Meet Kyra McCaffrey | Hairstylist

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

Hi Kyra, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I used to be a huge risk taker, to be fair I didn’t have a lot to lose at the time. I was 21 and moved to LA January of 2020 with no idea what was in store. I swear by the time I had finally settled and gotten a job the pandemic lockdown went into effect. I took a huge risk by staying in LA. The very few people I knew all moved back home, I was working a pretty brutal assistant job, and overall pretty unhappy. My family wanted me to come home. I didn’t know a single person that wasn’t an 8 hour drive away. I didn’t want to give up, I had just made the move to LA. That decision shaped my career and for a while I felt like all was in my favor. The lack of working hairstylist gave me an advantage to get into a pretty competitive industry. I was able to start working at an amazing salon with practically no experience.
Something I live by and that has pushed me to take risks is the idea of apply for the jobs that you think you have no chance at. Apply for a position that you think you’re unqualified for. You will surprise yourself by what opportunities open up to you. People see you very differently than you see yourself. Very much fake it till you make it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a hairstylist which most people think I just cut hair, but It’s so much more than that. Mostly I’m doing color, cuts, extensions, etc. but im also being a therapist, a friend, my own assistant, client coordinator, social media manager, photographer + editor and my own marketing agent.
Not gonna lie, if I could go back in time I would change professions. This career is exhausting, physically, mentally and emotionally. But yet this is the most perfect career. It’s flexible, creative and I create my own hours. I literally choose who I work with, I meet some of the most amazing people from all walks of life. I choose what projects I want to take on. My job is all things beauty and making people feel beautiful.
It’s very easy to get burnt out, and if you are surrounded by people who stress you out, make you sad and unhappy you’re not gonna like your job. I’m pretty introverted and I get burnt out socially very easily. This has been the hardest thing for me to overcome and I’m still learning how to deal with it every day. You don’t really get to have bad days as a hairstylist. You really have to put everything to the side and show up for your clients, and that’s ok because that’s the reality of being a professional.
Doing someone’s hair is strangely intimate. There is an immense amount of trust involved in letting someone touch your hair. Some people you’ll do their hair one time and then they’re your client forever. You will see them for the next 5 years every month. You watch them get engaged, divorced, loose a parent, move away.
I think about my clients all the time. I care about them so much. I think it’s hard not to take on all the emotions, but I’m also human. It’s just the nature of the job and you have to be ok with that.

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?
If I could plan a perfect weekend it would be something like this.
Friday night go to a concert or some sort of event. Then try and find food open late. Astros Diner is always reliable.
Saturday morning go to Pilates, I love motivate in Hollywood. Saturday night go get something to eat and a drink at Capri club and then go to a bar. It changes all the time but any “dive bar” heavy on the quotations with a patio. 4100, Zebulon, Good Times at Davey Wanes. I usually like to go to a nice bar first then the fun ones.
Sunday wake up late, I don’t drink coffee but love iced green tea. A little shopping is always fun. I love trying new vintage stores. Sleeper Vintage in Echo park and Los Rodeos are so great. Always can find a really cool piece. A nice quiet dinner at Donna’s in Echo Park, Pace in Laurel Canyon, and Little Door in West Hollywood are a few of my new favorite spots.
Simple, food and drinks. A patio and a view if possible is all I need.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I owe a lot to the owner of the salon I work at, Shanda Wallace. Truly if it wasn’t for her I would not be where I am today. She hired me with practically no experience. She saw something in me, she believed in me. She gave me my first stylist job. Im forever grateful for you Shanda.
Another person is my mom. I was surrounded by hairstylists telling me I need to be an assistant for 4 years minimum. I was told I will never be successful if I don’t work in Beverly Hills. My mom gave me the idea and really the confidence to even apply to my first stylist job. Thanks mom.

Big shoutout to my dad. He’s been there through it all. I was in a car accident while in school. I was going to have to drop out and work full time to get a new car. He got me a car the next week. I really don’t think I would have finished school if I stopped. I think it’s one of the nicest things someone has ever done. Thank you dad.

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