Life & Work with Valeria Schmidt of San Tan Valley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Valeria Schmidt.

Alright, thank you for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us how you got started?
My interest in the beauty industry started when I was very young, thanks to my great-grandmother. Due to age and limitations, she could not do her hair or apply makeup as she used. I would help her apply her red lipstick, pink blush, and setting powder and, sometimes, do her roller set. From then on, I saw how much of an impact applying makeup or doing your hair can uplift you. So, I started practicing any makeup I could get my hands on and continued to develop my skills through practice. During high school, I was introduced to the Cosmetology program through EVIT. I attended the program in my junior year and partially senior year. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I withdrew from the origin shy a couple of months after graduation. I continued practicing all I learned on mannequins and with friends during that time. I started offering hairstyling and makeup services for prom events and, eventually, bridal. During those years, I attended college and graduated with a B.S in business administration and project management. As fine went on, I realized that cosmetology was my passion and something I needed to pursue again. So, I went back to beauty school and graduated from Aveda Institute. I assisted a few stylists and learned a lot from my fellow artists. I now offer a wide range of services, from haircutting to coloring, hair styling, and extensions to makeup services for any occasion.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been an easy road. I did not have the support I now have. I often wondered if it was a mistake to attempt to go back to beauty school, from having a full-time job to another career set. But let me tell you – it was worth all of it. I had to remind myself why I was doing it: for myself. Or because others were telling me to do so? Well, the answer is – for me. I have pride in what I can do, and I don’t see myself doing anything other than this. One of the main struggles was finding a way to do my full-time job still and split hours between doing beauty school. It was rough. I did not have very much sleep during the week. I was awake from 5 am till 11:30 pm and had to do it all again Monday through Friday. I did bridal work on the weekends. So really, I never had time off to rest. But I made it.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m Your girl that can do it all (except for perms – I dislike them). I like to keep my week different and fun! As I mentioned, I offer a wide range of services, such as hair cutting, coloring, extensions, styling, and makeup. So you’ll see me doing different types of services throughout the week. For example, during the weekdays, I may be doing salon-like services, but on the weekends, I may do a photoshoot or bridal work. I’m very versatile! What I am proud of this year is all the hard work I’ve put in to meet and connect with other artists in the valley. I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with photographers, hairstylists, models, and vendors to create a vision.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
What I hope you get from my story is that you have to stand up for yourself and believe that you are capable of changing as an individual and that you can change career paths because nobody else is going to do it for you. Yes, it takes sacrifices to make that happen. Yes, you may want to give up not once but multiple times. Yes, others will not believe in you. But once you realize that you can, you will have the opportunity to grow, learn and connect with others on the same road.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Www.instagram.com/valeboice
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valeboice

Image Credits
Holly Gneck Photography