Life & Work with Nhala of Pasadena

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nhala.

Hi Nhala, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In my early years, I was endlessly driven by aesthetics, art, photography, music, and transformation – both in myself and in others. I had a natural desire to spotlight people’s spark and potential. Friends would come to me for makeovers, photoshoots, even mock album covers and websites. I loved turning someone into a “superstar,” drawing out what made them shine at their fullest.

In 2013, I moved to Los Angeles with the dream of pursuing a career in beauty and entertainment – whether through photography, music, modeling, or styling. Within six months, I found myself signed to management and supported by a label in the music industry. Suddenly, I wasn’t just behind the scenes anymore – I was the artist on stage. For the next decade, music became my world. My favorite part of the journey was never just the stage – it was the branding, the imagery, the reinvention. I loved curating looks, creating “eras,” and designing visual identities that told stories. Transformation, again, was at the center of everything.

But after a decade of focusing on myself as the artist, it led me into a life of self-focused isolation. I no longer felt fulfilled by it being all about me. I began to crave something deeper. A life of service. I wanted to take a back seat and offer my God-given talents to others, making them the artist in the spotlight. I realized my true purpose was not to be the star, but to help others step into their fullest expression. I was seeking a more selfless life.

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” – Anaïs Nin.

By the time I reached 29, I knew I was ready for a different path. One rooted in service. I enrolled at Paul Mitchell Pasadena, earned my barbering and cosmetology license, and began to refine my craft. In beauty school, I quickly discovered my intolerance to chemical services and harsh ingredients. What felt like an obstacle at first became a blessing in disguise – it guided me toward a non-toxic, health-focused approach to hair and pushed me to specialize in cuts, style, and natural methods. I quickly began filling my books with haircut clients, sharing my rockstar edge, and transformative style with musician friends & early supporters.

Today, I bring all of that journey into my chair: the artistry of reinvention, the discipline of wellness, and the passion for helping others feel their most authentic and empowered selves. I’m ready to step out of the spotlight and use over a decade of experience in marketing, branding, and visual aesthetics to make YOU feel like the superstar in your own life.

“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, And the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” – The Buddha

Alright, 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?
My hairstylist journey wasn’t smooth in its early stages. I was deeply sensitive to working in and around chemicals, yet struggled to articulate that reality in cosmetology school and later while assisting in salons. Even choosing not to perform chemical services doesn’t remove you from the exposure – you’re still breathing the same air.

At one point, my body became so inflamed that it was painful to even walk. My lymphatic system was overwhelmed, and the inflammation put me on bed rest for a week. Doctors couldn’t connect the dots between my symptoms and an environment that was considered “normal,” so I learned quickly that I had to advocate for myself.

In school, I was terrified of taking chemical service clients. I completed my color requirements using gel and turned to social media to offer $16 haircuts through the school. Because friends and family were allowed to book under your name, my followers began calling the school to schedule with me. I built a small clientele out of necessity – one that, remarkably, is still with me today. It was the only way I could stay aligned with my body while continuing my education.

Assisting in salons brought the same underlying challenges. My final experience ended after a physical reaction that reinforced what I already knew: my body required cleaner standards and firmer boundaries. That moment became a line in the sand. I decided to turn my struggle into a long-term vision for how I wanted to work and live my life!

I took a leap and invested fully in creating the space I work in today – Nhala Beauty. It’s a private, one-on-one environment designed to stand on its own, where I have full autonomy over the products I use, the services I offer, and the standards I uphold. Building it came with uncertainty, but what I knew from the start was that my body, my values, and my work needed to be aligned. My commitment to non-toxic and clean beauty haircare isn’t just a trend or a preference – it’s personal. It has become the foundation of my mission within the beauty industry.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I offer haircuts, but they’re never just haircuts. I specialize in what I call artist transformation cuts, a service shaped by my background in the music industry and my understanding of personal branding. After more than a decade in creative spaces, I learned how powerful image truly is, especially in a city like Los Angeles, where how you present yourself often shapes how you’re received.

Early on, I worked closely with artists and musicians, crafting looks for projects, performances, and photoshoots. Those sessions were never about trends – they were about intention. We would talk through what they wanted to express, how they wanted to feel on stage or on camera, and what energy they were stepping into next. From there, I would design a cut that supported both their features and the message they wanted to communicate.

As my clientele grew, that same approach naturally expanded beyond creatives. I’ve cut the hair of new mothers reconnecting with their sense of identity, professionals stepping into leadership roles and wanting to feel more grounded or authoritative, actors refining face-framing for self-tapes, and people moving through major life transitions – breakups, divorces, weddings, promotions, fresh starts. Each haircut carries a different emotional weight, and I take that into account just as much as face shape, bone structure, or hair texture.

What sets my work apart is how I approach design. I’m always looking at two things at once: what looks best on this person, and what energy they want to align with. Sometimes that means a dramatic transformation, a big chop, or a bold silhouette. Other times it’s about balance, harmony, and subtle shifts that bring someone back into themselves. Because we are constantly evolving, a haircut can never be one-size-fits-all. Hair moves through seasons just as we do. My work is about honoring that evolution and creating something that feels true to who you are today.

I often say that every client is a celebrity in my eyes, not because of status, but because every person deserves to feel seen, considered, and supported during moments of change. You don’t have to work in entertainment to be intentional about your image or to evolve how you show up in the world.

I’m most proud of the trust my clients place in me during pivotal moments in their lives. My role is to listen, observe, and translate- not just aesthetically, but emotionally. The goal is always the same: for someone to leave feeling aligned with who they are now, and confident stepping into what’s next.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
My parents raised me in a way that encouraged risk-taking. From a young age, I was given the freedom to evolve, to explore new hobbies, move through identity shifts, and follow changing creative and career paths without fear. That permission to become was foundational.

We were taught to quit when we outgrew something. My dad always said, “You’re never stuck. If you don’t like it, quit.” Not as an escape, but as permission – permission to listen when something no longer fit, and to trust that leaving was sometimes the bravest form of staying true.

After graduating high school, I chose to skip college and move to Los Angeles. I went from a town of 10,000 people to a city of nearly four million overnight. That leap taught me something important: risk doesn’t mean things will always work out. For me, it means embracing the unknown, because the reward of risk is far greater than the comfort of staying the same.

I learned then that risk doesn’t promise success. It promises possibility.

I faced that truth again when I decided to stop pursuing music and begin a new career at 30. Was I scared? I didn’t know. But I did know that I wasn’t happy where I was. And when you have nothing to lose, you truly have everything to gain.

If something doesn’t work out, you can always go back to who you were, right? Except you won’t. Because once you grow. Once you learn, once life teaches you what it came to teach you, there’s no returning to the same version of yourself. That’s the beauty, and the inevitable power, of taking risks.

Risk doesn’t always look like courage. Sometimes it looks like openness. Like surrender. Like trusting that when you stop fighting what you already know to be true, something larger can guide you forward. We don’t always know what’s meant for us, but we usually know, deep down, when something no longer is.

As Dr. Wayne Dyer said, “Have a mind that is open to everything and attached to nothing.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nhalabeauty.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhala
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/nhala-beauty-pasadena

Image Credits
All images were taken by Nhala.