Meet Ryan Hessberger | Salon owner / Drag artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ryan Hessberger and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ryan, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
The underground music and fashion worlds inspire me. Ive worked with some truly inspiring artists. Hair was always the outlet I felt the most comfortable using as a canvas. The hair scene is so beautiful and artistic right now and people are doing some really cool and experimental stuff worldwide. As for drag, again, the underground scene is where I pull a lot of inspiration from. I’ve been so lucky to perform with some incredible parties that are held deep with in the Los Angeles forest and get to experience it all first hand. Doing drag in the underground rave scene made me take my tracks I perform much more seriously and producing them has become one of my favorite aspects of doing drag. When I decided to start Haus of TRIX, I really wanted to create a space for the queer community that I didn’t see existing; an upscale experimental hair salon. I’ve seen it a lot in the underground hair communities in South America, Italy and Tokyo but thought Los Angeles needed a space like that, where visiting artists can guest spot in.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Im originally from Bakersfield and moved to Los Angeles when I was 20 years old. It’s a good place to run away from. I have been doing hair for 15 years and have run my own business for about 6 years now. TRIX was opened because I love working for myself and getting to create the atmosphere of my salon. I get to share the space with a few local artists and a few visiting LA. I definitely specialize in queer and creative hair but I also have worked with families and watched their children grow into adults. Watching my business grow and letting others in on my beautiful space has been so wonderful.

Performing drag has opened a creative door in my life. One of my favorite performances was a renegade deep with in the Los Angeles forest. I had rigged 30 yards of iridescent fabric flowing behind me as a backdrop amongst a grove of pines on a full moon. It was quite magical.
Creating a life for yourself that might not fit into social norms isn’t easy or for the faint of heart. You have to really just go with your gut and believe in what you’re creating and know it’s for something. Maybe something other than financial stability.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live on the border of San Gabriel , so we would have to go get some food out there. The nature in north east la is some of the best. I love going up and hiking into JPL and into the Los Angeles forest. I’d love to bike along the LA river trail. There is some really amazing underground music all around town and on any day of the week, as well as amazing small art galleries. If we had time I would love to go to either Catalina or out by the Salton Sea.

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?
My parter Ethan an amazing artist who has helped me physically and mentally with my business. Also, my clients. New or old they’re the reason I can keep creating.

Website: https://Hausoftrix.hair

Instagram: @trix.salon / Brook3backmountain