Check Out Leslie Natalie’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Natalie.

Hi Leslie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
There once was a little girl that rode her glitter unicorn over the rainbow. She waved her wand and POOF! A stable career as an artist magically appeared in her realm.

Welcome to my fantasy land; As a child, I would dream of who I wanted to be, how I wanted to be perceived & what I wanted to look like. Very Capricorn of me. My love for hair truly came from a place of self-expression. My mother was a hairdresser in the ’90s & I got to experience her creating magic first hand.

The fast pace environment, topped with the smell of coffee, hairspray and hair dye was one of the most enthralling sensations. At least to a 5-year-old. As time went on, I realized I had many interests. Fashion, animals, fitness & all the things that make someone feel beautiful.

After graduating from The Fashion Institute Of Design & Merchandise, I pursued my fashion career; this lead me to work as a model for a chain salon in Los Angeles. I met incredible artists & made new creative friends. Something about sitting in that chair with a cape around my neck & 2-3 stylists conjuring up a look for me to wear down the runway. There it was again, the smell of coffee, hairspray & hair dye-it was home.

My career began when I took on a hair apprenticeship. Hair artistry is so much more than just highlights and haircuts. It’s constructing a new version of yourself, releasing old relationships, embracing the seasons of life. My heart fills with extreme gratitude knowing that I am someone that can provide people with complete transformations. My everyday inspirations are Barbie, music, sunsets, the beach & the tenderness of all living things. Specializing in sun-kissed, lived-in hair, Hair Extensions & Men’s hair. Making my client’s “impossibles” into possibilities. I have taken my spiritual journey in conjunction with all of my talents; hair, fitness, fashion, sustainability & my ability to make people see how truly & uniquely beautiful they are.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
This yellow brick road has definitely had some potholes along the way. Being in a salon culture is incredibly competitive. Some people actually want to help you and watch you succeed, Other’s are threatened by your newness & endless creativity. ” wait until you’ve done hair for 20 years, let’s see how much you LOVE it then”.

The truth is, I’m on year 7 and I grow in love with it more and more each day. Being in a Salon Suite has its perks however, the logistics is also left for me to do on my own. Along with imposter syndrome, endless comparison to others & creative blocks. I return to my meditation & Yoga practice to help untangle my mind.

I am no longer affected by other’s thoughts of my work or the way I’ve chosen to run my career. My creative blocks are cured by watching sunsets, trying to decipher what colors I can use to create those beautiful warm tones. My Imposter syndrome is hushed by losing myself to dance, allowing the music to move my body. At any given moment, I can tap into my higher self. Knowing that I chose this path of Hair Artistry because it’s an endless road of learning & unlearning.

I continue to be a student and have finally stepped into being a teacher. Learning how to work with an assistant, being confident in my experience. Never fearing to ask for help. Because we all started somewhere.

Honoring where I am in my career.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My specialties are creating hair that looks lived-in, Hair that has been kissed by the sun and acknowledging that some people, by genetics or lack of patience; can’t grow hair the way they’ve always wanted. Thus, hair extensions are always an option. Always considering someone’s lifestyle and how committed they can be to a look.

Natural blends, baby lights, Balayage, etc. are a few techniques I use to create when doing color. I have a market for creative cuts, such as the very popular ‘Wolf cut’ as much as, lived in haircuts, bed head & effortless hair. I invest in making it easy for the client to replicate what I’ve done in the salon at home. My eyes love a good set of curls and showing my clients how to revive/manage them.

When it comes to extensions, It’s a total luxury. Instant results of beautiful fullness and length. It reminds me of a Barbie fresh out of the box, hair untouched. Endless possibilities on how to style or wear your new set of hair.

Men are my bread and butter, I’ve come to see the potential of a man when he has a dapper aesthetic. I’ve highlighted, bleached, dyed and have seen the magic unfold as women swoon over a man’s perfectly groomed hair. The confidence boost begins as they sit in my chair and we begin working on a look that works for their lifestyle.

I’m most proud of my ability to turn someone’s day around, showing them effortless kindness, exhibit their infinite potential and seeing their reaction when they see their new look. The beautiful words I’ve received after a salon visit: ” thank you for making me feel beautiful, I feel like myself again, It was a hard transition to embrace change, but your words helped me through this”.

My magic is what makes me stand out from others in this heavily saturated industry. The magic of seeing potential, of putting myself in other’s shoes, knowing that change can be difficult for some. I love that I can create and tap into all the things 6-year-old me would dream of. Taking the beauty of nature, being influenced by my imagination. The biggest reward is knowing that my ability to create can bring someone joy & new beginnings. Always a student, embracing the teacher within me. That’s what makes me….ME!

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My mom had an obsession with my hair as a child. I was five years old with hair down to my butt. I wanted short hair, SO BAD!!!!

I wasn’t allowed to brush my own hair. She had a special regimen and gave my nanny SPECIFIC instructions before she left for work, I remember her telling my nanny, “careful, she’s going through a haircutting phase”.

Little did she know I had scissors hidden under my pillow; I decided to cut one of my very lengthy pigtails off.

Furthermore, my nanny got fired and I got the haircut I wanted ( a bob) . OH, and bangs! Got some of those too. #WINNING

Pricing:

• Haircuts $123-$175
• Mens $85-$105
• Highlights Starting $333
• Smoothing Treatments Starting $275

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/leslienataliexoxo
• Instagram: Instagram.com/leslienataliexoxo
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/leslie-natalie-encino-3?uid=MMVOV3pk73_kfDYDhXl4Vg&utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)

Image Credits
IG: itsneshatorres