We’re looking forward to introducing you to Gina G. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Gina, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I’m a mama of two little girls now, ages 9 and 3. On weekdays you can catch me waking up at 7 am and preparing their school lunches. Luckily, most days the hubby can drop them off while i get ready with makeup and hair to head into the studio. I live in the San Fernando Valley and driving into Westwood can be a nightmare due to traffic. Thankfully i have a new love for audio books and you can catch me listening to historical or romantic fiction before i take my first client at 9:30am!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am your neighborhood hairstylist that has been at the same location in westwood for almost 12 years this coming October!
I specialize in low maintenance hair. My specialty is Color. I am all about hair growing out nicely for cut and color while keeping it healthy! I developed my own technique for balayage that some girls can go a year without having to get it touched up again. I cater to peoples lifestyle and what makes them feel fabulous in their busy lives! I also try to provide a relaxing environment and all about good vibes only!
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
While studying at UC Davis, I started off taking business courses when I realized i wanted to design clothes. Around this same time I had become immersed in the underground electronic/house music scene in the Bay Area which inspired my style and sense of fashion. I always admired seeing the beautiful, ‘flowly’, and vibrant styles of my fellow clubbers.
At our university, the Art and Fashion department was hosting fashion show on campus. I presented the pieces i had designed and produced for the show but my professor wasn’t a fan and advised coming up with something else. In my mind however, I didn’t care. My personality and my style was was all about fun, funky, and unique! I walked down that fashion aisle (yes i was one of the models) along with the friends/model. It felt like a huge success and riveting sensation. I felt alive showing my first clothing pieces and I did feel powerful in that moment. It didn’t matter what others thought, its what i felt inside at the moment of my work.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If i can tell my younger self one advice, it would be at the end of the day..what truly really matters is how you feel about yourself!
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
When i commit myself to my servicing someone for their hair needs, I will take my time on it. I don’t believe time is money, Instead believe that time is quality. I once had a client tell me: “even when you’re tired and it has been a long day, you will always deliver and not let me leave until you’re happy with it!”
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I am definitely doing what I was born to do! I grew up in an Asian household where parents valued corporate jobs which they viewed as stable and honorable. My siblings are in finance and accounting and that is a huge win for Asian parents. I’ve always been great with numbers but my true passion has always been on the creative side. After college, I took a job in the apparel industry as a planner (business and inventory stuff) and I was good at what I did. But my heart was never into it. My parents were definitely worried about me. I had quit a stable job corporate life but didn’t tell my parents as I didn’t want them know what i was trying to figure out myself. My heart was (initially) into fashion design and I wanted to sell my own clothing collection. It became a whole new adventure. I needed to generate income, so during that time, I took on jobs as an extra on the set of tv shows and movies. At night, on the weekends, and any spare time though, I was pursuing my dream: fashion design. I was young and had a vision. This is what I was going to do.
Overtime unfortunately, the lack of enough capital halted those goals. The thoughts of going back to corporate life were never an option for me though. I knew I still had that drive in me. So I was in search of the next thing to focus on. That’s when I realized I always colored my own hair. I always received compliments from friends and even my own hairstylist said I’d make a great hairstylist. I knew I always wanted to work for myself. I never saw myself as the one taking orders. I’ve been there and done that and it wasn’t for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.styleseat.com/ginag
- Instagram: gina.g.hair
