Meet Karla Gallarza | Esthetician & Owner at Serene Esthetics

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karla Gallarza and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karla, putting aside the decision to work for yourself, what other decisions were critical to your success?
Definitely moving to Denver! I am originally from a small town in Northeastern CO, and as much as it was a good place to grow up in, it just never felt like the right place for me. Moving to Denver helped me figure out what I really wanted in life and ultimately gave me the push I needed to just go for it and go back to school.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I started Serene Esthetics in February of 2021 and it was definitely a risk but it was the right move for my future! Moving from a small town to a city all alone was scary but moving to the city and starting a business was even scarier and not easy. Overcoming my own fear of failure was the biggest challenge and to be honest that fear never completely went away, I just learned to not let it stop me from getting what I want. I started taking clients a 2-3 days a week in a shared space and within a year I invested in my own suite so I was able to take clients whenever I wanted. I’ve always wanted to offer services and products that I 100% believe in and starting Serene Esthetics really allowed me to do so. Within 6 months of opening up I took another big risk so I could offer my clients the most requested skincare treatment. I invested in a Hydrafacial machine and it was the best decision, Hydrafacial quickly became my top service. If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that you can’t get anywhere in life without taking risks, I am honestly just so glad that I took all of the risks because now I get to go to work everyday and do what I love. Going into my suite and knowing that I can completely customize each and every treatment for my clients to get the skin they desire truly is what I’m most proud of. The past 3 years have not been easy, but they have been the most rewarding years.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There’s so much to do in Denver it’s hard to pick. If my best friend was visiting I would take her to Angelo’s or spaghetti factory for pasta, outlaw wings and pie hole are a must, I love hibachi so definitely doing that. There’s an Elote man on federal and Evans by the King Soopers that sells the best elotes- the papa hits the spot everytime. Its not Denver, but I would take my bestie to a mountain town for snow tubing or paddle boarding depending on the season! For Night life we’d be hitting up the bars in RiNo/lodos area. A visit to Serene Esthetics would definitely be on the itinerary for some relaxation.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would not be where I am without the love and support from my family and close friends. From having conversations with me about my desire to start Serene Esthetics, to helping me move into my suite, to coming in and actually trying the services I offer, all of it is seen and appreciated. I do want to give a special shout-out to my friend Iredy from Earthtone Skincare. I met Iredy at a corporate job we started together and we stayed in touch when we chose to part ways with the company. Iredy started her solo career first and when she was pregnant with her first baby she was looking to share her space with someone and she came to me with that opportunity. I was scared to start my solo career full time so having a chance to start out without a big rent payment and having a friend to bounce ideas off of was such a blessing. She believed in my business before it was even official and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity she gave me.

Website: https://www.vagaro.com/sereneestheticsllc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sereneestheticsllc?igsh=MWxkMmVieXNra3RuMw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Image Credits
Everleighportraits Kay_imagery Diana Gerstacker Photography