crazy because, again, you're so young. You did that so quickly because it took me a long time to learn, and I was very stuck in my ways, and that was my problem, is I didn't want to. I didn't want to do rent. And I was being greedy, to be very honest, because I had learned, like, a whole different way. And I was like, no, they have to be hourly or salary or whatever. I. Because I want everyone to wear this, and I want everyone to look this way, and I want them to do this. And I wanted to control.

[Unknown Host]

Yes, I was your shop at the day. You wanted to have control, right?

[Leslie Mendoza]

I wanted everything, like, my way and. But I was just not paying attention. I was being greedy. I was just seeing, like, the dollar signs. And yeah, everything was great. It was almost like, I feel like those like. Like the movie Casino, like, whereas everything's just going so good, but as high as you're going, you. You fall even harder. You know what I'm saying? It was crazy. So I'm happy that I, like, everything has taught me so many things. Like, I'm so humble now. And every year we were making more and more and more and more money. So when Covet hit, I had made a lot more money the year before. So I was like, oh, I made, like, even double that this year in Covid. It's just gonna go up. And then 2023, I would say 2024 was the worst year I've ever had in my.

[Unknown Host]

24.

[Leslie Mendoza]

2024, last year was the worst year I've ever had in my life.

[Unknown Host]

Income wise.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Income wise.

[Unknown Host]

Shut up. No. Yeah, 2024.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah, it was bad. It was so, so bad. I think what in my. My HR lay, my accountant, she told me that in the first quarter, we've almost made more than we made all of last year, this first quarter. So that's how bad it was. It was so, so. And we were doing everything we can. And I've never been like, sales every day or sells every week. You know what I mean? Like, and I was like, you know what?

[Unknown Host]

Like, you're pushing.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah, I was. And I don't know if it's like that, like, hitting rock bottom. And all the systems I put into place there too. Like, I went back to, like, all the marketing and, like, Yelp and, like, let me make sure I'm pre booking. And I did all the stuff that I had learned back in the day, like, okay, now I'm going to call this client every four weeks and, you know, let me text her, whatever. All. Everything I could think of. Girl spending a lot of money on, you know, Facebook ads or whatever. So maybe that is kind of also trickling into this year, I'm sure. But we didn't have to do any of that in 2020 like, I didn't have to lift a finger. Like, I posted a picture. I had 10 new clients.

[Unknown Host]

They had to get humble.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah, no, I got humbled. And I'm so happy about it because same, I'm like, you know what? Now I'm so frugal. I'm so frugal, but in a good way. Like, I'm. And I, I invested my money in things that are gonna make me a return. Now I'm not buying stupid, you know, Louboutin shoes and fucking Chanel bags. Like, so stupid. And kudos to you if you could do that. But like, I had no business doing that. No.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah, I feel like, I'm telling you, 2020, I moved out. Why did I have a four thousand dollar apartment?

[Leslie Mendoza]

Oh, my God. Oh. Because I want to live luxury.

[Unknown Host]

Why was I about to buy my G wagon?

[Leslie Mendoza]

Why was.

[Unknown Host]

You know what I mean? Like, I just, I had a life that I was like, you know, I deserve it. I always said, like, I deserve it. I'm gonna do this. I have a shop, I have an apartment. Like, I felt that. But then when it started hitting, like, I feel like my worst year was 2024. Too, kind of. Like the end of 2023, too kind of. I was so fully booked. But at this time, it's like I was going through all the, my booth renters and my, my hourly girls. It was just so much going on that, like, once the recession started happening, I started getting really humbled, especially last year. And I bought my house last year.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Congrats.

[Unknown Host]

Thank you. And then they were like, you know how the. Did you make from this? And then, then my accountant was like, how like just the drop, you know, and it's because I had to. Not only I don't pay my rent at the shop, but I pay like the utilities. And if anything happens in the salon, it's my, like, I had to. My responsibility, you know, so plus, product wise, I had to buy all the products and I have an assistant, so she's like, it was just a lot.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah, it's a lot.

[Unknown Host]

But it really did humble me and I'm glad it did. And it really, I feel like now this year I. And plus I had a baby last year. So now this year I'm like, locked in. And I feel like this first year, like, even now it's like way better than I was doing it last year.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Exactly. I mean, and it's a lot that we go through as moms. Like, not only are we running a business and like, like we're really young to be doing all the shit that we do. Like, just even, like, I'm not an accountant. Like, I do fucking browse. Like, I don't want to do any of this. I don't want to. I don't want to babysit. I don't want to manage people. I don't want to be like, I just want to browse and then throw a freaking three babies on that, you know? And. Yeah, and just anyone's normal life. Like, the normal life shit you're happening. Maybe you have a fight with a friend or a fight with your husband, whatever. You know, just that on top of it, it's like, dude, like, seriously, I'm gonna go have a mental break right now.

[Unknown Host]

Like, for real. Like, pass me a shot.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah, seriously.

[Unknown Host]

So are your girls now completely booth rental, right?

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah, yeah. Well, I have two girls are salary hourly, I should say. And then. Yes, the other ones are all booth rental.

[Unknown Host]

And how much are you charging for booth rental?

[Leslie Mendoza]

So I did go down. I'm actually very humbled because there was a point. I'm not lying, you guys. I was charging 500 a week. I know.

