In 1962, a Cuban-born cosmetologist named Mirta de Perales turned a lifetime of resilience, skill, and heart into a beauty brand that generations of women would come to trust. Her story is not just about products. It is about perseverance, service, and honoring the women she served.
Mirta grew up in poverty in Cuba, where caring for family came before everything else. As a young girl, she discovered she could earn a few cents cutting and styling her neighbors’ hair. What started as survival quickly became purpose. Beauty was not vanity to Mirta. It was a way to help women feel confident, dignified, and cared for. That belief never left her.
With formal training as a professional cosmetologist and the support of her husband Benito Perales, a pharmacist, Mirta opened a beauty salon in Havana that grew into one of the most respected salons in Latin America. Together, they developed hair care formulas rooted in real expertise, blending science with the practical wisdom Mirta had learned at the salon chair.
In 1962, everything changed. The Cuban government seized her business and imprisoned Mirta for nine days. With two children and only five dollars, she left Cuba and began again in Miami. Within a week, she was cutting hair. Within years, she rebuilt her salon and redeveloped her products, earning trust one client at a time.
Mirta’s warmth and honesty made her a household name. Through her television show Cinco Minutos con Mirta de Perales, she educated women, answered real questions, and shared beauty advice without hype or gimmicks. Her products expanded across Puerto Rico, New York, and beyond, becoming staples in family routines passed from mothers to daughters.
Today, Mirta’s legacy lives on through her daughter and granddaughter, who continue her mission with the same values she built everything on. Professional expertise. Cultural pride. Real results. From our family to yours, the story continues.
Back to Cultural & Heritage