Meet Karen Renee Leight | Hairstylist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karen Renee Leight and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karen Renee, what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
That you have to “know” about business before starting your business. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing when I was thrown out into the world as a hairstylist at the tender age of 19. My only goal was to make people happy and create a professional space to do hair. I started finding clients by passing out flyers in my neighborhood. This was pre-social media, so you had to do the hard work and hit the pavement. I was fortunate to have a natural understanding of how to approach clients successfully. I think I’m one of those lucky ones who just get it. I know what a client needs before they even ask; I’m very in tune with my clients’ needs and comforts. Hair becomes secondary to being able to connect with any person sitting in my chair. The connection between a hairstylist and client is something that you cannot learn. I’d even go so far as to say that being good at hair does not make you a successful hairstylist. Being good to your clients—being fair, kind, and understanding—is where real success and connections start. Building a business involved a lot of mistakes and learning, but ultimately, it’s what shaped me to be successful and resilient today.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My story of how I became a hairstylist is simple and complicated all at once. I was a very (let’s just say) free-spirited teen. Growing up in a family of college degrees, PhDs, and scientists, I decided early on that college was just not for me. I mean, high school was horrible, and you want me to go live at a school far away from my parents? No way. So, college was out of the question. My junior year in high school came, and to my dismay, my goal of doing nothing after high school was not acceptable to my parents. My Dad suggested trade school, and at the time, my boyfriend’s sister was a hairstylist and encouraged me to try out cosmetology school. My parents seemed to think it was a great idea too, so off I went. I dual-enrolled my senior year of high school with the cosmetology school. It took me three years to finish a nine-month program. Not only did I hate school, but I also hated cosmetology school. I got into this field to not be told what to do, and I had to swallow my ego a bit to finish. Most days, I would attempt to go to school but end up driving to the beach or sitting in Barnes & Noble and reading. I was truant, defiant, and unorganized, but I had a natural knack for hair that did not go unnoticed. I ended up being hospitalized for my OCD during year three of my lengthy cosmetology school career. After getting out of the hospital and going to proper therapy, I was able to tap into my goals and worked super hard to finish school. When I finally did, I was awarded “Most Improved Student,” an award they made just for me. I guess it was a pretty significant change! Funny how learning where to put your energy can make such a huge improvement in your life. Because of my challenges, I am extremely empathetic to my clients. Also, because of my challenges, I am extremely good at hair. OCD can be extremely painful but amazingly helpful in professional environments. Because of my empathetic mentality, I have always treated my clients with the most organic kindness and care. I know how delicate working for yourself is, and I never take for granted that someone chose to be in my chair. Choosing this profession has allowed me to meet so many amazing people and work in different states and salons.

I’ve worked in Florida, Colorado, and multiple locations throughout LA, from Abbot Kinney to Silverlake. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned from being in business for myself is that if you don’t put in the work, no one else will do it for you. You have to be enthusiastic about your business; otherwise, how do you expect others to be? For me, transparency has always been key to forming and nurturing client relationships. At the end of the day, we are all human. Mistakes will happen, and I’ve learned how to communicate through these issues to create trust. I always try my best and show gratitude for my clients. Most people expect to get a good hairstyle when going to a salon; I want them to leave with a friend or at least a person they can trust to share two or more hours of their day with. After we consult about their hair goals, we dig into the ebbs and flows of everyday life, connecting on multiple levels. Most of my best friends were once clients. Doing hair has allowed me to lean into my creative side while also using my love of people to lend an ear and have some in-depth and sometimes life-changing conversations. I know after my dad passed, I found comfort in my clients. I don’t think I’d have the same opportunities to relate to so many different people, sharing our stories. My work gives me peace. While it may not always be an easy job (hello, neck pain), it is rewarding and fulfilling. I specialize in hand-painted highlights and genuine heart-to-heart conversations. You’re not just getting a service; you’re making a friend. I’m lucky to work in a beautiful studio next to the iconic Cinerama Dome in Hollywood, CA.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We bought a house in the valley (shoutout 818!), and we are blessed with a beautiful pool. So, we’d definitely take advantage of that while we have company. Even when it’s not hot enough to swim, we have a beautiful backyard to lounge in. I would definitely take them to Griffith Park and hike up to the observatory. Some of my favorite views are up there. Maybe afterward, we could rent a swan boat in Echo Park and enjoy looking at the turtles and birds. We’d definitely have to stop at Intelligentsia on the way for an iced coffee to keep us hydrated. During the week, my go-tos would include Huntington Gardens, Descanso Gardens, Malibu, Getty Villa, Santa Monica Pier, and the cute shops along Ventura Blvd spanning from Studio City to Sherman Oaks. Some of my favorite restaurants to take company to would include Bacari in Silverlake for fun drinks and shared plates, KazuNori for sushi hand rolls in Studio City, Kura Sushi in Sherman Oaks for revolving sushi, and a valley tour of small family-owned Mexican restaurants. One of our favorites is La Corona, which has great ambiance, drinks, and food. We could spend a day at LACMA and then finish it off with a coffee and some people-watching.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, I’d love to thank my Dad, who unfortunately has passed away. He knew I was a wild child who needed her own space to be creative and grow at her own pace. He told me I needed a job where I could work for myself, and guess what? He was right! I’m a bit of a free bird, and the flexibility of being my own boss is something I didn’t know would be such a huge aspect of my happiness in life. Also, inspiring me to do something creative with my hands has helped tremendously with my mental health, giving my OCD a positive focus. Benjamin Franklin said, “Idle hands are the devil’s playthings.”

I also have to thank my family in general for always being supportive both financially (thanks, Mom and Dad) and physically. By physically, I mean letting me practice my new skills on them, even when it didn’t always go as planned!

Instagram: https://Instagram.com/hairbykarenrenee

Yelp: Hair by Karen Renee