Bianca Hulmann
Known in the hair industry as the “Queen of Curls," businesswoman and hairstylist Bianca Hulmann began her career when she was just a teenager. At the age of 16, she opened her first salon in the countryside of São Paulo.
“What I love most is transforming lives,” says the entrepreneur. She owns two successful salons in São Paulo and proudly runs an operation with 31 employees. In 2020, with more than a decade of expertise as a hairdresser, she created the Bianca Hulmann Method. This is currently the largest online training course in Brazil, certified by the MEC for natural hair specialists.
Today there are more than 4,000 professionals who have trained with her unique method worldwide. Her efforts have been highly applauded and led to accolades including the Golden Scissors 2017, Emerald Scissors 2018, Diamond Scissors 2021, Golden Brush 2021 and Golden Scissors Dubai 2022 awards. She even took first place in the hairdressing competition.
Much of what she does is inspired by the women in her life who are striving to make it to the top – this includes her relatives, particularly her daughter whom she had as a teenager.
“My advice to all women who want to enter the business world is to study hard and never stop learning, as the market is constantly changing,” she continues. “It is also important for any arena to study management and marketing, especially if you want to open your own business and grow.”
When she’s in New York City for business she loves to get a taste of her home country at a few of the city’s most authentic Brazilian bakeries. Here are her top three to visit when in the Big Apple.
Brigadeiro Bakery
Brigadeiro Bakery
“Every time I bite in to an indulgent brigadeiro I’m reminded of my childhood! If you haven’t had one yet, I highly recommend this charming bakery in SoHo. They have so many flavors too!”
This bakery was founded in 2014 by Executive Chef Mariana Vieira. Named after one of Brazil’s tastiest treats, Brigadeiro is a confection made of condensed milk, cocoa powder, butter, and chocolate sprinkles covering the outside layer. These bite sized chocolate truffles are absolutely decadent and come in a variety of flavors including coconut, passion fruit, pistachio, banana, coffee and more!
Pão de Queijo with coffee.
Cafe Patoro
“There’s nothing like biting in to a fresh, hot pão de queijo. For cheesy, rich pão de queijo I stop at Cafe Patoro in the Seaport District.”
Pão de queijo are soft cheese breads that are crispy and cheese on the outside and chewy and dense on the inside. The cheese breads at Cafe Patoro are hand rolled daily and baked on property making them incredibly fresh. They also come in seasonal flavors. In addition to pão de queijo, this bakery also offers desserts that include a brigadeiro cake with dark chocolate cake and Brazilian chocolate truffle filling, topped with chocolate sprinkles; and a brigadeiro cookie sandwhich with a Brazilian chocolate brigadeiro filling.
Padoca Bakery
Padoca Bakery
“This cute neighborhood bakery has some of my favorite Brazilian treats for when I’m on the Upper East Side.”
Padoca, a slang in Brazil meaning “neighborhood bakery,” is known for their pão de queijo, or cheese bread, made with cassava flour; however, they also offer fresh pastries and empadinhas or mini pot pies. These pies come in savory flavors that include chicken, hearts of palm, mushrooms and combo. Padoca’s show stopping cakes are also worth noting, each one is decorated stunningly and can be ordered in a variety of combinations ranging in vanilla, red velvet or orange olive oil cake with vanilla mascarpone, cream cheese frosting or chocolate mousse.
