Meet Kristina Marie Agoncillo | Barberstylist & Braid Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kristina Marie Agoncillo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kristina Marie, why did you pursue a creative career?
I pursued a creative career because after spending about 4 years in an office job, I quickly learned that was not what I was meant to do for the rest of my life. The rigidity and mundaneness felt soul-sucking and made me dread going to work everyday. My only saving grace would be the great co-workers I had but when the pandemic took that away, I was reminded how much I lacked purpose working at a job of that nature. I felt compelled to try something that integrated my interests and passions—I had so many. Amongst the various avenues I could’ve taken creatively, I decided to pursue a career in hair.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m Kristina, born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. I graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a B.S. in Geological Sciences and minored in African American Studies, but eventually found my true calling in hair. I’m a dual-licensed barber-cosmetologist and have always had a deep devotion to mastering the handiwork that goes into hair—whether it’s the various haircuts and braid styles I do at the shop, or the ones I create on my own head. I’ve always reveled in the endless possibilities of expression that hair can provide, and I’m eager to extend that accessibility to others through my craft.

As I previewed earlier, my path toward a career in hair, although unusual, is not unheard of. After graduating in Geological Sciences and pursuing further education, I landed at a job at an engineering company; but that simply wasn’t fulfilling. I met amazing people there and they were probably the best part of my job. The work itself, however, was low-intensity, unchallenging, and I lacked a sense of purpose. Then the pandemic hit, shifting us into remote work and removing the small joys of daily human interaction. That’s when I began seriously considering other career paths.

Hair had always been a quiet presence in my life. Back in middle school, my mom taught me how to French braid using my stuffed toys with yarn hair. Eventually, I learned to braid my own hair, and later on, I experimented with cutting my male friends’ hair in high school and college. It was always something I enjoyed in the background, but never saw as a viable career. Of course, the pandemic shifted everything. I found myself going down deep rabbit holes of haircutting and styling/braiding videos, often playing them in the background while I did office work. After lots of reflection and deliberation, I decided to enroll in night school for cosmetology.

The timing aligned perfectly. In the summer of 2021, I worked remotely from 7am to 3pm and attended in-person classes from 5pm to 9pm for about 15 months. I earned my first license in January 2023. After four years at the engineering firm, I wrapped up a major project and asked to be let go so I could begin the crossover barbering program in May 2023. I became dual-licensed by October that same year.

Growing up, I used to dread going to the salon with my family. Stylists often missed the mark; either giving me something completely different than what I asked for or taking too many liberties, leaving me with a look that was nothing short of traumatic. (Shoutout to the Dora-Lord Farquaad era during puberty 😂) Reflecting on that, I realized I never want anyone to feel that powerless in the chair. As a stylist, I make sure consultations happen not only at the start, but throughout the entire appointment. We arrive at result through a collaborative effort. Many clients tell me I’m the first stylist to ask so many thoughtful questions with real care for the outcome. It excites me to educate clients on their hair and help them gain a new understanding for their hair, something I find to be a crucial extension to their identity. One of my favorite instances involves one of my clients: a young man that sat in my chair when I worked at Floyd’s Studio City and became one of my regular clients there. His hair was stick-straight coarse Asian hair that can be quite challenging to cut due to how easily errors could be seen because of the texture. Determining and achieving the right shape and silhouette too required careful assessment. I managed to deliver on his haircut every time. When I moved to my current shop of Ripley’s Maiden, I noticed a familiar name in my books. It turns out that this young client of mine google searched for me and sought me out so I could cut his hair once again! This moment reassured me that the impact I have as a stylist is indeed long-lasting and my work ethic has earned the trust of my clients well enough for them to keep coming to my chair despite moving locations.

Has this journey been easy? Honestly, no. But strangely, once I fully committed to it, things started to align: My work schedule matched my class schedule. Having my office job allowed me to cover my tuition. My engineering project ended just in time for barber school to begin. Doors began opening as I kept following through with this game plan. Now that I’ve earned my licenses, I’m building my brand from the ground up. It requires a new level of focus and openness to parts of the business I hadn’t considered before.

