When Iván Montero came to the United States to study English for a while, he was far from imagining that one day he would have his own business in the world of beauty and that one of his most famous clients would be the late singer Jenny Rivera. Hence he is recognized in Los Angeles as the stylist to the stars.
“Jenny and I were friends from 2005 until shortly before she passed away, and of course, I was in charge of taking care of her hair,” says Mexican Iván Montero, owner of I.M. Hair Studio in the city of Burbank, California.
Iván was born 56 years ago in Teutla, a small ranch in the state of Puebla in Mexico. At the age of 13 he moved to Mexico City and at the age of 17 he began his career as a stylist.
“During those years, I came to the United States, because I wanted to study English and I brought money to support myself for a few months.”
But when she ran out, she had no choice but to look for a job, only to find that without a license she couldn’t practice as a hairstylist in California.
“I returned to Mexico, and I had a very good job in Polanco, but at 5, 6 years old I returned to the United States. I tried living in New Jersey and I didn’t like it. So I came to Los Angeles.”
Despite the fact that he brought very good recommendations, such as that of the former owner of Televisa, Emilio Azcárraga, he fought for the lack of a California license and for not speaking English.
“As I had done very well in Polanco, I came with very high smoke.”
But the barriers he ran into in California made him put his feet on the ground.
“I began to study English, and prepare to get my license. In 1991 I obtained my license to work as a hairstylist in California.
His first job was in the city of Huntington Park in Los Angeles County, where he had his first salon. He later achieved his dream of working in Beverly Hills and also worked at a salon in the Burbank mall where he became the general manager.
“In more than 30 years of career, I have gone through many places. I never wanted to get stuck in a room. I always wanted to keep learning and growing. For that, I took advantage of all the courses that they offered me ”.
A little over 13 years ago, the opportunity arose to once again have his own salon in Burbank, and he baptized it with the initials of his first and last name, I.M. Hair Studio where he works alongside his only daughter Esthela.
“I always had in mind to return to Mexico, but after my parents died and my daughter made me a grandfather and gave me two grandchildren, I decided that Los Angeles is my permanent place to live. I even have the place where I want my remains to rest the day I leave this world”.
He said that being a father and a grandfather made all the difference to forget about going back to live in Mexico.
“Why am I going back to Mexico? Here is all my family. But it took me several decades to decide. I always had the thorn to return to Mexico.
And that’s how it has to be – he says – since it was very difficult for him to come to this country, so that when he dies they take him back, “I’d better stay here”.
Iván talks that little by little they have been getting up with their IM Hair Salon after the covid pandemic.
“It affected us too much. We thought it would only be a few days and it turned into months and years. Fortunately we were able to survive on savings, since we never received money from the government and it helped us that we made a good arrangement with the person who rented us the premises”.
But it definitely makes you see that everything changed after the pandemic. Iván rented stations to other stylists and now he is alone working with his daughter Esthela.
“With the pandemic, people became more loyal. And from time to time, tourists, personalities, actors and singers from other countries come to the salon, but I have had officials from the FBI and the Secret Service as constant clients; and people who work in Hispanic television. Now I have an African-American-Filipino actress, Sharon Leal.”
Iván dreams of having his own beauty academy and dedicating part of his salon facilities to that end.
“I want to train people and be an instructor because I have a lot to contribute to the world of beauty. I have dedicated myself to bettering myself.”
He admits that it took him a long time to believe in him. “I have always believed in myself, but not the way I see myself now. I had a bit of insecurities as a professional and in myself on the physical plane. I have matured and I am in the best moment of physical and professional fulfillment”.
Iván says that he feels happy. “The greatest happiness is knowing who you are and who you have with you.”
Immigrants who are starting their life in the US are told that it is a big mistake to dedicate themselves exclusively to work.
“The moment they arrive here they have to educate themselves. It’s okay to work hard, but we also have to educate ourselves, learn English, read and prepare. If we don’t educate ourselves, we’re not going to get anywhere, and Latinos are going to keep putting us in boxes in this country, and putting us to wash bathrooms”.
You can find the IM Hair Studio salon at:
3913 1/2 W Riverside Dr, Burbank, CA 91505 ; and you can also call 818-859-7944.