Meet Austin Lopez | Hairstylist & Artist

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

Hi Austin, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
I think the value that matters most to me is truth, both outward and inward. Staying true to those around you makes life so much easier to walk through. Being pure of heart and intention creates so many more full and lasting relationships. Staying true to yourself is essential as a creative. Entrepreneurial and artistic endeavors are intrinsically difficult, so if you can’t be honest with yourself you’ll never achieve what you set out to create.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I love more than anything creating art. Taking what’s in my mind’s eye and turning that into a physical piece is equal parts challenging and rewarding. I love the collaborative, energetic nature of the creative process. Seeing a group of humans come together and come to life through that process will always be my favorite part of my job. I was recently nominated for Hairstylist of the Year by the Professional Beauty Association, which for me personally is a dream come true. I’ve been working toward this goal my entire career, so it makes all of those long days and sleepless nights feel so gratifying. Being recognized as a leader of my industry is simultaneously euphoric and intimidating, I’ve climbed the mountain now I need to find the next one. I hope that reaching this level in my career can afford me a platform to share my art with a larger audience, and also inspire others to chase their dreams. Not only do I love creating art, I love educating my clients and peers. Every time a client is in my chair, I strive to empower them by providing education on how to effectively maintain and style their hair at home. I’ve also had the opportunity to educate hairstylists both on stage and in salon settings. This brings me so much fulfillment because it’s a collaborative effort that fosters connection. Each time I teach, I find myself learning.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Living in Orange County I think the activities come easy. Obviously we’re hitting the beach frequently and generally just being outdoors. The difficult part is narrowing down the meals, there are so many amazing restaurants in SoCal. I think the top of my list is Hanuman Thai Eatery and MJ’s cafe in Costa Mesa, Santa Ana Brunch Club, Bear Flag in Newport, Heritage in Long Beach, and Glasspar in Dana Point.

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?
There are literally dozens of people in my journey that I can credit with my success, each just as pivotal as the next, but if I have to choose one person I would have to say my fiancé. She’s seen the highest highs and the lowest lows of my career and she’s been my biggest supporter through all of it. If it weren’t for her I can confidently say I would not be where I’m at today.

Website: www.austinericlopez.com

Instagram: @AustinEricLopez

Image Credits
All photos taken by Andrea Domjan. Except for black/ purple afro on white background, photo by Richard Monsieurs.