We recently connected with Fabian Espinoza and have shared our conversation below.

Fabian, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I learned the skills by attending cosmetology school first, that’s what gave me the pathway and fully made me passionate to leave there and learn. My first ever assistant job (I had a few) allowed me to learn the basics as in a proper shampoo, blow drying hair, applying color in a timely manner. The most essential skills are being able to listen to clients, listening is a huge part of a clients consultation and being able to combine their vision with my skill set and recommendations to execute a transformation of hair. In my personal experience the obstacles that stood in my way where a few like taking things too personally, changing salons for the urge to move up faster and sometimes not being present in the moment of exactly what was in front of me.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My interest in hair started very young like in high school. I remember playing and braiding my friends hair then and also flat ironing my moms hair. Before my mom passed away I had found a scholarship competition and she was so supportive of me doing it to try and get a full ride to the Aveda institute. Tho I didn’t win, my interest in going to cosmetology grew even more and thanks to my Aunt Becky I enrolled at a community college for the cosmo program. While in school I met my first salon boss Mario Romero, he is an excellent colorist that taught me so much more than just how to do hair but also how to deal with clients and listen. Discipline is such a big word because it covers more than a skill set, I am learning to be more disciplined behind the scenes. Id like to enlighten yall by letting yall know that being an artist that’s visual and hands on which is what i exceed at in the salon, I am still learning a lot. I am most proud of overcoming the fear to formulate color, to have built a clientele that loves how I do their hair. Also recently I got to be an assistant for the Oscar de la Renta pre spring 2025 fashion show in the Bronx NY held at the New York Botanical Gardens. Through hair education and networking I reached out to the hair lead Ruben Colon and he added me to his list. What I would want my new potential clients to know is that my goal is to not only create great hair but to allow them to feel comfortable in my chair. That as a styilist I have worked many years and attended so many classes as well as taught a few classes, which has allowed for me to flourish into the artist I am. Also my work is my walking billboard so I take pride in it all.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

During the pandemic I was an employee of a salon, got unjustly fired after returning to work from being furloughed. Long story short the owner was rude and called me out of my name. I went independent a few months after and was able to find a lot of my clients. Truly I had already built my clientele in Houston but was growing so well there as far as numbers if you will. Starting to be self employed was and is still a challenge. What I learned is that my clients that seek me, are for how I listen, provide helpful suggestions, create the looks and because of who I am individually. That is resilience on its own, to bounce back mentally, to be thankful for the time there but not to allow one bad experience define if I am a good hair artist or not.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Right now in my career I have a few goals, to get further experienced in the creative styling, on set work, traveling and educating as an artist. This world of hair and beauty has so much to offer and I want to experience so much more!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://fabianandhair.com
• Instagram: fabianandhair
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/fabianandhair
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/fabianandhair
• Youtube: fabianandhair

Image Credits

Fabian shot by Avalon Stevens
purple action shot, by Jeff Segura
Lorenzo, by Arturo Olmos
Kelsey, by Jay clark
Red hair, by Frank Hernandez
on set with Xavier Guevara, by Arturo Olmos
Elevate hair show Xavier Guevara