[Unknown Host]

A week. Wait, hold on. That's at that 2,000amonth.

[Leslie Mendoza]

That was. Yeah, yeah. But it was a lot of amenities, too. Like I said, we have two. Two bathrooms. We have a main.

[Unknown Host]

Did they have a sink in the room?

[Leslie Mendoza]

They didn't have a sink in the room. But we do have two things outside that they can use that are not in the bathroom. We had receptionist. We had TVs, we had, you know, waters. We had, like, you guys have snacks, whatever. So, I mean, I wasn't like, oh, my God. I didn't have, like, a chauffeur. But was it a.

[Unknown Host]

Okay, so, like, it's a storefront. So was it in a biz like this for if. You know Rancho. This is one of the main streets in Rancho, so we get a lot of foot traffic.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

It's the same with you.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. We were busy. We're in a busy shopping center. The Coffee Bean there, it's really busy. Okay.

[Unknown Host]

So you look at all that.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah. They were making the money. I never had anyone come from the street. It was a system. Like, you had to work for me for a year, and then you could get offered booth rental. And then if you want to do booth rental, that's fine. I would have preferred them to stay commission at the time because I was making me more money.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Because booth rental, you have a, you know, a ceiling.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

But I would offer them and it was like, I'm not going to lie, it was like a privilege to get booth rental because I know I'm not going to be able to make anything off of you anymore.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

But I'm also wishing you the best. And you're on your way, and you're still in my shop. Thank you for staying. And then I would go invest my time into someone else. You know what I'm saying? So. And this is all before COVID or Right. Right when Covid started. So anyways, now I charge like 8:50 to a thousand, just depending on how big. For the whole month, so. Just depending on how big the room is. Yeah, it went down a lot because I can't. I can't compete. And I remember one girl told me once, she's all like, well, why should I rent here for 500 a week when I could rent across the street for 500amonth? And I said, but you didn't. Why did you come here? But why did you start there? You know what I mean? You came here for a reason.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

So that was kind of like. I don't know, I kind of irritated me, but I was like, everyone's not for everyone. Maybe you're.

[Unknown Host]

You're not meant for me. And I. I charge this price because 1. My name is a huge. You also have to say, like, you know, yourselves, The. The salon itself. You know what I mean? So much work. It looks, how nice it is. You know what I mean?

[Leslie Mendoza]

Exactly. We built a name, and a lot.

[Unknown Host]

Of people don't understand that, too.

[Leslie Mendoza]

No. And again, these are people who worked with me. This wasn't just someone off the street. Like, everybody was in house. So I was like, yeah, but you've been here a year. You've been obviously, you know, gaining insight and all that knowledge. I've been taking you. I would. I would buy them anything they want if they were like, brown daddy came out with this new thing. I'll buy. If they were like, oh, I want to go to the seminar. Let's go. I'll take you. I would take them. I. And I still do. I take them to Christmas dinners. I pay for everything. It's like a team.

[Unknown Host]

We're team.

[Leslie Mendoza]

We work together. Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

I might not be your boss. You're your booth friends or your own, but we're still team. You still work in my salon.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

So we're still. You know what I mean?

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah. That's how.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

I don't want to think I'm, like, super greedy, but.

[Unknown Host]

No, no, no, girl, you're a boss bitch, period.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah. I was like, no, because I believe in you. Like, yeah, I think you. You could pay 500 because I know you could make it. Like, I've seen the numbers. Like, I know you could make it. So that's where I was coming from. A lot of girls didn't. Didn't vibe with it. Cool. They left. They ended up doing their own thing, but a lot of girls stayed, and a lot of girls made money. They made good money. So now it's a little different. And I've been humbled. And we've all been humbled.

[Unknown Host]

We've all been humbled.

[Leslie Mendoza]

But I'm so happy with the crew I have now. Like, they're all really, really good girls, and they're growing, and. And that's it. And that's all I do is I just love to grow them, and I understand if they leave, that's fine. I also can't be mad if they leave, so I grow them to as far as they want to go, and then you guys can stay or you can leave.

[Unknown Host]

What days are you working in Whittier and over here?

[Leslie Mendoza]

So I work in Whittier Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday, and then I work in Granada Fridays and some Sundays.

[Unknown Host]

Okay.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah. So I'm like, five days now. Yeah, yeah. During the winter, I'll take off Tuesdays, but I've been kind of getting busier again, so it started Tuesdays again. Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

Oh, my gosh. She's a boss.

[Leslie Mendoza]

She's a boss.

[Unknown Host]

I have a question. Because you're such an og, how do you feel seeing all these new brow artists and, like, their content and, like, you know, overall? Like, back then, there was an Instagram. There was no YouTube. You said, like, Facebook either. Like, MySpace. Okay, but, like, you know. But, like, how, like, now, how do you feel seeing all these new, like, brow artists?

[Leslie Mendoza]

You know what? It is very, like, it's. It's admired. Like, it's. It's inspiring. It is inspiring because I'm like, oh, like, you girls are getting it. Like, everybody's getting it. Everybody's, like, doing so good. Sometimes I do feel a type of way. I'm not gonna lie. I'm gonna keep it real. Like, real beauty. Twist, right? Here's the twins. I'm like, do you know who I am? No kidding. So, like, I, I. I have got. I'm in my 40s, so I got to a point where I'm just like, you know what? Like, let these new kids have their shine. Like, I am so proud of them. But sometimes I'm also like, put some respect on my name. Like, I've been through a lot. Like, I've gone. I've done it all. I've seen it all. I've seen the trip. I was here before Instagram even started. I was here in MySpace days. Like, and, like, you know, a lot of us, even, like, the people I looked up to are starting to retire. Like, they're, they're. They're almost done, right?

