We Got This 
#1: Cheryl Salinas-Tucker, Owner of Rouge Makeup and Nail Studio in Ferndale
(Crystal A. Proxmire, July 1, 2016)
Ferndale, MI – Women from around the world gathered in Washington DC on June 14 for the United States of Women Summit. The event featured a series of speakers celebrating the successes of women while also addressing the areas where women do not yet have equality. About 5000 people attended, including Women entrepreneurs and alumni from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program. Among them was Cheryl Salinas-Tucker, owner of Rouge Makeup and Nail Studio at 23337 Woodward in Ferndale. Cheryl was chosen to represent her business and, along with several other local business Women, the Detroit chapter of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses.
“It has truly changed my life,” Salinas-Tucker said. “I felt honored to be in the 
presence of so many women and men who are working to make a difference.”
There were many powerful and influential speakers, including Vice President Joe Biden, Cecile Richards from Planned Parenthood, Billie Jean King, Amy Poeller, and Patricia Arquette. The topics ranged from Violence Against Women, Equal Pay, Women Entrepreneurship, Women’s Health Issues and issues facing the LBGTQ community.
A featured speaker was a Transgender Woman who spoke about the challenges she faced socially, economically and in terms of being able to access medical care. “This is so important to me. We are part of the Ferndale community. We have transgender friends and clients. We can’t know all of obstacles that they face. I was inspired to post to Facebook a note to our friends to let them know that they were included in this summit and that they are part of our Sisterhood. I was very moved by her speech”
The first half of the day ended with President of the United States, Barack Obama taking the stage. “I was just giddy” Salinas-Tucker said. “I am a huge Obama fan. To listen to him speak, while he is still the President. It was an important moment in time. When he said ’This is what a feminist looks like’ and pointed to himself, I almost fainted.”
But perhaps the coolest moment for Salinas-Tucker was when First Lady Michelle Obama took the stage for an interview with Oprah Winfrey. “My mind was blown,” Salinas-Tucker said. “I can’t believe I was in the same room as Oprah as she interviewed The First Lady” As the Michelle Obama spoke, Salinas-Tucker was in awe of the way she focused on being a parent as well as serving as First Lady. “She has worked to give her daughters as normal of a childhood as possible. The Obama’s have really made great strides to open up 
the White House. Michelle talked about some of her favorite moments, like how it felt to have the White House lawn full of Girl Scouts camping out in tents, and to have Prince play in the East Room. She said that she really enjoyed opening up the house and making people feel welcome.”
That spirt of welcoming and connecting is something that resonated with Salinas-Tucker because of her business philosophy.
“One of my favorite quotes of the day was by Warren Buffett, ‘Don’t just satisfy your clients, delight them.’ It makes all the difference. Cheryl and her sister Jeny started Rouge in 2010. ROUGE Makeup and Nail Studio is an organic & vegan natural nail salon and healthy makeup and skincare boutique.
Since 2016, they have expanded their business from just the two of them working in 500 square feet to 2500 sq feet and 8 service providers. They have expanded their business to include facials, reiki, reflexology, body wax and expert brow threading. “It’s been organic growth. As our guests requested more services and products, we grew to serve their needs.”
For Sister Team Cheryl & Jeny, the idea of making people happy does not stop with the customers, but extends to the care of their Team.
“We are proud that we have created a place to work that we all want to spend our time in. To ensure the health of our co-workers and our guests, we carefully choose products that are not harmful to our ‘personal eco-system’. No toxic fumes or dangerous chemicals are used at ROUGE.” This is a big 
point of difference from other nail salons. Cheryl says, “Look, you spend much your life at work. It shouldn’t be detrimental to your health. We believe that you should feel great about the place you work.”
ROUGE also takes care to support other local women entrepreneurs in choices about what is sold at the store. Among the jewelry, for example, are pieces by local artists Kelly Pettibone and Jennifer Vermeersch Bacon and accessories by Karen Roos and Jean Peplinski. Their “house brand’ of Makeup and Skincare is a local, women owned company called, “Eve Organics Beauty”. “It’s a fantastic line, and we have worked to promote each other over the past 6 years. Eve Organics really delivers a quality line that’s organic, vegan and plant based. The fact that it’s made in Michigan really makes them an ideal partner for us.”
At ROUGE, customers and employees have bonded, making it like a more modern, evolved version of the old time barber shops where it was typically the men discussing the big decisions of the day. At ROUGE there are men, 
women, genderqueer individuals, and clients of every age and demographic. Everyone is welcome.
“We are a Sister team, and we are inclusive by nature. ROUGE reflects that. It doesn’t matter if you’re 12 and need help with acne or 92 and just want a new blush, we want to help. That’s why daughters bring their moms and moms bring their daughters to ROUGE.”
Connecting to guests through a fabulous service experience is how ROUGE nurtures the diverse community that calls Ferndale home. ROUGE is more than a “salon or spa”, it’s a place to connect with neighbors, your friends and family and most importantly, to yourself. Heading up that service is Jeny Bulatovic, Cheryl’s Sister, the ROUGE head Manicurist and a co-Owner at ROUGE. Cheryl says, “Jeny is very nurturing by nature. She spent years as a 
pre-school teacher. She created all of our nail services and has trained our Manicurists to really take the time to perform an excellent service. It makes all the difference.”
As for her experience at The Summit, Salinas-Tucker says, “I connected whole-heartedly with the message of the United State of Women Summit. I believe that message is that any woman can be uplift herself and her community simply by a taking action. Identify the cause closest to your heart and you take action for your cause.”
“The majority of the speakers at the Summit are taking the issues that are closest to their heart on as their passion and their life’s work. I feel like this (ROUGE) is my life’s work. Everyday we work to empower the Women of our community through great service, and healthy beauty education. Attending the Summit was the opportunity of a lifetime. I left DC feeling more inspired 
than ever about what we do here at ROUGE.”
For other business owners, or those who want to succeed at any venture, Salinas-Tucker’s advice is “Be open to possibilities. Have a positive outlook. Be confident in yourself and what you bring to the table. And, don’t forget to pass it on, especially to the Women and Girls around you. Let’s encourage each other and cheer our successes!”
“There are still so many challenges that we face. But, we have come far as individuals and as Women in society. Look at what we have accomplished, and think about what the next generations will bring! We still have so much work to do. But, don’t worry, we got this.”
Learn more about Rouge at…www.rougemakeupandnails.com
Learn more about the United State of Women
http://www.theunitedstateofwomen.org/#/the-summit
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