Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Liz Cook. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Liz, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

When I first moved to Arizona, back in April of 2018- I took the biggest risk of all. I had just gone thru a divorce in January of that year, and I had started dating my now husband- all while just graduating from cosmetology school 8 months prior. I was working at a small salon, but was burnt out. I worked non-stop; 70-80 hrs a week. My boyfriend surprised me with a trip to Arizona for some relaxation, and we fell in love. I guess the universe had set out some plans for us, because on our way back home (Utah), we were let go from our jobs. We suddenly had no obligations and the world of opportunities in-front of us. We made the split decision to leave everything. With little to no money, we packed our truck with all we could carry and moved to Scottsdale over night. We had no jobs lined up, no license transfers, and yet we knew it would work out. 4 years later and I have everything I could dream of.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

My name is Liz Cook, and I am a traveling hairstylist in the greater Phoenix, Arizona area/Ogden, Utah area. I have been a stylist for 5 years, and I specialize in Balayage coloring and extensions. I currently work at the Willo&Root Salon, in MidTown Phoenix, and the Lather Salon, in West Haven, Utah. You can follow me on Instagram: @coloredbyliz.

I started in this industry when I was 26 years old. I wanted to go into this field of work right out of high school, but my parents decided that I needed a couple of years of college under my belt. So in 2016, I enrolled in the Paul Mitchell The School, in Ogden, UT. Color and my love for painting are what initially inspired me to get into hair coloring. I grew up painting and experiencing art in all forms- so going to school to be a hair colorist was easy for me. I quickly discovered that I had found my place in the world and excelled.

I offer various skills behind the chair; textures and more subdued tones often inspire me. I tend to describe myself as having a “Coastal Boho” vibe, and I always throw a splash of color into my mixes. My typical clientele is looking for a lived-in, natural, yet highly saturated color, and a more beachy and messy style. I typically work with Kevin Murphy Products, Aiir Professional, and R+Co. I’m best known for my lived-in, messy, highly dimensional, artistic and “wild-girl” looks.

I am most proud of my growth. I have faced several challenges in the 5 years I have done hair- I suffered a TBI in 2015 that went unsolved. I recently discovered I had this setback in early 2022, and managed to still succeed over the years. I learned that despite the road blocks, I can truly accomplish anything.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

in 2015 I was in a gruesome car crash, I was the victim of a front collision, and suffered severe & lifelong injuries. When I came out of the crash, I didn’t know If I would walk normally again, be able to stand, or use my hands correctly. I had a difficult time speaking, and the craziest thing happened: I woke up a completely different person the next day. Funny thing is, the week prior, I had started looking at Hair Schools. I pushed thru my injuries and saw the end goal: I needed to continue my life, find my passion and be who I was meant to be. I struggled for many years; I often felt that I was putting on a “costume” of who I thought I was. Doing hair was the last part of who I was before the accident that seemed to “make sense”. I pushed through and kept inching my way towards feeling “normal”, or whatever that may be. I was able to express myself in my work and to slowly remind myself of what I had lost. The brain is a fascinating organ, and I still find small reminders to this day. I’m thankful for my clients who understand that I have good days and bad ones. Their patience and empathy mean the world to me. I truly believe that this accident caused me to be even more creative. I recently went to an optometrist, who even confirmed that I see colors more vibrantly than the average person, because of this injury. I guess you could say that this was a gift and not a struggle.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

When I was in school, I read a book called, “The four agreements”. This book transformed my way of thinking and has truly led me to be the person I am within the industry. In this book, you pick 4 standards to set yourself. I picked: Teachable, Humble, Creative, and Resilient. With this, I always stayed true to who I believed I was, and always remembered to apply these 4 traits to my business and public interactions. These 4 traits are incredibly important for me as an educator, and as a member of my industry. Being Authentic to myself and being transparent with who I am has led me to build a solid reputation in my industry.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://itscoloredbyliz.square.site/
• Instagram: coloredbyliz
• Other: www.ritualbeautyprofessional.com www.bohoandstoneapothecary.com