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

So, again, I feel like there's some things. And my daughter's 21, so she's like, mom, you're so cringe. Like, so there's some things I try to keep up with, but there's some things that I'm like, you know what? Let me leave that to the new generation. And that's something I did want to talk about, because there's someone for everyone. There's a demographic for everyone.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

And I've noticed that even when I was younger, because I was in my early 20s when I started, that I always kind have, like, had the older clients. And maybe it was because of the salon I worked at. Yeah, she had older and not older, older, but at that time, they were like, you know, moms. They were in their 20s, 30s, late 20s, early 30s, 40s, 50s. We had bolder ladies. So I've always kind of had that, like, that demographic, that age group, and I just always stayed with that. Like, I've never really had young kids or girls until now. And the only reason why I even have. I feel like young girls now is because I'm so obsessed with teen brows. Like, that's like, I want that to be my niche. Please. You guys come from your time. But I love team brows. Like, I love it because I've always been known to, like, fix the brows because of the, like, old school, chola 90s.

[Unknown Host]

Oh, my gosh.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Right? So when I get these, I like them brown back. It is coming back.

[Unknown Host]

It's coming back. So we can come back.

[Leslie Mendoza]

It is. I've had a few clients that have made me do it. I'm just like, oh, that's hurts. But I'm like, you know what? Because that's what I would do when I was in junior high and I was working on my friends and in. On in a recess or whatever, I was making my thinnest sharp. Thinnest sharpie eyebrows. Yes. I was like, I'm going to make them, like, carved. You know what I mean? So when I see these girls, I saw a girl, like, side note, I don't remember her name, but my daughter sent her to me, and she was like, hey, mom, there's this girl, she's like, in Koreatown. She charges, like, 80 bucks. I'm sure some of you guys know who she is. Oh, my God. Oh, my gosh.

[Unknown Host]

I've seen her on TikTok.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah, she's super famous, right?

[Unknown Host]

For thin brows.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Thin brows. 80 bucks, guys. 80 bucks.

[Unknown Host]

That's crazy.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Kudos to you. Yeah, yeah, kudos. She tweezes them. I don't think she even waxes or. I don't know. I'm assuming. I didn't go that far and deep dive that far, but I know she takes an hour. I think the payments. An hour, so she must be tweezing. Anyways, long story short, I was like, you know what? Get it, girl. Like, that's your niche. Get it? Like, you're going to make them, like, thick as. I mean, thin as fuck and, like, carved and super, like, slay cool. Like, so I love that for her. And that's it. Like, do your niche and make your money off of that. So my niche is right now, team brows, but it's also my adult clients. And again, back to microblading. I'm fixing all the 90 brows so I have, like, the. I don't want to say older, but you know what I mean?

[Unknown Host]

Like, this coloration that's, like red.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Oh. I do a lot of color corrections. That's like my. And I don't even mean to do that. It's just. That's just what happens. I have so many color corrections and. And shape corrections that I do. So it's team brows and corrections is, like, literally all I do all week.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

And I see in this, you know, I see a lot of brow artists charging, you know, like, 50 for a brow wax or like 60 for, like, 180 for a brow lamination or even up to 200.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

And I completely understand. And I know, but I just feel like they. The content that bra artists have is crazy.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Like, it is.

[Unknown Host]

Like, I grew up with it too. Like, you know, I. I charge 150 for brow lammy. That includes wax and tint. But it's. I know my clients won't pay 180. I just know that I wouldn't even put that upon them. It's not even. Just because I know my work's not there. I know my work is there. It's just I personally wouldn't do that for my clients.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah, I just.

[Unknown Host]

I have clients that come every six weeks, every eight weeks. You know what I mean, so it's a lot for them.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

You know, but I. I know that these new bar artists are.

[Leslie Mendoza]

I know they're charging their work, girl. But also kind of depends where you're at, too. I feel like I could definitely charge more in a different area. I love being in Whittier, but it's definitely not, like, the highest, like, paid place. It's not Beverly Hills, so it's like, be for real, girl. Like, you know what I mean?

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Because we used to charge 180 or 175, I think, and then 20, 24, I was like, no, I'm. I have to drop the prices. There's no way I could charge this much. Yeah, it's just too much. It's. So, yeah, we charge 130 now for it. I think that's like the special price we're doing. And then we just kind of stuck with it. And then I'm like, whatever, but I'd rather have the clients come back. And I know they're coming back every six weeks and, like, let me do it once for 180 and then never see them again.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah, no.

[Leslie Mendoza]

So.

[Unknown Host]

So now that you've been an og, Been, you're the brow guru.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Thank you.

[Unknown Host]

What makes a good brow artist? Like, you think for an upcoming, you know, SD that wants to get into brows, what do you think makes a good brow artist?

