“I Got Fired for Sanitizing My Brushes — And It Was the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me”

Written by:

Viviana Carpelino

Founder and Education director

Contucci Salons and Education

“It’s not about me, it’s about everyone else.”

It was 6:15 a.m. when I showed up — early, calm, and ready. My kit was clean. My tools were sanitized. My disposables were prepped. I had been booked months in advance by what was known as one of Houston’s top hair and makeup companies. This was supposed to be a career milestone.

But what happened instead changed my life.

The event was overbooked. 2 Artists 10 people. No one else had arrived on time, and the director called in at 6:55 a.m. with a casual, “Don’t worry she’s chill.” The start time was 7AM and this was my first day of work.

But what she said next made my stomach drop:

“You don’t need to clean your brushes between people. Just keep going. Don’t stop.”

She wasn’t just rushing me — she was telling me to ignore every single sanitation protocol we are trained to follow.

I stood there, stunned. I had my Barbicide. My disposables. My certification. I had everything in place to protect my clients — and she wanted me to throw it all away.

And then, right in front of me, she dropped the same beauty blender she had used on everyone in the bridal party… picked it up off the floor… and went right back to applying makeup on the next client.

No rinsing. No replacement.

Nothing.

I calmly said, “I can’t do that. I respect my license, and I respect my clients too much.”

Within minutes, I was removed from the schedule. Fired.

For doing things the right way.

What I didn’t know at the time — and what made this even more devastating later — was that this company had been performing services without a license and operating illegally inside an apartment complex.

Clients thought they were booking professionals. But the reality?

They were being serviced in someone’s living room with reused brushes, shared tools, and zero regard for the law.

All in the name of speed and profit.

Yes — I was angry. I felt betrayed. But I didn’t let that anger turn me into them.

I didn’t start cutting corners.

I didn’t throw away my values.

Instead, I got focused.

I poured my energy into building something that would raise the standard — not lower it.

I started dreaming of a school. A place where future professionals would be trained not just to pass a test, but to respect the license.

To value health and safety.

To change the beauty industry from the inside out.

And now… here I am.

A successful founder.

Running a state-approved cosmetology school.

Empowering others.

Changing lives.

Raising the bar.

Because people’s health is in our hands.

This isn’t just about opinions.

This isn’t about speed or convenience.

It’s not an emotion — it’s the law.

And at Contucci, we don’t compromise.

Are you ready to be part of something real?

To build a future based on excellence, ethics, and skill?

👉 Apply today at Contucciedu.com and start your career the right way.