Meet David Richards | Hair Color Specialist

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

Hi David, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I think as human beings we do everything possible to avoid discomfort and struggle. When given the choice we usually gravitate to what is most familiar or easiest. It makes sense! Why would we choose the unknown, the less secure option? However, if we do things the same way we always have, or the way that feels safe…what possibilities are we denying ourselves? I can reflect back on times in my life that lead to situations I had never experienced before and I had no idea how I was going to navigate my way through them. We can call these decisions risks; doing something for the first time, following an intuition, going against the grain, resisting advice, figuring things out first-hand. Looking back now, I can see that the most valuable lessons I have learned, I learned during these times of uncertainty, outside of my comfort zone. No risk, no reward!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have had the privilege of learning from beauty industry leaders globally. I have always tried to absorb as much as I could from every teacher and demonstration I’ve seen, every book I’ve read, and every video I’ve watched. This is the foundation of the eclectic and well-rounded expertise I approach my clientele with. I love matching the perfect technique and hair color for each person, providing everyone their own personal aesthetic and experience. Pulling so much inspiration from my travels and international styles, it definitely influences my sense of style and how I approach making my clients feel their best. I always had a feeling of “otherness” since I was a boy, and discovering what that meant has lead me all over the world, learning from all kinds of people, many of whom don’t look or sound like me. My love of learning has pushed me professionally to continue to refine my craft and skills. And as an adult continuing to learn is one of my greatest joys, I am always striving to be the student. I’m learning new languages, refining my belief systems, my world view and perspective, seeing new places and having new experiences. This love of discovery and exploration is intertwined with my profesional approach and its one of my favorite things to share with my clients.

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?
Hey best friend! Welcome to LA! I live on the west side, in Marina del Rey, so first thing is a short walk from my apartment to Mother’s Beach. It is a quiet, sleepier beach with lots of cute dogs and a beautiful stretch of sandy beach to stroll along ocean side. Straight from here we could stroll up into Venice and Santa Monica to get more of those more popular boardwalk vibes. Lets stop at Cha-Cha Matcha for an iced oat milk Matcha, my go to morning bev! To get our sweat on we are going to Hot Yoga Los Angeles in the Marina (if we are lucky Challyn is teaching, she’s the owner and amazing instructor) for a 90 minute Bikram-style yoga class. To refuel some of my favorite lunch spots are Tacos Tu Madre or Tocaya for lots of super healthy California style tacos and burritos, there are a few locations all around the city. For dinner lets dress up and head to Avra in Beverly Hills, their Mediterranean style menu is one of my favorite in all of LA. Our weather is one of the biggest pluses of living out here, so hiking is a must do. I usually head to Topanga Canyon or the Angeles National Forest. These two have some of my favorite trails, and still only about an hour drive from most parts of LA.
A little self-care while visiting is highly recommended, so for me its a sound bath and some yin yoga deep stretching, or a neuromuscular massage is my go to for a wind down.

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?
I believe mentorship is a fundamental part to reaching our full potential. I am grateful to have been supported in my career by numerous colleagues and teachers, there are two in particular who I owe a great deal to. The first is Allison Dalia, she is a Master Colorist and Co-owner of Panca Salon in New York City. I trained under Allison for more than 3 years at the Warren-Tricomi Salon in NYC. She taught me my foundation and fundamentals of hair color and business. In addition to sharing her extensive hair color knowledge, Allison instilled in me the work ethic it takes to succeed in a high-end, fast paced, competitive industry, the humility to stay grounded, and introduced me to goal setting, the law of attraction, and how to get what you want from life. She was patient with me, held me accountable, believed in me, and continues to support me in every step of my journey. The second person I want to acknowledge is Johnny Ramirez, he is the owner of Ollin Salon in Beverly Hills where I currently work. I met Johnny in NYC over 8 years ago, after working together a few times he invited me to visit California and helped me facilitate my move to Los Angeles. He provided me my first job there, gave me advice, shared his knowledge and techniques with me, allowed me space to grow as an artist and has always made me feel like family. I am very grateful to Johnny and Allison for all they have done for me. Outside of my professional mentors, I would like to acknowledge the teachers in other aspects in my life that have instilled so much in me. In my spiritual and yogic journey I had my initial fire lit by Francesca Asumah, a magical teacher who helped me take my first steps on this path and still guides me to this day. Also, Anandji Mehrotra who welcomed me into his Sangha in India, shared so much wisdom with me, supported me through challenging times, and continues to provide a safe place for recharging, sharing, and healing.

Instagram: @TheKidColors