[Leslie Mendoza]

So I think, and I tell this to my students all the time, like, it's kind of 90%. It's really, honestly 90% your drive, your determination, and, like, your hunger to learn. And it's like 10% art. You know what I mean? Like, I feel like, yeah, you have to be good at what you're going to do. Right. But, like, you also have to have that drive and determination and, like, that willing to learn. And you know what? Let me say, like, 75% of that, and then like a little bit. A little sprinkle of customer service, because people are going to come to you because of your customer service and your, like, your vibe, your warmth and everyone's. Not for everyone. But, like, if you. If you get. I always say, like, just. Just get in my chair. Just. If you could. If I could just put my hands on you. Get in my chair.

[Unknown Host]

Yes.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Right. Like, you'll love me, I promise you. Exactly. That's exactly how I am. So I'm like, love me and love me for who I am. I'm going to make you feel amazing.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

And then my brows are going to look bomb, whatever. But that can come, like, all the girls who come to me, I'm like, I don't care. I don't even care how good you are. If you're fresh out of school, great. Even better. But come, I'll interview you. If you're. You're a vibe, you're cool, then we're working together and that's it. And then I'll grow you. You'll. You'll be great in a few months.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah, I 100 agree.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

I. Because for me, it's like, I rather train. For me, it's like, I rather get someone fresh out of SD school because.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Exactly.

[Unknown Host]

I want to take them under me and under my wing and show them my, you know, how my customer service skills, how to talk to a client, you know, because for me, it's so important to just have that one time in my chair. If it's a new client.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

And I promise you, they're going to come back.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Exactly.

[Unknown Host]

You know, especially on my website, it says, like, we pay for this thing where it boosts us so we're like, number one in our city. And it tells us, like, okay, they come one time, it's their first time, and then it says, congratulations, they made another appointment, and then another.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Oh, that's so cool.

[Unknown Host]

So, like, like, having that client to come again, it's, you know, I. For me, it's customer service. I promise they're gonna love me.

[Leslie Mendoza]

And at the end of the day.

[Unknown Host]

You gotta love you. That's why I always fall, especially everyone that's on the podcast. I'm always like, I'm going to. The way I am now is how I am with my clients, how I am with my girls. Like, I'm just 100% authentic.

[Leslie Mendoza]

That's awesome. Yeah, I love us. So that. That's it. That's my best advice. Just be authentic and be you and. And do the best you can. Because another thing I tell my students is you're. And this is with any industry. This is even with, like, anything restaurant, barber, hair, like nails. You can insert this into anything. But it's, you know, we're here to solve a problem. That's it. That's it. We're here. So if I'm looking for a new, let's say, tax person, I need him to solve my problem doing my taxes, and he needs to do it good. He needs to do fast. He needs to do it at a good price, and he's becoming it. That's it. That's really it. So once you understand that, like, that's why and how People buy is because you're solving a problem for them. Then your mindset is going to change because you're going to be like, okay, yeah. Like. And your customer service is just icing your skills. Icing on top of that. Oh, sorry. But yeah, once you figure that out, you're like, okay, now I'm actually not doing this with my ego anymore. And that's another thing that changed, too, with me after 2020. I'm like, okay, I want to retain these clients, and I'm not working out of ego. Like, I need the money. I'm greedy. Whatever. Now I'm working because what is. Why does she come? And sometimes it's not even browse. Sometimes I'm her therapist. Sometimes I'm her, you know, whatever, listening ear. So I'll be that for you today, girl. Like, what do you want me to be? But some people are like, I just want you to, like, fix my brows. I have a hole here. Okay, let's. Let's try to map them and fix them and have you, you know, I want you to come back and you almost, like, create. Like, this sounds so bad because I don't know how to word this any better, but you almost create. Like, they need you. You know, I'm saying, like, they.

[Unknown Host]

Relied.

[Leslie Mendoza]

They rely. Yeah, they. And. And they know that you're going to have those. Consistent. Consistency.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Every single time. Like, it's gonna. Because that's another thing, too, that people always come. And I'm sure you've heard this, too, or maybe you've said it. Like, I've gone to a nail person. They're like, why did you leave your last nail person? Well, because she started getting sloppy or she started, like, rushing. She started cutting me. So I've heard that over the years so many times. So I don't want to do that. I don't want to be that person. And I was. I was doing that in Covid time. I was being sloppy. I didn't care. My next was waiting. Yeah, you know, I don't need you. No, I don't need to do that anymore. Now it's like customer retention, you know, the little things that count. Because it's like, I had clients who were giving me gifts, and I didn't take that for, like, I took it for granted. I didn't. I didn't take advantage of that. I. I don't feel like I was grateful. So. So now I'm looking at things different. So, Covid. Although we're making great money, it was one of the worst times of my life. And not even because of COVID but because all these girls that screwed me over, all these. These people that I had, these people working for me. I hit rock bottom. I had the most customer complaints. I had. Like, literally everything was going bad, girl. It was bad.

[Unknown Host]

Why is it because you were just not.

[Leslie Mendoza]

I wasn't being present. I mean, and I could say, oh, yeah, I had just had a baby or I was pregnant. I was just not paying attention. I had. We were making good money. I'm over here spending money. I was just not paying attention to the business. I was like, whatever. People come. The girls were stealing. They're using. Like, yeah, it was bad. They were just, like, probably talking shit about me, too. Like, they were just all like. It was a lot. There's going to be a whole nother podcast on, like, what each individual girl did to me. Girl.

