Meet Zanne Lucy Blu of ZLB in Santa Monica and West Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zanne Lucy Blu.

Zanne Lucy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Growing up, not only did I cut my dolls’ hair and deconstruct their clothes but I always colored and cut my own hair and could never wear an outfit without taking a pair of scissors and a handful of safety pins to it. In 1999, I graduated from the Vidal Sassoon Academy and found success early in my career as a hairstylist, becoming a head educator and creative director, as well as being involved in management of a few salons. In 2007, I opened my first business, a boutique salon in Venice and in 2013, relocated the business to a private studio in Beverly Hills.

Although I was successful in my career, my personal life was rather textured with various health issues and autoimmune illnesses, a dark upbringing saturated with abuse, and years of drugs – prescription and recreational, alcohol, cigarettes, and depression. In 2005, I became surrounded by a community of clients and friends that were embedded in the holistic world of yoga, cranial sacral therapy, meditation, and everything in between. So I flipped a 180 with my life and later, chose to enroll in my own nutritional therapy of healing and finding balance in my body, using food as medicine. I eventually was able to cease all prescription medications and weaned myself off of anti-depressants. I became dedicated to living holistically and having optimal health.

My personal journey with my health inspired me to attend the Nutritional Therapy Association School in Washington. I graduated, becoming certified as a holistic nutritionist so that I can help others that suffer from digestive issues, autoimmune illnesses, chronic fatigue, blood sugar issues, depression, anxiety, and many other health ailments. It’s absolutely gratifying having the ability to educate others about food and how the proper balance of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals is medicine to the body.

Hair is my creative passion – my artistry that I enjoy gifting to others and holistic nutrition is my personal purpose – my attempt to help others have a life of better health, enjoyment, and longevity. I truly just love making people feel amazing, inside and out. So I evolved my business and re-branded myself as a holistic nutritionist and LIFE-stylist. From doing hair, educating others about Beautycounter – a safer skincare and makeup line void of 1500 chemical ingredients, and holistic nutritional therapy, I style people inside and out!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Thriving for success in life is never a smooth road. I mean, if there aren’t any challenges or obstacles in life, then you’re not living and you’re definitely not setting goals or reaching beyond so-called ordinary limits.

That being said, I find my whole career to be a struggle as I’m always trying to figure out what the “next step” is and that next step always involves taking a risk. The fear of the unknown is a struggle in and of itself.

But I think any other entrepreneur can agree that any time you start or open business, it’s a difficult journey. I was only 28 when I opened my own salon and soon realized that I had signed papers giving up my personal life. I also remember construction running late, equipment from Italy arriving late AND broken, and having to postpone opening. It was a financial nightmare that gave me an ulcer. Though the work-life balance was practically non-existent, I LOVED owning a business, the environment I created, and the challenge. Running a business is just another art project to me. Another art project that keeps me on my toes and my brain working and RE-working.

I put a lot of myself into working one-on-one with clients, creatively and therapeutically, and at the end of the day, I don’t want to socialize or be in over-stimulating environments. It was a struggle in the beginning years of my career when my friends were always out and I felt badly for being MIA. But now, all my true friends understand and accept my ways and I’m quite happy reserving my energy for my work and wouldn’t change a thing.

In all honesty, the struggles of my personal life impacted my career as well. With an autoimmune system and having had extreme bouts with depression, I would basically go off-grid for long moments at a time. It wasn’t until I learned how to manage my health, nutritionally, that I was able to find fluidity with a consistent “at-work” schedule.

And lastly, I faced some close-minded judgments and opinions when I wanted to rebrand myself and do BOTH, hair and holistic nutrition. I’m a multipotentialite and have a multifaceted personality. Balance in my life is dipping my hand in various flavored cookie jars. Others who don’t understand, usually just describe me as “all over the place”. I think it’s only in recent years that there is a wider acceptance of having more than one career and having more than a couple of hobbies, and many old-school thinkers were weary of how I wanted to do business and live my life. Let’s just say, there were many nay-sayers… And because I’m extremely different than everyone around me, there’s been ten times a plenty that I questioned my choices and decisions along the way.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about ZLB – what should we know?
As I mentioned before, I’m a holistic nutritionist and LIFE-stylist. I style people inside and out, using food as medicine, Beautycounter skincare/makeup, and creating unique hairstyles.

With 17 years in the hair industry, I’m known for my creative vision. My style is distinct and I manifest that uniqueness in styling every client. I’m fortunate that the majority of my clients, existing and even those who are new that have heard of or were referred to me, come to me to just allow me to create my art. I have a few who never even have to know what I’m about to do and really just let me go about their hair as if it’s my own personal art canvas. My job is pretty amazing in that way, I have to say.

As a holistic nutritionist, I look at the root of what is causing one’s health or digestive ailments and nutritional weaknesses and take a functional therapeutic approach according to each person’s unique biochemical individuality. My personal health journey really allows me to have empathy and compassion with every client and whatever health, digestive, and dietary issues that they are undergoing. When you really know what it feels like to be in the other person’s shoes, you go above and beyond and do everything you can to make them feel better. And when you make them feel better, you also get to go home feeling better with a gratifying smile on your face.

I think the one thing I consistently hear from every client, whether I’m doing their hair or working with them, nutritionally, are the words, “I trust you”. Good relationships equal good business. I’m proud of how I take my business to a deeper, personable level, creating relationships with my clients that allow them to put their utmost trust in me. It’s that trust and deeper-than-the-surface relationship that allows me to be intuitively present to the needs of my client and to create the perfect, unique style, or design a specifically tailored nutritional protocol for them.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Honesty. I only do what feels honest and true to my core. I’m honest about my faults, face my mistakes, and honest about what I want to do or what feels right as opposed to what I “should” do. When you’re honest, it’s easier to learn from your experiences and move forward. When you’re really honest about how you’re doing life and business, there’s an undeniable feeling of happiness that embraces every part of your being regardless of how hard life gets or the obstacles you face in owning and running a business… and when you’re happy, you’re motivated and inspired to kick ass in life.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.zannelucyblu.com
• Phone: (310) 963-9341
• Email: zlb@zannelucyblu.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/zannelucyblu
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/zannelucyblu
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/zannelucyblu
• Other: www.pinterest.com/zannelucyblu

Image Credit:
Headshot 1 & 2 : Catherine Berry
Yoga shot 1 & 2 : Catherine Berry
Tea for One : Marisa Howenstine
Geisha : Jean Oei