Conversations with Sergio Ramirez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sergio Ramirez.

Hi Sergio, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Sergio Ramirez (Sergio Hairdreamer). I am a hair stylist, I co-owen Stile Hair Salon in Encino California.

From the age of 16 I studied Cosmetology. I enrolled in a High School program where i can study hair dressing for my 5th and 6th period.

I received my Cosmetology Liscence when i was 18 years old. In those days I did house calls. I worked thru referals and word of mouth. I would be invited to familys’ homes to cut the whole family’s hair. I Permed and cut their hair in the kitchen, backyard, living room, where ever i can put a chair. I was always welcomed and treated like a professional hair artist. I worked Saturdays and Sundays.

At 21, I finally landed a job at Allen Edwards Beauty Salon Encino on Ventura Blvd. I assisted a very busy hair stylist, Bridgette Thone. I would wash her clients and prep them with a cape and readied them for their hair servies by her. She mentored me and trained me to cut and color hair. I was not allowed to cut or blow dry hair in the salon yet. I continued my other hairdressing work doing house calls on my days off from the salon.

I had to prove that I had skills enough to be able to design for an upscale client in Encino. I tryed really hard to prove to the owner of the salon that I can perform Geometric haircutting. In a Salon with 50 other stylist it was easy to get lost amongst the talent there.

I was Lucky enough to set my self apart and stand out in my hair dressing. I always had a flair for touching hair. My delicate manerism made me look Artistic. And I started to attract people watching me and looking at my work.

David Alva was the salon manager who referred me to Audition to the Sebastian Artistic Team. They were the leaders of hair fashion and would dictate the Hair Trend of the Season.

100 Stylists arrived to partake in a hunt to find the Talented Stylists that would be on stage doing hair demonstrations while selling the Sebastian Brand. We met up every Monday for a whole year. Each week we were given the opportunity to demonstrate our hair talent. And each week we became less and less. It was a haircutting boot camp with very strick regiment to cut staight lines, round shapes, and even create a 3 Dimentional Box out of hair.

It took me a while to realize that I kept coming back because they aproved of my continual progress and my expertise. I came back for more intense training. Until their was 20 of us left over and then the Top 10. Preservirance and my passion for hair made me push to the top.

I had the opportunity to be Mentored by the Sebastian Artistic team. They trained me, guided, and supervised my work and accepted only Perfection out of me. They taught me how to speak and educate. I learned how to work on stage in front of large groups of hair stylist teaching hair seminars.

I had the opportunity to fly to New York and work behind the scenes at the Hairshow there. Sebastian was Launching a hair brand for young people called X-tah. I was lucky enough to partake in this hair evolution of my time.

Sebastian later merged with Wella, they restructured and reformated the new company.
I had to say good bye to the Sebastian team, my trainers and my fellow young stylist I trained with. I took with me an experience of a lifetime and the preparation to take on the wold!

That up coming year, Paul Mitchell was launching their new color line and I called them to join their Big Campaine.

I took my experience from my training and was hired to be part of the Paul Mitchell artistic team. I performed a live hair cut on stage, front center, with 5 other hair artist at the House of Blues on Sunset with an audience of 600 hairdressers.
My job would be to go to the Beauty Salons and teach The Color by Paul Mitchelle and promote and bring in the color brand to the salon. Transforming hair cutters into Colorist.

This led me to become the Head of Education at Allen Edward Beauty Salon Encino where I practiced my Hair dressing services for 18 years. I took the young stylist fresh out of beauty school and trained them, passed down my knowledge, so they could eventually earn a stylist chair.

Teaching hair has always been my passion. I love it and enjoy the whole creative process. I always have a spark of passion when I engage with younger, up and coming stylist.

35 years later I got to see my mentor Bridgette retire. We worked together thru out the years and shared many professional hair moments, as well as, personal meaningful moments together. I am greatful to take on her half ownership of Stile Hair Salon.

Since this year 2026 I have become part owner of Stile Hair Salon in Encino. Located on Ventura Blvd. I continue to be the Head of Education leading the baby stylist, getting them ready to work behind the chair. I train them to manage their own chair rental business at our salon.

Bridgette has Blessed me from the first day we worked together and her Blessings continue until today.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My obstacles have been my disbelief. It took my a while to understand that I was chosen for my superior work. I thought everyone was given the same opportunity. Looking back, I was hand chosen. I was one, that stood out among many. I have talent and was with other highly talented artist. And I didnt beleive it. I had to accept that my artistry naturally flowed out of my.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a hair cutter and hair colorist. I have a flair about the way i do hair that people watching me are mesmerized to see the artistic out come.

I specialize in creative shapes and natural everyday wearable looks. My clients range from natural colors to bright color blocking fashion tones.

I am most proud of tapping in to your fantasy look and creating it for you. I have 90 year old clients with Magenta and Violet highlights.

I am a Yes Man, I work with my clients desired look and give her a variation to satisfy her vision. I take her fashion wardrobe and bridge her hair with it.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
To find a mentor, you have to listen closely. Sometimes other people connect you with an artistic pair to you or a business parter that matches you. You need to see the opportunity and make your self be available. Push thru the unconfortabke and the unknown. Working to design your destiny. You can always invite your self as a helper. Free helping hands. It will give you insight on how projects are being managed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Stilehairsalon.com
• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/hairdreamer and Instagram.com/stilehairsalon
• Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/stile-hair-salon-encino
• Other: https://maps.app.goo.gl/9D3ydvMpbUSGhHTY8