[Unknown Host]

How many girls were this?

[Leslie Mendoza]

This was four girls, girl. I got sued, like, three times. Won every single one.

[Unknown Host]

Bitch.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah, it's. It's been crazy. It's been great.

[Unknown Host]

They literally came to you and said, I'm sir.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Like, oh, yeah, yeah. I got.

[Unknown Host]

Shut the up.

[Leslie Mendoza]

I got sued. Yeah. Bad, bad girl.

[Unknown Host]

Oh, my gosh. If you're watching this, because I know it's probably a one gonna pop up. Damn.

[Leslie Mendoza]

I know. Oh, I'm sure. I'm sure somebody's watching. No, I could tell you so many stories. I hit rock bottom. I mean, to the point where I had a girl who wiped out my bank account. She was my assistant. She stole a lot of money from me. Yeah, I know. I knew. It's not like I didn't. I actually, like, she was stealing money.

[Unknown Host]

Throughout, you know, like, increments.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Increments here. But then at the end, she was like, fudge this. And stole a lot of money. And then she had sued me. It was a long story. It's a long story. I actually want to, like, do a whole podcast on her. Like, Tisa Nisa or like, what's her name? Yeah, like, who the fuck did I hire? Oh, my gosh.

[Unknown Host]

Like, oh, my. And then it's like the part series on Tick Tock. I'll like, who the me over in the part 52.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Exactly. Because this is a whole nother story. But it taught me a lot. It did. I'm actually so grateful. Like, it sounds so crazy, but I'm so grateful. I went through that. Like, I'm so grateful. Yeah, yeah. I'm like. And I know how to deal with things like that now. You know what I mean? I know how to. And I, I let a lot of things go. Like, before, I used to be so angry. And so, like, why is this happening to me? And, like, all the. And then now I'm like, you know what? Who cares? Like, Like, I'm healthy. My kids are healthy. Like, obviously, I don't feel to steal from me, but I'm saying, like, little things that happen now, like, oh, well, who cares? Spilled milk, whatever. Like, everything is, like, there's so much bigger things out there that happen that I'm just like, you know what? I've gone through literal, like, lawsuits. I've almost lost my house. Like, I've. There's just so many things that have happened. I'm like, little inconvenient, minor things don't bother me as much anymore.

[Unknown Host]

Like, you're not stressing over something that you know that can just be fixed. So it's this and it's.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah, you.

[Unknown Host]

Because you've gone through it.

[Leslie Mendoza]

You know what I mean?

[Unknown Host]

You've gone through the worst, like, time of your life that nothing now can compare to what you've been through, and it's just like, a slap on the wrist for you.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Exactly. I can't. And it's given me so much peace. Like, I just, I'm so. I'm just so different now. And having the kids, I'm sure you've noticed.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah. Sometimes there's a saying that the worst has to happen to you for you to realize and think that something has to change. Like, even though it sucks that you have to go through that bad time of your life.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

But it has to happen for you to change. And once you get through that dark tunnel at the end, you're gonna be like, damn, like, I really needed that check. Like, reality.

[Leslie Mendoza]

I did. I really did. And I'm so happy now. Like, yeah, like, it sucks I'm not making as much money as before. But no.

[Unknown Host]

And it's. And I feel like, you know, what? Going to back to, like, the, you know, is, everyone's slow right now. I, I, it's not just you.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

I know a lot of people. I do esthetician branches all the time. I know a lot of other estheticians are going through that. Just in the beauty industry itself. Like, we have a hair cafe, and when I tell you we opened up the same time, they probably opened up a couple months before me. They were so booked. They have 10 chairs in there, and all of them were hourly. So you could just imagine, wow. Like, she was busy. Okay. And she's now she tells me, like, yeah, I'm booked sometimes, but, like, you would think, like, Mother's Day just happened, right? And for example, like, I was busy, but, like, looking at my analytics and reports from, like, past years, I'm like.

[Leslie Mendoza]

I know it's, you know, insane. It's crazy. And like, I. That's one thing. And also, I was thinking about on the way over here, like, I want to talk about, because maybe like, the younger people who are just starting, you're like the new estheticians or the newbies or whatever. Like, don't be discouraged because there are trends and there's dips and waves and stuff. But, like, I was really, like, I was super discouraged. Like, I wanted to, like, quit. And I was like, what is it? Like? And I thought, like, oh, my God, it is all the new, you know, brow artists that are, like, doing better, me better, content creation. Like, you know, I just had these kids and, like, I can't do anything, and I really, really fell down. And I was like, I'm gonna quit. Like, forget this. I'm gonna go get a regular job. I'm gonna go back to, like, medical and like, oh, my God, I thought that too. Yeah. Yeah. And I was like, really, really, like, having a really, like, I was so, like, I have never been this scared in my life ever since I was actually physically poor when I had my baby when she was, like, little. Now she's 21. But, you know, I started seeing big, big artists that I don't want to name, but big artists that were like, you know, instead of $900 for a retouch to 50 for retouch. Yes.

[Unknown Host]

No.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah. And I was like, oh, and these are people I looked up to. And I was like, oh, shit. Like, you know, are like just so many people, maybe even people weren't saying anything, but I would, like, let me. Let me go check there, you know, let me go check their. Their schedule.

