For many women, investing time and money to get their hair done is a sacred self-care ritual. Ly Tran and Sachie Peng, owners of S & L Hair Studio, don't take that fact for granted. In their salon, building meaningful relationships with clients is just as essential as delivering exceptional hair care. Read on to learn more about the formation of their business partnership and the wisdom they have to share about opening a small business!
What made you curious about the hair business?
My aunt was a hairdresser and I loved watching her do everything beauty related. As long as I can remember, I knew one day I would be a stylist and had a dream of opening my own salon.
What is something about the hair business that you think more people should know about?
The hair business is a very tough and competitive industry. It goes way beyond just hair. Being a successful stylist is not just about doing great hair, you must be dedicated, passionate and well rounded. Success isn’t measured by the amount of money you charge, or the number of followers you have. For me, real success is defined by the relationships you’ve built and maintained with people you’ve come across. It’s about the awe moments you created and the stories and lessons that were shared in the chair.
Having previously owned and sold a salon before starting this studio with your partner Sachie, what differences have you noticed between the two experiences?
I purchased Vjones in 2017, and was eager to turn it into my dream salon. I wanted to build a team and continued to be behind the chair. However, I quickly learned it’s not easy to managed other stylists, work 60+ hours weekly and run the entire backend of the business. I realized I loved the craft, but was overwhelmed and disliked the business aspect of it. I sold Vjones in 2023, and rented a chair, but soon had another opportunity to open S & L Hair Studio with my coworker/friend Sachie Peng. Having a business partner has made a world of a difference for me. We support each other with ideas and compensate for each other's weaknesses. Our partnership has also allowed us to maintain a work life balance which is very important for us.
Additionally, what advice would you offer to those considering starting their own salon, whether independently or with a partner.
Don’t compare your success to others. Find and do what feels right to you. If having a studio works for you or working from your home studio makes you happy, do it! If you plan on building a salon and putting your life savings into building one, make sure your landlord is someone you can work with. Your lease is one of the most important documents you will sign. If you decide on having a business partner, you must be flexible and willing to compromise and be open minded. It’s like a marriage, you’ll definitely have disagreements and open communication is vital.
If you could go back in time and tell your past self anything, what would it be?
I would tell myself to not wear heels. Dress in comfortable shoes.
Not everyone will like you, and you don’t have to like everyone.
What are you currently most excited about in the near future?
Having more stylists join our S & L team. We offer chair rentals for part-time and full-time stylists.
What is your favorite way to unwind at the end of the day?
Having a nice dinner with my family.
Tell us about a hair product that you’ve been most excited about.
Unite, 7 second leave in detangler spray! I’ve used this product for 9 years, on every single one of my clients.
What is the last thing you were curious about?
Different types of hair extensions
Share another Asian-women-owned small business or entrepreneur that inspires you!
There’s so many other Asian owned businesses that inspires me, but I must choose IVORY Salon owned by Cindy Lam in San Jose. Cindy was my former co worker at Vjones and from the very start I knew she was driven and was going to be successful. She inspired me then and continues to do so now.
What can the community help you with?
Drop us a review/feedback on Google or Yelp if you’ve ever sat in our chair. Tell your friends and family about us if you love what we do.
Ly & Sachie's story gives us a deeper appreciation for the salon industry and great wisdom for anyone thinking of starting a business venture with a partner. For all your hair care needs, you can find S & L Studio here:
Address: 880 E Campbell Ave Suite #102, Campbell, CA 95008
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