Yaima Fernandez is a Cuban immigrant who found her passion in styling hair for her family and friends. She arrived in Lafayette, Louisiana in 2002 and worked to support herself through cosmetology school. After graduating with honors, Yaima went to work at LisaKaren Salon and learned her big smile and sincere attitude was more important than her broken English.

She became a US Citizen in 2007, purchased the salon seven years later and gave it a new name - Mélange Salon.