[Unknown Host]

Schedule.

[Leslie Mendoza]

They're open that week. And I was just like, damn. Even like, like tattoo artists. Like, tattoo artists that were, you know, thousand dollar minimum, I don't care if it's a butterfly. And they're like, hey, like, I'm. I'm free today. They used to be booked out months in advance, you know, And I'm just like, dude, I see without three, four months in advance. And it's just like. So anyways, my point is, don't be discouraged because it's not you really. It's. It's. It's the time right now. It's a hard time. We're going through a lot.

[Unknown Host]

Yes.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Politics and everything.

[Unknown Host]

It's a whole political thing. You know, our president and everything is just, you know, taxes are crazy right now.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Tariffs and everything.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah. And people rather obviously feed their family. Like, would you rather get your brows done or have food on the table for your kids?

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah. You know what I mean?

[Unknown Host]

It's, it's literally what it comes down to. Because browser, I mean, I charge 30 for a broad wax. Actually online, I'm charged $40 for a broad wax. But I've been doing specials. I charge certain. I kind of kept it like that too.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

But that's a meal that you can get like outside if you want to have some time with your family. You know what I mean?

[Leslie Mendoza]

No, it is. And back in the day, and it's hard. It's so hard because I watch, or I used to, not as much now, but I used to watch these big people that were like, charge your worth and like, you know, this is how much. And I'm like, dude, I can't charge my words right now. Like, I need to, I need to feed my family. I need to make what I can make.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

It's.

[Unknown Host]

Oh, I love this conversation.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Oh, goodness.

[Unknown Host]

I haven't had. See, because my other podcast, it was when I was doing really good.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

You know, and it was kind of. We were talking about the same thing and I was kind of like saying the same thing. But now this year I'm doing better.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

But again, it's still tough. Like, I can't charge how I used to. I was. I remember girl, back in 20, 20, 21, I would take like, I'm not joking, like, 16 clients a day.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

Maybe 20.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

And I was working from like 7:00am to 9:00 clock at night.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

Seven days a week.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Exactly.

[Unknown Host]

Okay. So. And teaching classes. So you can just imagine.

[Leslie Mendoza]

You know what I mean?

[Unknown Host]

So obviously, you know, times are different, but I'll be lucky if I'm like nine clients a day.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

Like, that's a good day for me.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Exactly.

[Unknown Host]

And now I feel like I'm way more humbled and I feel like, wow. Like I, I, I'm. Oh, I. It's good that I have my regulars. I've always had them. I've had clients that came from my house days and my OGs. And I have had like. I don't really take new clients anymore. I just have my regulars. But shout out to them.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah, exactly.

[Unknown Host]

Because they've been through the, the gutter. Right.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Exactly. But you know what it is A good like. And I go back. I'm so, like, positive now. Like, I, I go back to. But now you're treating those nine clients like, oh, so much better.

[Unknown Host]

They're my family.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Exactly.

[Unknown Host]

They knew I treated them good on my house.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Of course. Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

But now it's like, girl, they invite me to their fiestas. Like, what? Like what I've had. I've gone and met their weddings, their baby showers. It's crazy to see, like. And they still respect me and still pay full price.

[Leslie Mendoza]

That's awesome.

[Unknown Host]

You know what I mean? Those are the clients that I want.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Exactly.

[Unknown Host]

Like, you guys can keep your, like, whatever type of clients. Influence. I know a lot of people do influencers and they pay only this much, you know, or if they don't pay at all. But I rather have my regular.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Me too.

[Unknown Host]

That pay.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

My doctor clients, my nurse clients, my. Even my. I have lawyer clients that I have and they should.

[Leslie Mendoza]

I want my stay at home moms and all their mom friends.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah, I want all of them.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Right. All the stay at home moms. Seriously, I'll take them all day. Like influencers. No, thank you. I'd rather have. And it's like, I'm not trying to be like, oh, not that I don't want them. Yeah, I'll take an influencer too, but I'll take a step, a stay at home mom over an influencer any day.

[Unknown Host]

I see. I've had a couple influencers and I love them. I've thankfully, I've had great experience. I've hear, I've heard some girls talk on here and they're like, no, absolutely not. But I've had. For me, I've had my influencers and I love them, but I just love my regular clients. Like, I love my regulars.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah. You know, regulars too.

[Unknown Host]

And I feel like a lot of people that are joining this industry, like newbies are kind of just not knowing where to start because I feel like not a lot of people even want to be mentors anymore.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah, that's true.

[Unknown Host]

You know, it's. Times are really tough.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah. I feel like people are holding on. Like during COVID it was easier to like, sure, I'm going to get in the, in the education game because why not? Everybody else is doing it.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

But now it's like people are kind of like, well, shit, I can barely make money myself, so why am I going to teach you? Like, I know I've pulled back from teaching a lot and not because I don't want to. It is a lot. Like, we Were talking earlier before the cameras, like it's. It's a lot of work. And I was working with somebody. We had a whole. It was huge. 2,500 square feet in Pasadena. Right there on Colorado.

[Unknown Host]

Yes, your academy, Roseville.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Like pass by, like, beautiful place, expensive as hell. And we were making bank. We had 16 students. Every class, every month. Yeah. From October 2019 to 2022. Then in 2022.

