Ecuadorian Immigrant and Chic Salon & Spa Owner Irina Erazo’s Passion to Excel Fulfills the American Dream

Overcoming adversity, chasing the American Dream with hard work and a passion to excel

Born in Ecuador, Erazo immigrated to the United States in 2003, bringing with her the passion to excel. 

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – While illegal immigration remains a critical concern, it is undeniable that immigrants who arrived legally have helped to positively shape America in many, many ways.

In Irina Erazo’s case, the shaping involves hair. Erazo is the owner of Chic Salon & Spa.

Tucked in a corner of the sprawling shopping center that once housed Old Time Pottery at 1270 N. Wickham Road in Melbourne, Erazo’s tidy hair salon bustles with activity as stylists, all of them immigrants, deftly work their magic on a diverse clientele, from silver-haired Anglo matrons to young Latinx men.

Born in Ecuador, Erazo immigrated to the United States in 2003, bringing with her the passion to excel. 

“I always had a dream of opening my own business,” she said.

She chose cosmetology because she is naturally good at it, and after earning her stripes through education and the school of hard knocks, she maintains her edge by attending “stylist boot camps” in Columbia, where she learns the latest techniques from Latino celebrity stylists such as Gabriel Samra and Juan Carlos Beceiro.

Samra, who counts more than two million followers online, has been called “The Magician of Beauty,” helping stylists elevate their craft. Erazo, a devout follower of Samra’s work, has introduced some of his techniques to her Melbourne clientele. 

Among the techniques Erazo offers her clients is Plastica Dos Fios Hair Plastic Surgery, a hair treatment she considers superior to traditional keratin treatment, a popular method for smoothing and straightening hair.

“It is a Brazilian-based treatment that has gained popularity in recent years,” she said. 

“It reduces frizz and fly-aways, straightens, smooths and protects hair, adds shine and luster, and results can last for up to six months. It deeply repairs hair from the inside out.”

While the name suggests a surgical procedure, it is in reality a chemical treatment that alters the hair’s structure, using heat to seal the hair’s cuticle.

Also popular with her clients are her new techniques for balayage, the hair highlighting technique of hand-painted highlights for a more natural look. With blind contour balayage, for example, Erazo applies color to mimic the way a blind contour drawing is made, focusing on the overall flow and structure of the hair rather than individual strands. 

Shadow balayage, on the other hand, darkens the hair roots slightly to create a shadow effect and then blended into the lighter highlight color.

Glow contour balayage, another of Erazo’s favored techniques, combines balayage highlighting with face-framing techniques to enhance natural features and create a multi-dimensional look by strategically placing lighter highlights and lowlights to emphasize cheekbones and the hairline, mimicking the effect of contouring with makeup. 

Unlike some salons that are “business only,” Erazo and her stylists always seem upbeat and happy to take as much time as needed with clients. 

“The whole place has such a nice vibe,” said customer Nella Moya.

“As soon as I walk in, I’m always greeted with a sweet and warm welcome,” Nicole Carrera added. 

Sherry Bonapour, who works out of Chic Salon, is, like Erazo, an immigrant. Bonapour was forced to flee her native Iran decades ago because her family was persecuted for their Baha’i faith after the Shah of Iran lost control of the troubled country.

For years, she taught hair styling at Brevard Community College, now Eastern Florida State College, and worked at another salon until the owner retired. When looking for a new location in which to practice, Bonapour was very selective. Erazo’s Chic Salon was perfect.

“Irina is very passionate about her work and her salon,” Bonapour said.

“The salon is always spotless, and she’s always smiling and welcoming. She loves to learn new techniques and even travels out of the country to meet with famous hair artists.”

Life has not been easy for Erazo and her family. Her husband’s mechanic shop, which Erazo helped manage while also learning the ropes of the salon business, was doing well until treatment for a brain tumor kept him from working for six months.

“With the support of my children, the rest of my family, and my friends, we managed to move forward with my husband’s recovery, the business, and life itself,” Erazo said. “My family is hard-working, resilient, responsible and honest.” 

Once her husband’s health was on the right track, Erazo decided there was no time to waste to open the salon she had always wanted to have. Like so many immigrants before her, she is chasing the American Dream with hard work and a passion to excel.

She may well achieve it.  

For more information about Chic Salon & Spa, call 321-377-5507 or CLICK HERE.