About

My name is Paloma Maldonado. As a little girl, I remember running through my Mother’s Hair Salon, thinking I wanted to be just like my Mom. I would watch her cut clients’ hair. As she talked and laughed with her clients, it seemed like so much fun!

When I was eleven, my grandma allowed me to work at a Hair Salon she owned. I would sweep, clean the stations, the brushes, or anything else that involved cleaning around the Salon.

I remember seeing all the hairstylists at the salon with their hair and make-up done, dressed all in black with flashy accessories, over-the-top outfits, long nails, and heels. I would always think, “I want to get dressed and do my hair and make-up to go to work like they do!” But I got married at a very young age, so I wasn’t able to go to a cosmetology school. I was stuck doing jobs that would only help me earn an income to pay my bills and cover my family’s needs.

My mom started teaching me how to cut hair when I was very young, and working at my Grandma Eva’s Salon also taught me a lot, so I started cutting hair as a side job out of my house for a few years.

My husband didn’t support my dream of becoming a Hairstylist because he said I would never make enough money being a ” Hairdresser.” Instead, he wanted me to be a nurse, but I refused to become one. It wasn’t until I got divorced that I stopped making everyone else happy and I was determined to follow my dreams and become the best hairstylist!

I went to Aveda Institute where I met a lot of amazing people and established close relationships with the educators at the school. Following graduation, I worked at a high-end salon and spa for a few years and grew my clientele very quickly! Soon I was offered a position at Aveda to become an Educator/Make-Up Artist. I decided to go back to school to become a Cosmetology Educator. My journey as an educator helped me perfect my craft and turned me into a Master Hairstylist!  

After graduating as an Educator, I went back to work at the same high-end Salon and spa where I previously worked. I only worked there for one more year, as I started thinking about my long-term goals and what I really wanted for my future. 

That’s when I decided to open up my Salon but didn’t know where to begin since I lacked the knowledge of owning a business. I reached out for help to a few people but had no luck at first, but I was determined to invest in myself and my future.

In 2012, the same day I left my stylist position at the Salon, I signed the lease for the building where I opened up my first Salon in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I named it “Pure Vanity Salon,” this name came from my Dad. Growing up when my Dad would see my sister and me doing our makeup and hair, he would say, “Ustedes son pura vanidad”. In English, that means “You girls are pure vanity.” My Dad had helped me remodel my first hair salon and was a key person in my life to push me when I doubted myself and told me “If you don’t try you will never know.”  While in the process of building my salon, I still didn’t have a name for my business. One day, as my mom and dad stood in my salon talking, my Mom said to my Dad ” Mira hasta donde llego la Pura Vanidad!!”  “Look how far Pure Vanity has come,” and that’s when it all clicked! I decided to call my first salon, “Pure Vanity Salon, to honor the most important people in my life, my Mom and my Dad.

Quickly I learned that business is a risk you take. At times it’s good and at times it’s devastating. My very first investment was put into jeopardy. My landlord had let the building I had leased into foreclosure. I wanted to buy the building, but the bank had already purchased it. It was devastating for my business and for me financially. All my hard work and my investment down the drain.

After that loss, I had to move my business to a smaller location. I went from being in a big salon to a small studio. After a few years in 2016, while I was still working out of my studio, I opened up my second location in Holland, Michigan. The Holland location came about because my oldest son, Gonzalo Maldonado, also known as “G da Barber,” had realized his passion was barbering. He had already gained experience working in one of the best Barbershops in Grand Rapids, called  “MVP Barbershop.” Working with the best New York Style barbers he was able to start building a reputation for himself. He quickly built his clientele, being one of the youngest barbers in Grand Rapids at the age of 15 years old. He saw a need for good barbers in his hometown in Holland. By then we had already talked and decided I would open up a second location. 

Once the Holland Michigan location was open, my son Carlos Maldonado decided to join the team and be our main Make-Up Artist and Front Desk Manager. Making so many Brides and Quinceaneras beautiful, and attending to our amazing clients and their needs.

For a while, I was going back and forth from the studio in Grand Rapids to the Salon in Holland. In 2018, I had the opportunity to take over a salon in downtown Grand Rapids. Ever since I went to cosmetology school in downtown Grand Rapids, I had the dream of owning a Salon in that area. So when I got the opportunity, I took it right away. To this day, the Pure Vanity Salon is located in the downtown area, and I love it here!

I went from working for a Salon to becoming a business owner. Now I have a team of stylists, including my sons, who still work for me. During the last nine years of being a Salon owner, my business has changed me a lot, and I’m in a different place in my life, with a lot more experience, focus, and bigger dreams.

I’m going through a reinvention of myself, my career, and my business, rebranding myself as a Master Hairstylist, Educator & Wig Maker. As well as building my first online store “Paloma Maldonado Glamour,” a place for all things “Glam.” A place where you can book appointments with me or our stylists at any of our locations, check out our best client transformations, and purchase our Exclusive Paloma Maldonado Hair Care Products, as well as our Custom Color Wigs and Hair Extensions. 

I will continue delivering an excellent experience to my clients in the Salon, and continue to offer Exclusive Luxury products to our clients. Our main goal has always been and will continue to be making our clients look and feel their best. I’m developing my brand and online services so clients can continue to purchase our products and feel Glamorous not only in my city but all over the world.

~Paloma Maldonado

CEO of PM Glamour