[Unknown Host]

So what was it? How long was the school?

[Leslie Mendoza]

The. The classes were three weeks, but it was only one day. So it was Sunday. Sunday. Sunday, if that makes sense. Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

So three classes total, but every week.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Every week, yeah. So we were 16 people. It was.

[Unknown Host]

And how much were the classes?

[Leslie Mendoza]

The classes were anywhere. We would have special sometimes. But I want to say between 28 to 3. 400. Yeah. Girl, I'm telling you.

[Unknown Host]

Hold on. I gotta do the math.

[Leslie Mendoza]

I can't even do the math. Girl, I know. It's 14 included, correct? Yeah, yeah, everything.

[Unknown Host]

And, and what was it teaching? Microblading.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Microblading. We would teach shading and that was an add on. So this is just microblading. Then we would have. Shading was another add on. That was like another 2,500. And then we had lips ombre, brows. And then we had the brow mastery class where I taught threading, brow lamination, stain and all that. So that one was 1500. So we were. We were busy. We were super busy. We're making bank. And at this time, girl, to throw another freaking anchor. What is it? Throw. Throw something else in the mix. I had just bought a house in Texas. So we had a house in Texas.

[Unknown Host]

You live so many lives.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Seriously, you need to come back. No, part two. We need to do a part two. Because at that time I was pregnant. I bought a house in Texas. I bought a house here in Whittier. I was flying out every two weeks. My husband's in Texas with my. At that time, she was my one year old or one and a half. How many kids do you have? Let's just, let's. I have three. Okay. So the 21 now and then I have a three year old right now and then a six year old.

[Unknown Host]

Okay.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

Okay.

[Leslie Mendoza]

So at that time, my 21 year old was at school. She was here in California. And I would fly back and forth. Had my house in Whittier. My brother was helping me rent that one out. So he would rent it and I would come have a place to stay. And then we were trying to live in Texas. We were trying to move because my husband's from Texas. Long story short. And I left him there. He was my husband. And my kids were there for a whole year. I would fly back and forth with my kids. Not all. Every time. I would do it every couple times because it's too much for them. They're little.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

And there were times where I had so much to do here. I'm like, I don't even have a sitter here, so what am I gonna do? So, yeah, so we were teaching, and I. I had to. Of course I'm gonna come back for that much money, you know? Yeah, I'll come back for a week. You know what I mean? But it was like, my husband's there alone, my kids. Like, it was a lot. And we had just opened up a food truck in Texas. Oh, my God. Yeah, girl. It was crazy.

[Unknown Host]

So did you guys sell that house?

[Leslie Mendoza]

No, we still have it now. That's just one of my investment properties.

[Unknown Host]

And what part of Texas? I'm like, oh, that's my dream.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Oh, I love Texas. It's Austin in Austin, Texas.

[Unknown Host]

Oh, my God, the best.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah. Awesome. I love Austin. Yeah, I love Austin too. It's so much.

[Unknown Host]

I've been to Dallas, Houston, and Austin.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

And you like it?

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah. Yeah. It's so much fun, and I miss it so much. When I left, I cried so hard. I cried. I didn't want to leave. That was so much fun.

[Unknown Host]

Oh, the house is out there for a hot. I bet you for the house I got here, over there would be.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Oh, it's just. Yeah, it was stupid. Cheap, stupid, cheap. Like, I. I don't want to, like, give all my info out there, but I think I only put like 8, 000 down. Like, that was it. And I built it from the ground up. Like, literally picked everything. It's a 9,000 square foot lot. Huge. Yeah. Huge, Huge, huge. So, anyways, long story short. Yeah. So we were doing all that, and.

[Unknown Host]

So tell me how it sound. Tell me. Like, the whole quick rundown, you. Did you close the school or.

[Leslie Mendoza]

I did. I have absolutely no issues with the lady that was my partner. It just was. It just started getting weird towards the end. And, like, I don't think that I. I have a lot of respect for her because it was very, very hard. Her job was hard. And I did not, to be very honest. I did not. I took it for granted. I didn't realize how hard her job because I had to just show up and. And teach.

[Unknown Host]

What was her job? Just.

[Leslie Mendoza]

She was just marketing. Marketing. She would call the clients, but she was, like, giving them her personal number. She was, like, closing the deal. And I didn't realize she was doing, like. Like. Like, they would call her, you know, two in the morning. Hey. So I was really thinking about it. She would answer, and she would talk to them. So she would, like, book me six, 16, you know, students. She would. I would usually buy the kits, but she would assemble the kids. She would print.

[Unknown Host]

She was doing all, like, the background, the back pull everything for you.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah, okay. And I would just show up and.

[Unknown Host]

Teach and so you weren't paying her well, is that.

[Leslie Mendoza]

No, we were partners, so we were 50. 50 on everything. So whatever profit we made, she got half, I got half. So towards the end, it just fizzled out. It wasn't even her fault or my fault. I mean, I could say that she maybe wasn't, because she. She had another business. She had two other schools where she was doing makeup, and one was special effects. One was makeup. The other one was body contouring. So she kind of started pushing that a little bit more. She can only do so much. It's not even her fault. I can definitely say that I kind of started just burning out. I was like, I. I'm have, like. Like you said, 10 lives that I'm living right now. Like, I'm just tired. Like, I. I was. I also wasn't very, like, flexible. I was like, no, I can't do that weekend. Like, I don't want to give up all my Sundays, you know? So anyways, it just fizzled out. And she's like, look, like, this is not working. And I'm like, yeah, I think so too. We ended up closing the academy. I probably did, like, three more at her academy. She had another academy in Orange County. And then I said, why am I doing this? Like, why am I working out of your. When I have my whole ass? Like, salon that I could do? And that's it. And I was like, girl, I'm gonna work out of my salon.

