Meet Athena Raygoza | Hair stylist and Makeup artist

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

Hi Athena, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Both my parents were involved in some creative field when I was growing up. My dad was a painter and sculptor, while my mom wrote books. I wanted to follow the artistic pathway but wasn’t sure what type of art until high school. Color guard is a sport I did throughout my high school years and it encouraged me to do creative makeup looks and help my teammates with theirs which sparked joy and interest within me- I wanted to do this pathway of makeup and hair. Being creative within this industry, there is no limit to the colors and designs you can create makeup or hair-wise, I fell in love with the person being a sort of canvas and enhancing the beauty of the person.

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.
I started my career in makeup initially doing photoshoots and creative work to get comfortable doing people’s faces and getting nice photos in exchange. I eventually had the opportunity to work for a wedding hair and makeup company which gave me more insight into the world of bridal. Starting in bridal was a bit nerve-wracking for me initially. I was committed to doing my best for my brides and giving them the best experience possible stress-free. During this time I was in school to get my Cosmetology license to learn more about the hair styling side of this industry. Incorporating makeup and hair styling into my skill set, I aimed to offer multiple services for weddings and events of all kinds. After a couple of years of doing bridal, I worked in a salon mainly for cuts and color- a whole other side of the industry I haven’t experienced. I looked forward to learning more about the salon experience and found more passion and creativity in coloring and cutting hair. At this point, I became known as the “hairstyling expert” in my salon. I am grateful to be able to offer a multitude of services to the public wanting a haircut, color, hairstyling, makeup, and more! In some aspects, this wasn’t easy. I knew I wanted to pursue hairstyling after being committed to makeup and learning a whole other world of the beauty industry scared me. I practiced and practiced and practiced until the things that were hard felt like muscle memory.
One lesson that sticks with me is that if you are scared of trying some new, face it scared. If you are too afraid of pursuing something you may feel anxious about, doing it will eliminate the initial fear and you can gradually build up the confidence till you forget why you were scared in the first place.
I want the world to know that my place on this earth is to express my art in making others feel their most beautiful. I am dedicated to this art and this industry and am grateful for the experiences it has given me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love planning experiences and hangouts, my all-time favorite area would be in Laguna Niguel. We would go to Urth Cafe first and order some latte, sandwiches, and dessert. Their matcha tiramisu is amazing. The cottage-esque aesthetic is so cute for photos too! The beaches there are where we would stay most of the time- The water is so clear and the view of the city lights at night is beautiful. If it’s the right time, maybe go see the tide pools at 1000 Steps Beach and go to the rooftop bars around the arts district. I love checking out the art district and seeing the pieces at the various studios. Everything is so close by it makes it easy to walk around that area and avoid wrestling to find parking somewhere else.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my family for the endless support in jumpstarting my start in makeup and the first hair and makeup company I’ve been with that allowed me to step foot in this industry, Diamond Hair and Beauty. The salon I work at Human Kind Hair has a special place in my heart and has taught me a whole other side to this career behind the chair. I’m so grateful for the opportunities given to me through these places and the people I’ve met through them as well. Also, Shout out to my very talented friend/stylist Holly Luc for giving me continuous support and great advice.

Website: https://athenaraygoza.wixsite.com/my-site-1/about

Instagram: athenaray_mua

Facebook: athenaray_mua

Image Credits
Diamond Beauty Hair and Makeup