Marta Cid of Wapa'm.
We spoke with Marta Cid, founder, heart and soul of Wapa’m, a unique hairstyling salon in Barcelona. Marta had a dream of one day opening her own salon, so that’s exactly what she did 15 years ago. It’s a decision she’s now extremely proud of; over the years she’s turned her passion into a business that has become a reference point for beauty in Barcelona.
How did the idea for Wapa'm come about?
Like many of my peers, I started working in a hairstyling franchise—this was around 2005. After three years, I felt I had the experience to go out on my own, so I decided to open my own salon. I wanted to both disassociate myself from franchises and be part of a culture that promotes cruelty-free, environmentally friendly, organic products. At the time, these types of products were not as in demand as they are now. But I was betting that they would be in the near future. So I took a risk and developed a brand identity based on a philosophy of using high-quality, earth-friendly products, even though they were products that weren’t very well known or often found in salons at the time.
As you look back, what would you say has been the most nostalgic moment for Wapa'm?
Perhaps the most significant moment is when one of our collections was first published. It was our first shoot with the Wapa’m identity—a creative, fun and stimulating team project. We decided to send it to one of the industry magazines, and they published it. Not only that, they presented us at their awards—and we won! It was really emotional because my mother was a hairdresser, so I grew up with those magazines; I always saw them at home.
At the time were you aware of the significance of getting an award?
These are things that you value over time; now when I remember it all makes sense, but at that time I didn't enjoy it enough. It was a great effort, but I wasn’t aware of what it took. The realization of what we had achieved came years later.
Did you have a clear idea of how you wanted your team to operate from the start or did it evolve over the years?
I've always been committed to one way of doing things. I believe in people, in their potential. It's the essence of the person that I think is key, and that must be held on to. We work together as a team under one, but each team member has the autonomy to develop their vision and skills. My goal is to foster an environment in which professionalism and creativity can flourish; I believe this is the only way we can continue to offer the quality of service that we have been providing for 15 years. But, I won’t deny that I’ve also had to learn and grow along the way!
If you could go back in time, would you do things the same way again?
Honestly—no! (Marta laughs as she explains.) Betting on the success of a salon of this kind in Spain is very risky; it will always take significant sacrifices to make it work. There is a lot of energy that needs to be invested to pull it off, and maybe with a more conservative type of hair salon things would have been much easier for me. Though, I must admit that everything worked out fine in the end. And, I have to say that—even with all the mistakes I made—if I had done things differently I don’t think I'd have achieved the successes that I did. I feel like all the work I put into it really paid off for me both personally and professionally—I’m really proud of what I’ve accomplished.
What would you do exactly the same?
I would keep my work philosophy; I couldn't change it anyway, as it's my way of being! I am really glad I made my initial investment in the premises. In the long run it paid off; doing so saved me from having to deal with problematic utilities installations, and I saved on outfitting the salon as well. In the beginning I worried that I was going overboard with my investment, but I’ve always believed that “lo barato sale caro” (going cheap will cost you in the end).
What do you remember about the early days that makes you connect with Wapa'm again, 15 years later?
From the early days I remember something that over time has become symbolic for Wapa'm. Around the time we opened, I heard about a French stylist who dedicated himself to working only with blonde coloring. When I learned of this I thought that it must be such a wonderful thing to be so good at something—to stand out in your field. I recognized the complexity of doing that work and I really admired him. I remember thinking that if I was recognized for something like that, it would be a dream. Well, a couple of years ago Vogue España (Spain’s digital edition) declared us one of the best hairdressers in Barcelona for blonde coloring. All of this connects me with my beginning; it makes me think about where I am now and makes me appreciate the road I have traveled to get here.
For more information, visit Wapa’m’s website at wapam.es or follow on Twitter: @WapamBcn, Facebook: @wapamBCN or Instagram: @wapambcn.