Sheila Gibilisco grew up in the San Fernando Valley and was a massage therapist for the movie industry. She would work on movie sets to help the actors and crew members rejuvenate and recover after long days of filming.
When her son was in first grade, Gibilisco and her family moved up to Orcutt, and Gibilisco decided to go to aesthetics school so she could work both in skin care and massage therapy, she said. Now, Gibilisco and her family have remained in Orcutt for about 30 years, and she has been running her own full-service salon, InSPArations, for 20 years.
“I always wanted to have my own full-services salon because not too many businesses had all of the services we do,” Gibilisco said. “I liked the idea of having a one-stop shop and a more upscale but comfortable salon that offered everything from hair, nails, massage, skin waxing, [to] new things that have come on board, for instance eyelash extensions and permanent makeup.”
InSPArations now has six hairstylists, one nail technician, three massage therapists, four estheticians, one permanent-makeup artist, and one eyelash extensionist who all work as independent contractors, setting their own schedules and fees for their services but pay rent for their studio space, she said.
“I’ve been able to have people here who have been here for 15 to 17 years; they have children and family now. It’s a very family feeling here; a lot of us have worked together for many years,” Gibilisco said.
With October as InSPArations’ anniversary month, Gibilisco and her staff will be celebrating the salon’s two decades in business with a raffle where people can buy a ticket and be entered to win one of four gift baskets with gift certificates to local restaurants and shops as well as spa/salon services, she said. All proceeds will benefit Marian Regional’s breast cancer center, and Gibilisco said she hopes they can raise $2,000—matching what they’ve raised the past two years.
“We lost one of our hair stylists to breast cancer, so we always donate in her name to the hospital. It’s just a horrible cancer that we need to have a cure for sooner rather than later,” she said.
Wanting to give back to other breast cancer survivors, Gibilisco got trained and certified to do areola pigmentation, where she tattoos areolas on to cancer survivors who’ve had their areolas removed during mastectomies. She provides this as a pro bono service, she added.
“I wanted to give back to the community for those patients going through that surgery. It makes them feel more whole,” she said. “I’m passionate about this industry and business, and so are the staff that work here. They are all knowledgeable and caring, and we’re happy to provide the services we do for the community.”
While operating the salon, Gibilisco said she also works as a massage therapist and esthetician.
“I like doing teen cleans for kids to improve their skin, especially kids with acne problems,” she said. “Massages make people feel better, make them heal, promote health, help their bodies recover from various different things our bodies go through.”
Working at the salon for 20 years, she’s seen clients in their teens for acne treatment and has later seen them before they get married and after they have children, she said.
Like salons across the country, the COVID-19 pandemic hit InSPArations hard, Gibilisco said. The full staff couldn’t all be in the building at once, and there were points when the salon had to be completely shut down, but the community continued its support and helped keep the salon afloat by buying gift certificates and returning for services when it was able to open its doors.
“It’s very rewarding to help other people feel better and look better,” Gibilisco said.
Raffle entries are $20 per ticket, and the raffle will be held Nov. 1. Pick up tickets in person at 130 E. Clark Ave. Direct questions to (805) 934-8682.
Highlight
• The state announced this week that it will fund seven projects in Santa Barbara County designed to increase housing production, implement sustainable land-use strategies, and promote alternative modes of transportation, such as walking, biking, rolling, and transit. The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) received nearly $5.3 million in funds from the state’s Regional Early Action Planning Grants Program of 2021, and that money will be directed toward projects including Santa Maria’s downtown revitalization infrastructure improvements, a permit-ready accessory dwelling unit program in Lompoc, and developing a Santa Barbara County Active Transportation Dashboard.
Reach Staff Writer Taylor O’Connor at toconnor@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Oct 26 – Nov 5, 2023.