Meet Cody Renegar | Hairstylist & Author

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

Hi Cody, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
“Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.” While it may sound cliche, it is significant to me. Someone wrote this to me on a graduation card upon my departure from Barber School. I took this to heart and have applied it throughout my journey. It’s essential to maintain a healthy work and life balance. It’s also extremely important to stay humble and open-minded so that you can learn from those around you. I have worked with some phenomenal hairstylists and have made a massive effort to absorb and learn from those around me. No matter how big or small, it all adds up.

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.
What separates me from others – what I often hear directly from my clients – is that I’m able to truly see them for who they are. My gift or my role is to help a person feel more confident. I harness the beauty I see within them and am able to showcase it to the outside world. I’m most proud of the relationships in my life – from my son to my husband to my loyal clients; I am the luckiest person alive to have such a strong unit, personally and professionally.

I had a bit of a bumpy journey getting to where I am today. In a nutshell, I went from homelessness to Hollywood. I had a challenging childhood — I was in and out of foster homes, where I experienced abuse and was homeless. I didn’t have parents to guide me along the way. That all changed when I began volunteering in a nursing home – the people I interacted with became parental figures. They cared for me and encouraged me to think about a profession. One day, one of the residents recommended I write it down everything I wanted out of life to see what job matched up. So, I did precisely that, and I landed on hair! I wanted to travel, be around people I could connect with, and have unlimited earning potential — I discovered that going into the hair care industry would afford me these opportunities. I began working at a local barbershop, and the owner saw my talent and suggested I start cutting women’s hair. From there, things took off. I began doing hair at the prestigious Aveda Day Spa in Arkansas. Aveda’s lead-style team recognized my skills and talent, and at only 23, I was promoted to cutting director. I eventually became regional cutting director and traveled around the country teaching Aveda’s signature cuts. I was later tapped to join Bumble and Bumble, New York. The team sent me to Los Angeles to teach a class, and I ended up relocating permanently to Los Angeles in 2004 after falling in love with the city. That same year, I began my career at the prestigious Jose Eber Salon on Rodeo Drive, working alongside Jose on the main floor and in his private styling room. After two years, I moved back to Arkansas and, by 2015, was back in LA, working at the legendary Cristophe Salon in Beverly Hills. Since then, I have taken on private clients on both coasts — I travel between LA, DC, and Arkansas. Last year, I also published my memoir, Changing the Stars, which chronicles my childhood abuse and how I became the man I am today.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love to take my guest to Paradise Cove in Malibu, where you can sit with your feet in the sand and enjoy an amazing meal on the beach. It has been there for a very long time and has so much history. I enjoy Water Grill in Santa Monica – they make delicious seafood, and it’s a staple in that area. Shopping in Beverly Hills and Abbot Kinney in Venice is a must. There are some very nice boutiques there. I love to visit downtown; the roof at the Ace Hotel is a pretty chill vibe. I love to visit LACMA and the Getty Museum. LA has a lot of art and culture. One of my favorite things is driving to Mulholland Drive at night and looking out over the city. That’s always an unforgettable experience. I also like to trail ride some horses under the Hollywood sign from Burbank.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My friend Jameson Buston has been in Hollywood for over 30 years. He is a set designer and producer and has really helped show me the ropes in LA over the last 20 years. He has helped me navigate the city both personally and professionally, and I am not sure I would have the deep love for LA that I do, were it not for him showing it to me through his eyes.

Website: www.codyrenegar.com

Instagram: hairbycodyrenegar

Facebook: jcrenegar

Image Credits
Kuri Haus Photography (Tricia Kuri and Chris Kuri)