We were lucky to catch up with Raziel Cariaga recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Raziel thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

The legacy I hope to leave behind is the way I made people feel inside and out. I want to be remembered for the energy, vulnerability, love and laughter that I share, and I want to inspire others to do the same.

As a hairstylist, human interaction is a large part of what I do. Through the years I have developed such beautiful connections with a lot of my clients. With time, small talk became deep topics, sometimes topics some of my clients don’t have anyone else to talk to about. The ability to be vulnerable is not easy for everyone, but the fact that people feel comfortable enough to be open and vulnerable with me warms my heart.

As I have gone through my journey of life so far, I have overcome some major obstacles that have inspired me to help others get through theirs. I use my position as a hairstylist to be the shoulder, ear, advice or even just uplifting vibes for my clients. You never know what a person is going through, sometimes we all just need love, and great hair.

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

I am a hairstylist that specializes in cuts, fades, balayage, and creative freedom. I got into this industry after receiving a bad haircut and deciding that nursing was not the career for me.

After a haircut gone wrong in middle school, I decided to learn how to cut my own hair, and later began cutting hair for friends and family during my high school years. After high school, I very shortly went to school for nursing for my parents, I quickly learned that my heart was not in it. I knew deep down that my passion was with hair. Although frowned upon by my parents at first, I took the leap and signed up at Paul Mitchell the school San Diego, and worked full time to pay for it. 8 years into my career, I couldn’t be more happy or grateful for the risks I have taken. I now run my own business and love every minute of it.

What I would like the readers to know about me and my business, is that through my journey, I have vowed to be the hairstylist that people can trust, not only with their hair, but with their heart. I like to tailor each appointment custom to each client. I strive to provide the hair they envision, and the vibes they need, so they can leave my salon feeling their best inside and out, and spread that energy to others.

What I am most proud of is the journey and what I am able to provide for my clients. Sometimes we are so wrapped up in the outcome of things, or the reward, that we forget it’s all about enjoying the journey that gets us there. It’s all about the discipline, the blood, sweat and tears, the ups and the downs that make it all worth it. It’s the awareness of the journey that brings us gratitude, because without gratitude, there is no appreciation for what we get to do in this lifetime, and without appreciation there is no happiness. If you’re scared to pursue something your heart is interested in, this is your sign to take the leap, and design your journey. Everything amazing is on the other side of fear.

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

I believe the main source of resilience is the belief in yourself. What you tell your mind, is what you are, when you believe it, then you become it, so let it be something positive.

Aside from my hairstylist journey, losing myself and finding myself again has been the most pivoting journeys that illustrates my resilience.

I lost myself after years of putting others before me and neglecting my own needs, which led me to become a hairstylist with hair loss. I developed Alopecia Areata through stress and knew that was when I lost touch with who I was. Needless to say, I got to a point where I wanted to find myself again, and this is where the resilience comes in.

Finding myself again was something I had to really dedicate myself to intentionally everyday. It required a lot of strength, discipline, patience, tears, setbacks, but most importantly the belief in myself. I believed there was a light at the end of the tunnel, and I believed I would find myself there.

Through this journey, I gathered everything I didn’t like about my life and myself, and turned it into everything I love, all it took was a mindset change. I was sad, out of shape, and wanted to be validated by others. I rewrote the narrative and believed that under all of that, was the best version of myself; and once I believed that, I became that.

Once you have the belief in yourself, the discipline and the action comes with it. Everyday, I chose to do things that make me happy, I chose to do things that get me in shape, and I chose to validate and love myself. I did that until it came naturally, and became a lifestyle. Today I feel like the me I was before I lost myself, and the best version of me I have ever seen so far, and I’m here to tell you that you can do it too. Believe in yourself, and the rest will follow.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

I would have to say the most effective strategy for me has been being my most authentic self. I believe you can be great at doing hair, but it’s the connection you have with your clients that draws them to come back. You attract what you are, so if you are authentic, genuine, trustworthy and supportive, that is the type of clientele you will attract, so imagine the likelihood of those kinds of people knowing other people just like them.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @razcariaga

Image Credits
Laura Costa