Antonia Sanchez's progression from high school student to spa and salon owner reads like a how-to guide for success.
The 2005 graduate of Nacogdoches High School got her start in cosmetology because of the classes offered at NHS, where she left high school with both her diploma and a license.
Now, 20 years later, Sanchez’s Beautiful You Salon and Spa on East Main Street in Nacogdoches provides a wide range of services downtown.
“The cosmetology classes in high school were a great opportunity to build my foundation,” Sanchez said. “It was my starting point to get licensed.”
From there, Sanchez kept moving forward. She worked in salons, cutting and styling hair while working around a full-time class-load, to pay for attending Stephen F. Austin State University, where she graduated with a criminal justice degree.
Sanchez walked through the previous 20 years – from high school graduation, to attending SFA to business ownership – while sitting in the early morning stillness of her salon on East Main Street before the day really gets started.
While working her way through SFA, Sanchez was first an employee at a salon and then, later on, rented space from an owner, gradually expanding the services she offered to clients. That provided an early opportunity to operate her own business, albeit on a much smaller scale than today.
Sanchez’s deep-seated dedication to her plans were fully illustrated early on, when nearly finished with her degree, she took time off from college to get her massage licensing then returned to complete the final semester at SFA.
Shortly after graduation, Sanchez decided to open her own salon. The first location, where she spent 12 years, was a bit farther down East Main. Then, just a couple of years ago, she moved to the current setting at 323 E. Main St.
Sanchez, who owns the building, offers hair services, scalp therapy, massage, aromatherapy, infrared sauna and manicures/pedicures.
Owning and operating the salon makes for long days, she says, typically starting at 8 in the morning and lasting until 6:30 or 7 in the evening. And that’s just managing the work at hand with customers; then there’s the mountain of details behind the scenes required to keep the business running smoothly.
Sanchez is also a big supporter of downtown Nacogdoches. Despite her long days at the salon, Sanchez finds time to volunteer, serving on the Main Street Advisory Board.
“I love downtown,” she said, recalling times in the past when downtown activity had wavered. “People would be surprised how much we have to offer downtown.”
Family has played an integral role for Sanchez. Her parents, husband and siblings have all provided support. Today, Sanchez’s four-year-old daughter is a regular at the salon.
Sanchez said that early on she picked up on guidelines that apply equally to a high school student and business owner, Sanchez says.
“Stay persistent, work hard and learn as much as you can. If you do those three things you will be successful.”