One lesson this journey has taught me is that in times of hardship, a posture of gratitude makes all the difference. It’s easy to get bogged down by negativity, but when I consciously practice gratitude, the road becomes more bearable—enjoyable even. I’ve learned to identify the season I’m in and use it as fuel for growth. When I’m a beginner, I strive to be the best beginner. I’ll ask questions, try new things, and shed the fear of failure. When confidence grows, I shift to refining skills. I repeat this cycle until I’ve mastered what i’ve been working on. However, in truth, I’ll never stop being a student to the game.

As a child of Filipino immigrants, it’s important for me to be an example of someone who chose a path true to her spirit, even when it wasn’t traditional or “safe.” Sharing my talents with the world matters more to me than sticking to convention. I want to show that safety and stability are possible for creatives; the road just looks different. I hope to be a role model for those who follow, proving that our dreams aren’t too big. They’re just waiting for us to catch up. My vision is only expanding, and I hope to build something that outlasts me—something more grand than my ancestors ever imagined.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Apart from mainly being a homebody and have a cold beer by the pool on a hot day, I do enjoy a good hike! My go-to spots might have to be Tree People/Fryman Canyon in Studio City. It’s not too strenuous but scratches the hiking itch without tiring me out too much. Griffith Park’s hike is also a staple for me since there are several routes to take and usually ends at a vantage point that has a wonderful view of both the Los Angeles skyline and the Griffith Observatory. The Observatory has its own hike too that starts at the bottom of the mountain, where the Greek Theatre is, with some of the trails leading to that same vantage point I mentioned. After the hike, I love to catch some brunch somewhere in Valley Village/Toluca Lake area like Red Maple, or Bea Bea’s. Or if I’m looking for something more refreshing, I’ll get açai from Ubatuba. Later in the evening, because I’m such a beer lover, I’d like hit up some of the local breweries. My top three breweries in the valley would be Lawless Brewing in North Hollywood, MacLeod’s in Van Nuys and 818 Brewing in Canoga Park. I enjoy having a flight of beer or a Belgian Tripel with maybe a woodfire pizza on the side. I’ll also check out some pubs with good beer selection, such as the Morrison in Burbank and Los Feliz, Forman’s Whiskey Tavern in Toluca Lake and Stout in Studio City.

I will say that my days throughout the week are often fulfilled with a tasty coffee from my roster of coffee shops across the valley. When I’m in Studio City, I stop by Saint Coffee by the Floyd’s Barbershop I used to work at. They really fueled me during my long days at the shop so I’ve got to make it a point to pay them a visit, for old time’s sake. Anytime I’m passing through Chatsworth, I stop by House Roots Coffee. Then, when I’m working at my shop, Ripley’s Maiden in Reseda, our go-to spots are Black Heart Coffee (who has a solid food menu by the way) and my personal favorite, Lee’s Coffee, both in Lake Balboa. Lee’s Coffee has an ever-expanding menu of fun specialty drinks. I’ll indulge in one every once in a while but my drink order as of late is: Triple shot Shaken espresso with sugar-free Vanilla with non-fat milk, topped with Vanilla cold-foam. I’m salivating just thinking about it!

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’m extremely blessed and lucky to come from the family that I do. My parents, my sister, my loved ones–they really nurtured an environment that allowed me to create and keep on creating. I would get excited to show them whatever I’m working on and talk about my next project. The way they would receive the creativity was always with admiration and enthusiasm. Whether or not it was just to make me feel good or it was genuine, it really built me up as an artist, and it never made me afraid to express myself whatever medium I decided that day. I want to give a special shoutout to my #1 client: my boyfriend, who would endure 2+ hour haircuts long before my decision to enroll into cosmetology school; my bodyguard and assistant when I’d do pop-up events, the beneficiary of all my experimental styles—from braids to perms to combovers. And most of all, my biggest support system every step of the way. Making him look good will always be my favorite labor of love ♥️. I, of course, also have to shout out my barbershop Ripley’s Maiden @ripleysmaiden. The crew over there has truly become family and they definitely make work a place I look forward to coming into. I couldn’t ask for a better shop to be a part of! @dontrell_fadez @jqncuts @fadezbyant @_kevvs @fadesbyannie

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Image Credits
Ant Diaz Media