Eri’s Beauty Studio opened on Eighth Street in Sheboygan

SHEBOYGAN – Since she graduated from beauty school in 2013, Erica Silva has dreamed of opening her own beauty salon.

On Dec. 1, that dream came to life when Silva opened Eri’s Beauty Studio on Eighth Street. Given that she is the only one who works there, each client gets a one-on-one salon experience.

“My goal is to make everyone feel special when they sit in my chair,” she said.

Silva, who also speaks Spanish, specializes in hair coloring and does a lot of bridal hair and makeup, and she offers a variety of services like eyelash extensions and manicures. Her studio also carries retail products. 

In the short time the studio has been open, Silva said she has had support from friends, family and even new clients. She had appointments booked every day and was almost entirely booked the first weekend.

Amid the excitement of achieving her dream, Silva said opening during a pandemic was scary. The one-on-one nature of her studio alleviates some of the worries, but she still sanitizes between every client and wears a mask.

Eighteen years ago, Silva — who was born in Mexico — and her family moved to Sheboygan because her dad had family in the area. Although his family moved to other parts of Wisconsin, Silva said they stayed in Sheboygan because they liked the area.

Now, Silva is raising her three kids in Sheboygan. 

Over the next year, Silva hopes to keep creating, learning and inspiring. The beauty industry, she said, is about learning new techniques and skills each day, each year.