[Unknown Host]

And so now you just do one on ones?

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah, I just do one on ones. I'll. I'll have classes here and there. Like, if somebody reaches out to me and they're like, hey, you know, I want to do it. Like, I had someone last week, and I was like, okay, give me a day. We'll figure out a date that works for you. And then I want to promote the out of it and try to get another girl. Yeah, another girl, at least. And we still have. We do that here and there. But that's like, me, too. Yeah. I'm not going out of my way. It's just too much work, girl. Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

I have 10 to 15 girls and I. It was drama, let me tell you. It was just a lot of work. Like, again, assembling the kids or, like, doing like I would. They could do, like, they pay every week that they come.

[Leslie Mendoza]

That's the narcissist. She took over. Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah. So it was. It was a lot. It was a lot. It was a lot. And you know, again, it taught me a lot how to do with classes and certain things, and I'm grateful for it. But I love doing my one on ones because I can really focus on this person.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Exactly.

[Unknown Host]

And it's a lot easier for me, you know what I mean, than having to talk really loud and having all the girls here huddled around me. You know what I mean?

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

So I understand.

[Leslie Mendoza]

So true. Because I didn't think about that. But that was another issue too. Like, I feel like I never. It took me a long time to teach because, like, I jumped on the band like 20. 2019, from like the boom of microblading in, like, 2015 was a long time.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Leslie Mendoza]

But I. I had so much, like. What's that word? Like, I had so much respect for it, for the craft that I was like, I'm not gonna just teach until I know everything inside and out. And teaching does make you a better artist.

[Unknown Host]

Absolutely.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Totally makes you a better artist. So once I started teaching, I did get better, but I was like, I have 16 girls. Like, how the hell are we gonna do perfect that.

[Unknown Host]

You know what I mean?

[Leslie Mendoza]

And then they leave and they're like, leslie didn't teach me or I suck. And Leslie's my teacher. Yes.

[Unknown Host]

Like, she sucks at teaching. She doesn't know what she's doing and this and that. And it's because you had so many other girls in there, and I wasn't focused on you. But I promise, you talk to my one on one girls now. They'll tell you.

[Leslie Mendoza]

I know. Seriously.

[Unknown Host]

So where. I promise you, like, they.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah, they even hit me up and.

[Unknown Host]

I told them I'm a lifetime mentor. Like, you need something, you call me, like, anything. And they know that. You know what I mean? So I highly prefer doing, like either one on twos, like, you know, or I'll take most three, but no more 15 girls. Like, I'm tired.

[Leslie Mendoza]

It's. Yeah. Thank you. It's too much. And then you know what I started doing too. That was really messed up. I didn't even realize this until recently. Is if Someone was doing good. I didn't even. I was like, you're doing good. Let me. Let me focus on this girl who's not doing good. But because they're microbladings, I didn't want them to like them up. Someone up. So I was like, you're good, girl. But, yeah, it's a lot.

[Unknown Host]

Well, thank you so much for being my podcast.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Thank you.

[Unknown Host]

And og OG Brow guru. Don't forget it.

[Leslie Mendoza]

We need a part two.

[Unknown Host]

I know we need a part two.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Because you have seven lives. Now you're telling me about Texas.

[Unknown Host]

Now you're telling me about, like, oh, my God. So track bitch.

[Leslie Mendoza]

I know. It's a lot, so go ahead.

[Unknown Host]

We always end this podcast with a code. I said, I know that you had one.

[Leslie Mendoza]

I have one time. I had to. Okay, so I really like this quote. It's. Your business will only grow as much as you do internally. So I thought that was really. Oh, my God.

[Unknown Host]

That's so.

[Leslie Mendoza]

I'm like, thank you.

[Unknown Host]

But we hear a lot of different ones, but that one's, like, really about yourself and your business.

[Leslie Mendoza]

I love that it is, because it really, like I said, kind of ties into everything I was saying earlier. Like, at the end of the day, you just have to give really good customer service.

[Unknown Host]

Absolutely.

[Leslie Mendoza]

And your talent will grow as long as you're open to learn. Yes. Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

Well, thank you so much for being on my.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Thank you.

[Unknown Host]

And you guys, she came. She said two hours. What did you say?

[Leslie Mendoza]

It's. Well, it only took me like an hour and a half, but I came two hours early because I was so scared.

[Unknown Host]

She was like, I get anxiety.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Please have the questions that you have. I'm like, girl, so much anxiety.

[Unknown Host]

It's so easy. Like, when you just talk, it's kind of just. It's. It's such a flowing conversation, you know?

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yeah, yeah. No, you made this super easy. Thank you.

[Unknown Host]

Oh, well, thank you so much. And I'll see you on part two.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Yes.

[Unknown Host]

Okay, bye.

[Leslie Mendoza]

Bye.