We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Isis Moreno. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Isis below.

Alright, Isis thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

To answer that question, it’s best to give you insight into my life growing up and where my work ethic originated. I was raised in a very strict traditional-Mexican-christian household, although my childhood wasn’t perfect, my parents did their best with what they had and I was extremely blessed to have them. They taught me that hard work and perseverance always prevails but not without a good heart and humanitarian values. My parents used to tell me “God is always watching. You have to be a good, calm, and obedient woman so a ‘good man’ would want you“

Although my parents instilled these important values within my young mind, that does not mean that I was always an obedient child.

Ever since I can remember I have always gone against the grain; I’ve always disregarded societal norms, rules, and (more importantly) stigmas. Being a hard headed and independent individual, I felt the insistent need to try everything in life—no matter how many times family/friends warned me not to do something. As you can imagine, that created quite a bit of turbulence in my life.

I was in and out of my parent’s house from the ages of 15 to 19 years old.

I have made myself homeless twice, with a big emphasis on the terms “made myself.” I have been in abusive relationships and felt like I had nobody to turn to for help. Those are only a few examples of what had been in my youth.

Even though I personally created each of these detrimental outcomes, at the time I related deeply to what society considered a “troubled youth.”

While I was open minded for my age, this stigmatized view of myself was allowing me a sliver of comfortability in a harsh reality that was my life.

The difficulty and struggle within those moments are the ones I am most thankful for. Without those experiences, I wouldn’t have been exposed to the places and situations that introduced me to people with hard upbringings. The seemingly harmless people that had been my everyday friends developed life-altering addictions of every kind. Some turned to drugs, others imprisoned or tied down to gangs, killed on the streets; I’ll never forget the day somebody I knew became permanently paralyzed because they were shot while running from police. Witnessing all of this turmoil sparked the catalyst of my career; to help those that I believe are most in need.

I believe if other people were offered the help and guidance I was, their choices might have possibly been different.

In my opinion—which I might add is not an easily received opinion—an adult’s outcome of their life is 100% the result of their own actions. Every adult has had plenty of time to expose themselves to different lifestyles and mindsets, or at the very least have the resources available to do so. But, a child does not have that privilege alone, they require guidance and nurturing which shouldn’t stop at the age of independent thinking.

The teenage years are so volatile and impactful that many decisions can completely redirect someone’s life, just as mine was. I work hard everyday with my mission in mind; being able to influence someone’s journey enough to drive them down the path to a better future.

As I’m working each day, I get closer to achieving financial freedom for myself and in return, will give me the ability to liberate and empower teens in their own lives.

There are multiple ways that I actively work on my mission to create a better world around me.

One approach we (I) take is volunteering to cut the hair of those in need through an organization called Clipdart. With this organization I am able to supply haircuts to people who live mostly on the street and don’t see a barber often. I feel it’s important to give these people functionality as well as a confidence boost in their everyday life.

Another project I am passionate about is the yearly event I host, Vegas Barber Bash. It’s an amazing local event where I collaborate with other experienced barbers to showcase up-and-coming Vegas talent within the hair industry. We then donate a percentage of our proceeds to an organization of our choice. One year we did Nevada Homeless Youth and we decide based upon what the community seems to be lacking that year.

Lastly, I would love to give you a little tease of some of the plans I have in the works.

I am also currently working on “I&O”, an essential oil company. One of the business practices my partner and I have agreed on that is essential is to donate a percentage of our profits to help support the mission to eliminate homeless youth.

I’m also excited to announce that I have been saving a percentage of my income so that I can one day open a non-profit organization that will give teenagers free counseling, teach them life skills, and put them into educational programs of their choice.

I believe everyone has a purpose in life and I’m certain that mine is to create a positive change in the world.

Isis, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

How I fell into my industry was very much an avenue that I didn’t expect to take. Growing up I was a very rebellious kid. I had left home and dropped out of high school at the age of 16 and had no plans for the future. I was living with my drop out, drug dealing boyfriend at the time. Ironically, he asked me about MY future and asked if I was going back to school or get a career. He advised and encouraged me to get my GED and pursue my career because it was a “guaranteed job” for me.

My mother has been doing hair for as long as I can remember and at this time she owned two shops called “Sports Buzz”.

I have been a licensed professional since 2010 and could not love it more! Since then, I have taken many avenues within the hair industry. I have cut in different level tier barbershops, from hood shops to boujee shops. I have traveled all over the country to participate in events. In these events I have competed, judged, sold product, educated and even hosted.

