Meet Lesley Ibarra Bazan | Owner of Coyote Creation Hair Studio

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lesley Ibarra Bazan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lesley, what role has risk played in your life or career?
What I think about risk, well I feel like my whole life has been a risk. If you know anything about me, I am always saying that you will never know if you don’t risk it. At a young age, my mom and dad had always taught me that nothing will be handed to me, and that is my duty to go out there and achieve my goals. After graduating high school, I attended Paul Mitchell the School of Atlanta. This route was a major risk-taking because all my high school friends were going to a 4-year college. At that time the beauty industry was not viewed as a real career and just a hobby. I even had some friends say that it was a waste of my time going to school and I could learn that on my own, but with all the odds and letdowns I still manage to follow my dream and go to the school of my dreams. While at Paul Mitchell I graduated at top of my class and with honors, I even received letters of recommendation to apply to well-known hair salons in Atlanta. But I decided that I wanted to start working at a hair salon down south of Atlanta a salon not well known. There I learned that even though you come from a well-known school, you wouldn’t make it there if you didn’t know how to do a man’s haircut. Everyone had their clients and reputation, and I was the new girl. No one wanted to sit in my chair because they didn’t know if I knew how to cut. For weeks and months, I was only doing about 3 to 5 haircuts, but that didn’t hurt me I knew that one day I was going to have more clients. I took the risk and reminded in that hair salon for 4 years and guess what I was no longer doing 3 to 5 haircuts. I was doing 35 to 60 haircuts a week. It took time and dedication, but I wasn’t the new girl anymore and I was known as Lesley the stylist. Shortly after the year ended, I was given an opportunity to have my own suite. The day I went to tour the location I knew it was the next step in my journey. That same day I signed the lease agreement with Meme. Taking all the risk I moved out of the hair salon at the end of the year, and I told all my clients I was moving. Not knowing if they were going to follow me or not. I was nervous, but I knew I had to take this risk to better myself and grow out of my confront zone. Not all clients followed me but having my suite was everything I could ever ask for. Being my boss, being able to control my hours, not getting paid 50 percent commission anymore, and getting 100 percent was a sense of relief. Over my first year in my suite, I made a lot of new clients which covered the clients I lost. I continued being in my suite for 1 more year and by the end of the year, I started looking for locations for my next step of opening my hair studio. I looked and looked but nothing seemed available until I came across a location. The place had some work to be done to it, but something told me this was it. My HAIR STUDIO. I immediately started summing and calculating to see if I could afford this building, construction, and equipment. My numbers were a little off, but I told myself, “If you continue working, continue saving your money, and not spending it on unnecessary stuff I can make it happen.” It was a huge step, but I took it I signed the lease with my landlord and the keys were given to me by October of 2022. Trust me the process wasn’t easy, it was difficult. There was a time when I honestly started doubting myself that I wasn’t going to be able to make it. Having two locations at once was stressful and trying to be at both locations was impossible, but with the help of my family, friends, and boyfriend I was able to open in February of 2023. I am happy with all the risks I took in my life because if I wouldn’t risk it the way I did I wouldn’t be where I am today. Coyote Creations Hair Studio.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve been a licensed cosmetologist for 6 years. I fell in love with this industry at the age of 15. I remember doing hair color in my bedroom and haircuts outside my front door. It was a challenge getting to where I am now, from going to school to building my own clientele base. I would not change anything. Every fearful thought, every tear, every mental breakdown, every yell, every look-down, every minute and hour of just sitting around waiting for at least one client to cut. I am proud to say that everything was worth it. As a cosmetologist, we get looked at funny when we say we cut men’s hair because normally men barbers cut men’s hair. It’s a stereotype that a guy does a better job, but it is all a myth. I believe if you have a talent, it doesn’t matter what gender you are. I love giving a good fade and just because I am a female doesn’t mean I can’t fade. I want to let future cosmetologists/ barbers know if you love this industry keep showing up, and keep pushing, everything will come to a place it takes time, but it is worth it in the end. I want to motivate people with my story it’s real it’s true. I didn’t wake up having everything. I didn’t go to an elite school. I didn’t grow up in the best neighborhood. I wasn’t handed anything. I had to wake up every day and hustle. I knew what I wanted, and I had a goal.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I don’t go to the city as much but my favorite places in Atlanta would have to be The Atlanta Botanical Garden and Piedmont Park. The Botanical Garden is great to visit all year long. Especially during Christmas. They decorate the whole park with lights, and it is a breathtaking experience. Piedmont is good for a drink and enjoying nature I love coming here in the summer, especially for their pool. A small business that I really enjoy in the summer must be ‘lottafrutta’ by Luther king Jr birth home. It’s a must-try if you haven’t. I recommend their cremolatta.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to shout out my family IBARRA BAZAN. I wouldn’t have done this without their love and support. I want to thank Danny, Ivan, Tokes, Meli, and his family for helping make my dream studio come to life.

Instagram: @coyotecfadez

Other: https://linktr.ee/coyotecfadez

Image Credits
Cisco Cinema @ciscocinema