For Vero Da Sylva, a good groomer must be willing to hit the road as hard as she hits the books. Fortunately in her early career, Da Sylva had an understanding boss in her mentor and former employer Christine DeFilippo.
“She would let me go out and take weekends off. I would travel 20 to 30 hours to go to a show.”
Before her interstate road trips, Da Sylva’s biggest move was from her native France to the United States in 1999. Since then, she has made a mark for herself as one of the most successful pet stylists in the nation and top-finishing member of Groom Team USA.
Da Sylva parlayed her grooming expertise into judging and speaking at various events including grooming seminars for Poodles, her favorite breed to style.
At competitions, contestants asked for advice after judging, and Da Sylva happily demonstrated her techniques and tips.
“At the next show, contestants did what I showed them [at the last show]. They say, ‘Vero, look what I did,’” Da Sylva explains. “Oh my God, it makes me so proud.”
Competitions are just one aspect of learning how to groom, she believes. “You have to get involved in shows, talk to the breeders, read a lot, find a mentor if you can. Don’t be afraid to go to people and tell them what you’re looking for. Don’t be afraid to drive very far to go to a show.”
And Da Sylva’s courage and dedication have paid off. In February, she won the Best Groomer of the Year award for the second year in a row. True to her nature, however, she is not resting on her laurels and has many projects lined up – some grooming-related and others not.
“One of my projects is to have my family and friends come to see this country and see what I’ve done,” she says.
Whether she’s tackling the next project or driving to the next state, Da Sylva embraces change, growth and forward motion. “I’m not ready to stop now.”
Da Sylva currently resides near Atlanta with her Scottish Terrier ‘Nicky.’
Cardinal Laboratories is a Los Angeles-based manufacturer of pet-care and grooming products used in the professional animal-grooming industry.