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

Hi Laura, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I was born in Mexico City but raised in the US. My parents came to this country when I was just an infant, and I never take their bravery for granted. At only 18 years old with two babies, they left their hometown for a country full of opportunity and became entrepreneurs despite all the challenges.
This shaped me by giving me an undying fearlessness to “just do it” – whatever my dreams might be. I fight and don’t let fear stop me because if they could beat their fears, why can’t I? Their hunger to make it in a new country has been my role model to dream big.
One of my favorite quotes by Muhammad Ali goes like this: “If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough.” It’s my daily reminder.. just be my authentic bad ass self!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art as a hairdresser in the bridal industry is where my passion truly lives. I’ve always been a fool for love, and connecting with each bride goes far deeper than just being the person ” who did my hair “. Im not that kind of gal—it’s about being part of a transformative moment and helping them rediscover what beauty means to them in someone’s life story.

My goal is to reach brides who are just as hair-obsessed as I am! I take pride in encouraging this new self-discovery of what beauty means to them in their bridal era- I’m one to help them push their boundaries. My mission in the bridal industry is to show how bridal can be cool, edgy, and steer away from bad hair trauma, taking away that ugly belief that bridal has to be too traditional and matronly. My vision is to fuse the worlds of art and fashion in hairstyling.

What excites me most is the continuous growth of my business ( I sometimes can’t believe what I have created!! Its a pinch me moment) and reaching my ideal clients while giving my absolute best to everyone I work with. I got where I am today because of my curiosity and hunger for the unknown, and truth be told a touch of naivety—sometimes not knowing the obstacles ahead is your biggest blessing because you simply figure it out as you go, and you aren’t afraid of the outcome.

Was it easy? HELL NO! Building your own dream is never easy, but I firmly believe in PASSION FIRST, MONEY LATER. When facing challenges—after countless rejections, unanswered emails, false promises—you just keep fighting for your dream because no one will care more about you than YOU. I have been self-employed for 10 years now, and as a young naive 20-something-year-old, it was de best and dumbest decision I ever made, I know now I would not be employable. I’m used to being my own boss and don’t know if I can follow rules! haha

As the daughter of Mexican immigrants who left their home country to come to the US at 17 not speaking English and built their own businesses, built their own house from the ground up, bought property, I had the perfect example of persistence with a touch of naivety. As an immigrant woman who’s created a successful business, I want everyone to know that the only thing holding anyone back is themselves. You can come from anywhere and achieve whatever you want, but know it takes a lot of work—and I’m just getting started.

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?
Oh man, if my bestie came to visit, we’d be living our BEST lives! First stop: Orto in Santa Monica for their parmesan truffle pasta—it’s literally life-changing!

For nightlife, I’d whisk them to this amazing dive bar in Culver City that gives total tía Maria’s family party vibes the second you walk in! The energy is unmatched and they serve these incredible drinks you just stumble upon like hidden gems.

Saturday morning would be all about brunch at Proper Hotel’s rooftop—sunshine, views, and mimosas, hello! Then we’d take a long, beautiful stroll on the beach to work off those calories before heading downtown to The Mayan for some serious dancing! If you can’t tell already, I LOVE dancing and The Mayan gives you all the music genres in one spot.

Sunday would be Fairfax flea market vibes—just strolling around, finding treasures, grabbing some healthy-but-still-delicious food and lounging while listening to live music. We’d end the perfect weekend with Salt & Straw ice cream in Culver City because… dessert is non-negotiable!

Oh, and I’d definitely squeeze in the Hammer Museum somewhere because you gotta feed the soul with a little art during the trip! That’s my perfect LA weekend—food, dancing, sunshine, and culture!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
When asked who deserves recognition in my journey, I immediately think of Johans Wolf, my mentor, who fundamentally shaped my career in hairstyling. He didn’t just inspire and motivate me—he influenced me to dream bigger and be fearless. Most importantly, he invested time teaching me the fundamentals that have become the foundation of my success. He trained my eye to see shapes and showed me how to work with each person’s unique features, regardless of gender.

His own story was remarkable—coming from Vienna, being crowned a World Champion, creating a color system still used throughout the industry, and winning numerous hair competitions. His career and professionalism directly influenced my goals and aspirations. I still get a giggle on how I underestimated being a 65 wise mans assistant would lead me to my sucesse in my business and for that I will always be so grateful. Unfortunately, he has passed away, but I’m grateful I had the opportunity to say my farewell and express my gratitude at his celebration of life.

I would also like to acknowledge another tremendous influence: Oribe Canales. If I could embody anyone’s spirit and approach to our craft, it would be his. Oribe’s passion for hair and fashion was unmatched and truly inspirational. He exemplified what dedication to one’s art really means. His extraordinary talent and creative vision changed the hairstyling industry forever. I continually strive to reach his level of creativity and innovation in my own work.

Although both of these incredible mentors are no longer with us, their influence remains ever-present in my work. I continue to be inspired by them daily. These two icons showed me that success in this industry comes from a combination of technical mastery, fearless creativity, and genuine passion—lessons I carry with me every day.

Website: https://laurarochaofficial.com/appointments/

Instagram: @_lovelaurarocha

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovelaurarochaofficial

Image Credits
@foolishlyrushingin
@dennisroyconrenel
@mishanw
@ginaryanphoto
@vanessatierneyphoto

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.