You can really have it all at Empress Studio, a beauty and hair salon located in the Hegewisch neighborhood. Nails, waxing, facials, lashes, and hair services for all are just some of the offerings under one roof. Initially, the salon only offered hair services, but its owner, Celina Miramontes, began offering more for her clients and moved to a bigger space last year in order to do so.
The studio’s hair services are “the latest trends and techniques” and include all things hair such as haircuts, color, perms, hair extensions, and braids. Their color line is strictly Pulp Riot, which is a vegan line with quinoa—an ingredient that helps protect and repair hair.
Miramontes is an East Side native and said she always knew she wanted to do hair. “I used to actually sit out front and do people’s hair…on my stairs.” She eventually went on to cosmetology school and opened her business. She has a message for young women thinking about starting their own business: “As long as they have the passion…the sky’s the limit.”
On Google, Empress Studio boasts 4.5/5 stars, with customers raving about the excellent customer service. Miramontes said helping her clients feel confident is the best part of her work. “The best part about what I do is watching all of our clients [who are] maybe not having a good day or not feeling confident, or even going through things in life, and you get to completely change their day. You get to make them feel beautiful, you get to make them feel better…And I feel like that’s the most rewarding part.”
Empress Studio, 13308 S. Baltimore Ave. Monday, 9am–3pm; Tuesday, 10am–5pm; Wednesday, 9am–5pm; Thursday–Friday, 10am–7pm; Saturday, 9am–3pm. (773) 437-4693. vagaro.com/us04/empress777studio