Editor’s note: These stories were told to author Leann Garofolo and have been edited and condensed for clarity.
Hairdressers often don’t have it easy. Spend any time in a stylist’s chair, and you’ll likely hear about attending cosmetology school, managing a salon apprenticeship, or juggling multiple jobs while developing a clientele. As if that weren’t enough, those who identify as Latinx sometimes face even more barriers when trying to break into the world of U.S. hair styling. These challenges can be influenced by a combination of systemic, socioeconomic, and cultural factors that can make success particularly hard to achieve.
In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15), Hair.com sat down with three trailblazing L’Oréal pros to discuss what it’s like being a Latinx hairstylist in the industry. It’s worth noting that the terms “Hispanic” and “Latinx” are often used interchangeably, but they’re not quite the same. The former refers to people from Spanish-speaking countries, focusing on the cultural and linguistic ties to the language. The latter refers to a geographical region—specifically, people from Latin America. Here, we’ll be using the term Latinx, as all three of the experts we spoke with identify as such. Without further ado, keep reading to learn more about these stylists’ backgrounds, what they’re most proud of in their careers, and words of advice to aspiring Latinx hairdressers.
Jessica Garza, L’Oréal Professionnel Artist and Owner of Simply Beauty Hair Salon
My parents were born in Matamoros, Mexico, and moved to Houston, Texas, almost 40 years ago before I was born. I grew up watching glamorous telenovelas (Latin American soap operas), which definitely drew me to hairstyling at a young age. The actresses' long, smooth curls—think that Latin vibe—influenced my love for beautiful, voluminous hair. Throughout my childhood, you could find me cutting my dolls' hair, giving my sister bangs, and even dyeing her hair with boxed dye that I found under the sink. It just so happened that my high school offered cosmetology courses, so with my parents’ encouragement, I seized the opportunity.
Houston is very diverse, which is probably why being Hispanic felt so normal to me. However, when I eventually moved into spaces like New York Fashion Week and taught on various platforms, it made me stand out—but in a way that I turned into a positive. Being different gave me opportunities to achieve so much in my career, and L’Oréal Professionnel has provided me with incredible opportunities for growth and collaboration.
My parents, with their immigrant perspective and love, were my greatest influence—they dreamed big and made it a reality. They taught me the importance of following my dreams and working hard. Their mentality has always driven me forward in my journey, which I bring to every interaction with clients: I want to ensure everyone leaves the salon feeling just as beautiful and empowered.
A word of advice to aspiring Latinx stylists: If you’re passionate about something, embrace it and use every opportunity to learn and grow. Your cultural background is a strength that will make you stand out, so own it and use it to shape your journey.
Marc Mendez, Redken Stylist and Owner of Beyond Beauty Salon
As a little boy, visiting the Dominican salon with my mom laid the foundation for me to become a hairstylist. There were always two stylists blow-drying her hair, and I used to think she was a celebrity. The welcoming environment was complete with Spanish music and talented stylists who made my mom feel beautiful and seen. One day, I knew I wanted to pay those feelings forward.
Unfortunately, the industry typically doesn’t cater to black and brown creators, so we must work twice as hard. Both being a Latino and hailing from St. Croix made it difficult to establish my salon as a luxury business. Still, I persisted and made a name for myself as one of the most luxurious salons in Buffalo, New York. Now, my background heavily influences how I approach hairstyling and my clients, especially when it comes to women of color. I pride myself in having a business where every stylist can service every woman, regardless of hair type or texture.
Redken found me when I was just starting out in my influencer journey. They saw something in me that I didn’t quite see in myself, giving me the acknowledgment and recognition I needed to keep pushing forward. However, I wouldn’t be where I am if it weren’t for my small-town Buffalo community referring me and sharing my work on social media. Their support was the true foundation of my current career and success.
A word of advice to aspiring Latinx stylists: Latinos are known to be very family-oriented, but I want to encourage you not to rely on family to determine your success. Success starts when you believe in yourself, and only you can decide your future. Stay true to who you are and what you represent because you never know who’s looking at you as inspiration. We need more Latinos in the beauty world—when you're ready to start, I’ll be here waiting for you.
Pati Rodriguez, Matrix Bilingual Global Educator
I was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but my parents migrated here from Jalisco, Mexico. When people used to ask me what my heritage was, I would say Mexican. But then, in Mexico, people would say you're not Mexican; you're from the United States. There was always that frustration of not knowing how to describe myself. I think that's why I decided that at a young age, I wanted to express myself my own way, no matter where others wanted to say I came from.
Growing up, my mom was all about ensuring the family looked put together, that we were clean, ironed, and went out into the world looking great—but her hairstyling skills were not there. Her totally uncool way of styling my hair (and the fights we got into as a result) pushed me to explore the creative side of the hair world.
Matrix has been pivotal in exposing a part of the industry I never knew existed and the opportunities that can come from it. As a bilingual educator, I’m able to provide Spanish education and representation for Latino hairdressers, creating a presence that can help us overcome anything. Having that inner confidence has been great for us because we hear a lot of things, we see a lot of things, and people make a lot of comments. But we don’t wait for others to make us feel good about ourselves—we know that confidence starts from within.
A word of advice to aspiring Latinx stylists: This is an incredible industry filled with so many opportunities. Allow yourself to be open to things, even if they scare you. Know that you will face challenges, insecurities, and haters, but to that, we say: “Sigue adelante!” (Keep going!).
Next Up: My Life as a Hair Stylist Started In the Bronx and Now Takes Me Worldwide
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Header photo credits (left to right): @jessica.garza_hair, @therealmarcmendez, @PATI.RODRIGZ
