Wherever you are, be there totally.
~ Eckhart Tolle
Cris was raised in a salon environment starting at the early age of 5, where she was exposed to the power of the beauty industry by observing her mother's work. In her early 20’s, she traveled the world and truly discovered who she was and wanted to become. She discovered that her creativity, knowledge and education are qualities that she wanted to share with others. She observed how the essence of beauty can greatly impact a woman’s confidence, self esteem and overall quality of life.
The virtues, talents of Audrey Hepburn, Princess Diana and Coco Chanel have all impacted her curiosity of what beauty really means.
Before moving back to Austin, Cris spent several years in the Midwest working in the telecommunications industry to then deciding to go to beauty school and become a manicurist. Her career took off as soon as she graduated and became an independent contractor and became a specialist for sculptured nails. After many years of deliberating, it was time to move back to Texas and go to school for cosmetology. Cris spent several years in some of Austin’s top salons, such as Saks Fifth Avenue where she worked behind the scenes of Austin’s most prestigious fashion shows sponsored by charity organizations i.e. (March of Dimes, Susan G. Komen, Austin’s Dancing with the Stars, and Austin Children’s Shelter ). She worked numerous photo shoots for magazines most of which were local such as Tribeza, Austin Monthly, Brilliant, and many more. In addition to her hairstyling experience at Sak’s, she also worked in aesthetics, makeup and nails, all of which helped her facilitate what she wanted to offer in her dream salon.
After leaving Sak’s Fifth Avenue she switched to a new path as an independent hair stylist at Salon Si Beau of Westlake. It was there that Cris not only continued to compliment her hairstyling with nail art, but ventured out to master the wedding industry. Starting with just a few friends, Cris now has over a hundred weddings under her belt. Her determination, ambition and motivation are what kept her on the right path to the future opening of Dolce Salon. In 2007 she took a leap of faith and started Dolce in a small vintage house off of Lake Austin Blvd turning her dream into reality. During this time she took numerous courses enrolling in multiple certification programs for cut and color. She attended an intensive cut and color training course at Vivianne Mckinder Hair Academy in New York City where she mastered alternative complex colors and artistic precision razor cutting styles for modern trends and techniques. She has perfected the art of extensions and is a top specialist in several hair extension types such as Hot Heads and is certified in Great Lengths Extensions.
With Cris it all comes down to making the world a better place and making each and every one of her clients experience the best it can be. Not only will you receive professional, top of the line styling, coloring and consulting, but you will get the chance to experience her inner beauty, fountain of wisdom, and a chance to spend time with a genuinely kind and warm soul.
