Life & Work with Lauren Kastis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Kastis.

Hi Lauren, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m a fourth-generation hairstylist, I was lucky enough to be introduced to my passion at a very young age. On my mother’s side, both her parents, herself, sister, and brother were successful hairstylists. I would like to think it was just in my blood! I grew up in the hill country of San Antonio but spent my summers in Houston with my aunt in her salon. I absolutely loved watching her transform clients, putting a big smile on their faces! I remember feeling like it was so magical mixing the different colors together to create that perfect shade! I would assist her around the salon, sweeping, mixing color, and shampooing clients. In return, she would let me experiment with color cuts on my own hair. It ignited my creative passion to have a career that allows me to be uniquely myself and potentially have my own business! That was my mission, I did everything I could to graduate a year early from high school, go straight into cosmetology school and be licensed by 19. I got my first job doing hair in a barbershop where I perfected my men’s hairstyling skills. I knew I wanted to be a well-rounded stylist and doing color was a big passion of mine. I trained under some very talented hairdressers and learned how to execute full color and cut transformations! These days I work behind the chair with the confidence to give my clients their dream hair! I specialize in extensive color correction, maintaining top-notch integrity of hair! I take pride in creating the perfect haircuts & styles custom-tailored to my client’s lifestyle and esthetic.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There was a lot of trial and error along the way. Finding the confidence in my artistic ability and learning to communicate with so many different types of people was a struggle at first. It’s a very up close and personal job, and you absorb a lot of different energies. There is so much that goes into being a hairdresser and you never stop learning in this industry. I constantly needed to remind myself to be open to criticism, learn to grow from it, and not be too hard on myself.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I feel confident to take on any project, and I especially love a challenge, so color corrections are a specialty of mine. I enjoy taking the time to fix a problem someone is experiencing with their hair, taking no shortcuts, and getting the perfect healthy result in the end really makes my day.

I like to think that I have a great eye for detail and really relating to my clients and getting to know their lifestyle so I can guide them in choosing the best cut and color to suit them.

I really enjoy giving my low-maintenance clients a more lived-in color and style that is easy for them to maintain at home.

Of course, I love doing unique and edgy cuts and color; something avant-garde that you don’t see everywhere.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Definitely going to Leros, Greece with my family when I was about 10. My grandpa was born on that island and lived there until he was about 14. Most of his family still lives in Greece so I was able to see where he grew up and meet a lot of family I had never known.

I remember the incredible beaches and the water was so clear you could see all the way to the bottom.

Not to mention Greece also has some amazing food!

Pricing:

• Haircut $75
• Balayage $230+
• Full Vivid color $300+
• Grey coverage/root retouch $89
• Keratin smoothing treatment $300+

Contact Info:

• Email: laurenkastishair@yahoo.com
• Instagram: Vampshion_hair