Styling a new future
Former paralegal follows her heart to beauty career
Sometimes you have to listen to your heart.
When Christina Truscello did, she took a career path that combined her creativity and childhood desire to help others. Now, as co-owner of Teal Hair & Makeup Studio in Lowell, the former paralegal fulfills a lifelong passion.
“I always wanted to do hair, but my dad really wanted me to go to college,” Truscello said. So she did as her father wanted and doesn't regret it. After graduating, Truscello took a job as a paralegal and started law school. But right from the getgo, she knew it wasn't for her.
“I told myself I would try law school for a year, but if I still wasn't happy, then I would go to cosmetology school,” she said. “I can't be unhappy and spend all this money.”
She soon realized that law school wasn't for her, so Truscello decided she was ready to take a chance.
Cosmetology school, a 1,000-hour training program, typically takes about nine months to complete.
When Truscello finished, she had intended to do hair part time and keep her paralegal position.
“I was just going to work nights and weekends,” she said, “but once I started, the owner wanted me to work full time.”
Truscello took the position and has never looked back. As her career in the hair business took off, so did the opportunity for her to showcase her creativity.
“I wanted to work at a really nice salon, do some platform work, and really get into being an artist,” she said.
She quickly gained a large clientele and found herself working six days a week, including a lot of nights, weekends, and even some holidays.
But Truscello wanted to keep learning, and soon started offering hair extensions.
“Extensions are just a whole other level,” Truscello said. As she fine-tuned the craft, it allowed her to show off her creativity even more and she was able to work with a wide-range of clients, including cancer patients.
As her career continued to expand, so did her desire to open her own studio. So she and fellow hair stylist Lypor Leong sat down to iron out a plan.
Leong, a friend and fellow stylist who worked the chair next to Truscello, specialized in weddings. The two put together a three- to five-year plan, but it turned into a two-month plan.
An opportunity to open up a hair studio just down the street from their current location was an offer they couldn't refuse. So the pair opened the doors to Teal Hair & Makeup Studio in September 2012. Nearly five years later, they have a staff of seven and two freelance stylists.
“Don't ever fall short of what you want to do,” Truscello said. “I listened to my heart and my gut and it led me to the right decision.”
But most of all, work hard.