Today we’d like to introduce you to Lenina Yin.
Hi Lenina, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
When I was 19 (2012) I moved from San Diego to Houston for cosmetology school. I went to the Aveda institute and graduated in cosmetology in August of 2013. My plan originally was to move back home but given the cost of living I deceived to stay here. I practiced both color and cut but in 2016 I started working as an assistant at a departmentalized salon which is where I began my haircutting specialist career.
I assisted Jeffrey Buhr, the owner of La’ Vantage salon in The Woodlands. He himself had trained and worked under Vidal Sassoon himself. Everything I learned in cosmetology school basically went out the door when it came to learning from Jeff. Verbiage, was totally different and techniques were like no other. Once a week he would pick out a random haircut picture and tell me to recreate it. This is what really set the tone for the rest of my career to come. I trained under him for a year and a half until I got in the floor. About a year and a half after that, after having my first baby I decided it was time for something bigger. I worked in the city at REV Salon from 2019-2023. Moving to the city really catapulted my career and allowed for my name and work to really get out there.
Mid 2024 I decided to move to Austin to see what else was in store for my son and I. Shortly after I met my now fiance and we welcomed our beautiful baby girl into the world about a year later. I now reside back in Houston but go back and forth from Houston to Austin for work. I work at June Salon in Bryker Woods when in town. Stevie the owner is very talented and accommodating. The salon is beautiful and in a great location.
I love that I have expanded my craft into the Austin area, it was home for a very short time but it is definitely a place I’d like to move back to. I feel so grateful for the opportunity to be able to go back and forth from cities.
It’s been 14 years since I became a hairdresser. Hair is truly my passion and hobby. I get to make women and men feel good about themselves. I get to meet so many different walks of life, hear so many different stories. There is literally never a dull moment in the hair world. There is such a rewarding feeling in knowing that my purpose in life is to help and remind women of how beautiful they are. I truly feel like God gives us all a talent and mine just happens to be slaying the hair game one haircut at a time. A blessing.
This is an industry where if you stay fully committed to getting the training you need and put in the time to building a clientele, it is 100% worth it. I did the work, paid my dues and made the sacrifices. 14 years later I have 3 kids, can pick them up from school when needed. I work for myself, I can set my own schedule. I can go back and forth from one city to another.
My career is my baby and my pride and joy. I am a haircutting specialist, mom, friend, fiance. My work reflects me and who I am. I take a lot of pride in my work and name, as well as all of the relationships I have built because of it. I’m looking forward to what the future has in store for me and my craft.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When I moved to the city, I really put in work to build my books. I had to stay very active and consistent on social media. This is something that I really had to hone in on since it wasn’t really a thing i prioritized in the past. I Will say that building a social media platform has been the biggest challenge for me. I could’ve been born in the 70’s and not cared for social media or technology or phones really.
Staying active and relevant and consistent on social media are imperative for hairstylists in today’s world. It gets hard when going through different changes and challenges in my personal life. Nonetheless it is something I prioritize whether it’s a slow season or not.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in haircutting. But I also do sew-ins, k-tips, and tapes. I love doing smoothing and reparative treatments as well. Such as, Brazilian Blowout, Keratin Complex, B3.
Some haircuts I am well known for are my bobs and layered cuts.
I am most proud of the relationships I have made in my chair. Not one haircut is JUST a haircut. And honestly, I have been doing this for so long that my aura has filtered out the bad apples. I believe you attract who/what you are. I actually have made some of the best friendships through doing their hair.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is how a person feels when they leave my chair. That feeling leads to referrals, a social media tag…How my clients remember me and speak of me will contribute to the legacy I leave behind.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://leninayin.booksy.com/k/
- Instagram: Lenina_yin
