Meet Matthew Mendoza | Blonde Specialist

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

Hi Matthew, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I am a huge risk taker!! Ever since I was a kid I remember my only fear in life is missing out on what life has to offer me, so taking risks was kind of a normal thing for, I never really feared it. Risk taking played a huge role in my career. I was working a stable job with a good income. I knew I always wanted to do hair but never pursued it. One day I just went online and searched hair schools, called the first one that came out, signed up, quit my job and decided this would be it. I took a huge pay cut and became a receptionist at a salon just to throw myself into the field. I didn’t know how I was going to eat or pay rent, but I knew it would just happen! Now I own a business in West Hollywood and it still doesn’t seem real at times!! I scare myself with the risks I take but it makes life fun, and definitely has built my character!

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.
I feel like blonding is a dying art that’s popular, if that at all makes sense. I’m born and raised in Los Angeles, and ever since I can remember, blondes are just an LA staple. As I’ve furthered myself in this industry I’ve come to find that it’s actually pretty hard to find someone who can do blonding well, correctly and safely! I call it a creative science, there’s definitely key “rules” that you follow to approach blonding safely, but it’s such a customizable service it gets so fun to be creative with it! It’s really hard to say what sets me apart from other blonde specialist. Im always inspired and amazed by other fellow blonde specialist work, Im constantly inspired which I love! My journey to where I’m at in my career and business hasn’t been an easy one, but it’s definitely been a fun one! I didn’t have the cosmetology school experience I pictured in mind, but luckily I had two amazing teachers that refused to let me drop the program. The first two salons I worked at I learned a lot! I was like a kid in a candy store just being around such amazing talent. Then COVID happened and I felt stuck and scared, I wasn’t bringing in any income and I was worried I made a mistake in following my dreams. I then got hired as an assistant at another pretty well known Los Angeles salon. I did learn stuff there, but it wasn’t a right fit for me. When k decided to open my own business during the pandemic I was so scared, but determined. The risk taker in me is always like, we will figure it out. Im glad I decided to take that risk cuz I’m beyond happy!
I feel like what I want people to take away from this is that even though the odds are against you, yiu can accomplish your dreams. I was just some kid from East Los Angeles, I slept on a pullout couch and wasn’t very interested in school. I dropped out in 9th grade and really had no idea where I was going in life. In all reality I “wasn’t supposed to make it”, but here I am. People from my neighborhood where I grow up “don’t make it”, and I was able to get out and make it.

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?
This is such a funny question to me, because me from a couple of months ago before owning my business I’d say, WeHo and the clubs and the bars, brunch and Hollywood nightlife! Lol!! Now me is slightly different. Im like “adult fun”, and I use the term adult VERY loosely lol!!
Let’s see, I would definitely do brunch at Tempo Cantina or Mama Por Dios. Or maybe a nice morning hike at lake Hollywood, see my mind still went to brunch first lol!!
Definitely a nice early hike to lake Hollywood, brunch, visit Santee alley, mariachi plaza, a good dinner at kings and queens as well! Im very attached to my Mexican culture, so i tend to center my outings and interests around my culture.
As a shock as it may come, I’m not a beach person, so that’s a place I would never take my friend lol!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
A lot of people deserve credit for my success, when I say it took a village to get me even into cosmetology school, it literally did! One of my close friends, Sherry, was my hair stylist for the longest time. I put her through so much with my constant wanting to change my hair from very far to very light! (I’m still sorry Sherry!!) she kept encouraging me to go to cosmetology school. Then my other friend Lena, who is a blonde specialist as well was a teacher at the cosmetology I went to, she kept trying to get me to sign up, and I just would never go through with it lol!! I would say these two ladies and seeing their success and drive finally gave me the push to go through with following my passion in hair.

 x

Instagram: TheBlondeGangsta

Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@mattheweldiablito