We had the good fortune of connecting with Lauren Reyes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Work life balance is something that has evolved with me over the years as my priorities in life have changed. When I was younger I was very much a “Work Hard, Play Hard” kind of person. I worked long hours behind the chair, a lot of late nights and weekends, and I would go out on my time off, re charging through social activities. Now at 34, and as a parent I do things a different way. For one my hours at my salon are very different from what they used to be. I generally don’t work on the weekends anymore and I do my best to be off at six, so I can be home with my little little one and husband in the evenings. Spending time with my family is the most important thing to me and crucial to me feeling balanced and whole. Im very sensitive to the energy of others so I make sure I have quiet time for myself everyday to clean my mental slate and start each day fresh. As a Pagan woman I also value my magical practice in keeping emotional and energetic balance. Balance used to mean having as much fun as I worked, and I had a lot of fun, but now balance is focusing on rest, mental and emotional wellness, and quality time with the people I love. I’ve enjoyed both of the phases of my life so much and I can’t wait to se what happens next!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve always been a painter and I knew I wanted a creative job, and so I became a hairdresser. I get to paint all day, and spend time with the most amazing people in my chair, I feel really lucky. However, I took a long a windy road to get to where I am today, like many of us do. I’ve always been incredibly passionate about my craft, and my relationship with my clients, but I struggled with finding the right fit for me. Luckily there are a lot of avenues in my industry and I think I tried them all until I found the right place for me, which is as a salon owner. I have a very specific point of view and it wasn’t until I opened my own studio and I started working for myself that I was able to see my vision come to life. I have since expanded into a double studio to hire an incredible Hair Artist named Austin and now I get to work with one of my best friends every day. I think one of the things that sets us apart is that we believe in full transparency, something I often hear from clients that they feel is lacking in our industry. We teach our clients about the processes we do, we teach them about the chemical we use, how it benefits them and any potential dangers. We put the integrity of the hair first and aren’t afraid to say no if it’s in our clients best interest. We work one on one with each client, never double booking, and make sure every client has enough time in their appointments so we can be creative and never rushed. We take pride in choosing quality work over quantity work and it shows in not only the quality of our work but in the loyalty of our clients. Not every journey is a straight line and that’s ok, the trick is to listen to your gut and choose a different path until it’s a perfect fit!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Atlanta’s best kept food secret is Las Delicias De La Abuela. It’s a Colombian restaurant and the arepas and empanadas are to die for. It’s a must go whenever I have friends in town. My favorite in town restaurant is Boccalupo. The chicken parmesan and gelato with homemade cookies will impress any guest. I used to live in little five points and it still feels like home. That neighborhood really speaks to the heart of this city. It’s a creative, wild, community that hosts live music at the Variety Playhouse, the halloween parade, Crystal Blue, movie shoots, Junkmans Daughter, Aurora Coffee, the Vortex, Star Bar, and the Yacht club. For Arts and Culture another hidden Atlanta Gem is the Shakespeare Tavern. It feels like a step back in time, with period costumes, Medieval style food, and an entertainingly classic take on Shakespeare.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I know for a fact I wouldn’t be where I am professionally today without my tribe of bad ass mentors and friends. Aivi Dang, Beth McMahon, Austin Haynes are three of the most talented hairdressers I know who have all taught me so much! As well as working full time behind the chair, I’m a color educator with Kevin Murphy, and I have received enormous support both professionally and personally since I’ve been on this team of amazing hairdressers. Kelly O’Day, Leland Olson, Nic Lange, and Jodana Geary are some of the ones who believed in me and helped me to realize my dream to be in Hair Color Education.

Website: www.laurenReyessalon.org
Instagram: Hair_church
Facebook: Lauren Reyes Salon
Yelp: Lauren Reyes Salon