I love the relationships my industry introduces to me. There has been many, many people from all walks of life in my chair and as someone that makes a difference in someone’s confidence; I have realized how impactful you become to them. I have helped people prepare from very happy to extremely sad moments. For example: someone getting ready to propose to the love of their life to going to bury their child.

These moments are very impactful to every individual and I feel extremely grateful and blessed for allowing me to be a part of them.

Usually when somebody has a big change in their life they completely recreate themselves. My craft allows me to express my creativity and personalize a perfect style that will make them feel the best version of themselves.

With my experiences and every individual’s experience I have been exposed to, it has given me the motivation to work with people who share the same interest and want to change the world by helping those in need.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I can honestly say the one toughest times that I have had within my industry and my personal life simultaneously was when I first moved to Vegas in 2018. I had moved to Vegas from Tucson, AZ with only $1500 and my clothes. I was renting a room from a stranger that was extremely introverted and was working at a barbershop without a Nevada Barber license. Obviously, when you first move somewhere you have no clients, so my $1500 were gone very quickly with both my rent for the chair and the room.

I was hungry to meet people in Vegas and find friends in my industry. I quickly met a couple of girls that became friends and business partners. We shared a common interest to create a community that Vegas deserved. Just a few months of me living in Vegas, we started working on creating our annual networking event called Vegas Barber Bash (VBB)

Everything was going great! I had finally moved, I found a shop to work in, I had a place to rest my head on and I was on my way to creating a name for myself in Vegas.

Shortly after I start having issues with a barber that worked in the shop. I did not like the unprofessionalism they were displaying in front of my clients. I spoke to him and the owner but it didn’t go to well. They were friends and it made things weird for me.

Next thing I know, my roommate breaks the lease without telling me and from one day to the next I’m homeless!

Thankfully, I had made a friend when I first moved. I’m sure she felt bad so she offered me crash at her studio. if I needed to There was 3 people living there and there was no bed or couch for me to sleep on except hers. I didn’t want to bother her so I would hardly sleep there.

Nobody knew what I was going through. I don’t like people to feel sorry for me, so I just acted as if nothing was happening. The only person I was forced to tell is my sister and that is only because I didn’t have money for food and asked if I could borrow some. She suggested for me to go back home to AZ but I refused. “I would rather be homeless than to go back home”, was what I replied to her.

I knew what I wanted and giving up wasn’t an option for me.

As soon as I got my barber license in NV I found another shop to work in. I saved enough money to get myself an apartment and continued to execute VBB.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2016 I had attempted to move to Vegas for the first time. I was extremely spontaneous and moved on a whim. I found a room to rent and started to look for work. It was a long tedious process to become a Nevada resident and transfer my Arizona cosmetology license to Nevada. In the meantime, I worked in a couple of places: as a receptionist in a mechanic shop and was fired within a week, because I didn’t know anything about mechanic work. I totally don’t blame them. I also did door-to-door sales for an internet company; I wasn’t too fond of knocking on doors in 110 degree weather. This influenced me to post an ad on craigslist saying I can do mobile haircuts and was only charging $20. I would drive all over town and go into people’s homes to cut their hair.

Finally, when I was able to transfer my license, I found out I couldn’t work in barbershops because in Nevada cosmetologist aren’t allowed to work next to a barber.

I was forced to work in a corporate salon and I hated it so much. It felt like I was there for an eternity, but apparently it was only the longest 3 months I have ever lived! I was in a bind, I had to choose to continue to be miserable in a work space or work in a completely different industry.

I was in love with what I did and I didn’t want to give it up. That’s when I chose to go back to school and get my barber license. There were only two schools in Vegas and I didn’t think they were a good fit for me. Frustrated after leaving the last school, I called one in my home town that has a great reputation. They said they had openings and would take me. Without hesitation I made my mind up; I was going back home. Within two weeks I had packed my things, moved back and started my journey to become a licensed barber.

In barber school I discovered a whole world behind the industry. There was competitions and a community of people that share the same passion as I did. An avenue I didn’t know existed had presented itself and I completely submerged myself in it. I started competing locally then traveling to different states. I was usually the only female on stage competing against all men. I loved it so much! Being a female in a male dominated industry I was always the under dog and I got a kick out of winning because I loved to see how mad they would get. I have always had a fighting spirit and in my mind I would say to myself; “That’s right! A girl beat you!”.

this created a snowball effect. This made me become recognized and I started to get invited to judge, which progressed to educating and public speaking.

Who knew my spontaneity would accidentally make me develop into a completely different character.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @lipstickbarber_isis
• Facebook: Isis Moreno
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lb-studio-henderson-4?uid=vAKlgWVieSNvlOjVvGGVNg&utm_source=ishare
• Other: TikTok @lipstickbarber