On this week’s episode of Don’t F*ck this Up, Lauren has the opportunity to catch up with hairstylist and educator, Kate Schlichter. She’s the owner of Lost Hills LA and the founder of forthcoming haircare line, TOSL.
They discuss Kate’s roots as a PNW punk rocker, her huge move to London, and the realities of training at industry juggernauts, Vidal Sassoon and Bumble and Bumble.
Though she never set out to own her own salon, Kate’s dedication to her craft and desire to build a community space were actually a perfect recipe for her to take the plunge. Ten years later, safe to say the plunge was meant to be!
“Let’s bring apprenticeships back. Let’s bring mentorships back.” - Kate Schlichter
Follow Don’t Fuck This Up on IG: @dontfckthisup.podcast
Follow Lauren Alvarez on IG: @LaurentheAlvarez
Follow Kate on IG: @KateLostHills
Check out Lost Hills LA: @LostHillsLA
Book with Kate: www.losthillsla.com
Email the show at advice@dontfckthisup.com for your questions to be answered on an upcoming episode!
On this week’s episode of Don’t F*ck this Up, Lauren has the opportunity to catch up with hairstylist and educator, Kate Schlichter. She’s the owner of Lost Hills LA and the founder of forthcoming haircare line, TOSL.
They discuss Kate’s roots as a PNW punk rocker, her huge move to London, and the realities of training at industry juggernauts, Vidal Sassoon and Bumble and Bumble.
Though she never set out to own her own salon, Kate’s dedication to her craft and desire to build a community space were actually a perfect recipe for her to take the plunge. Ten years later, safe to say the plunge was meant to be!
“Let’s bring apprenticeships back. Let’s bring mentorships back.” - Kate Schlichter
Follow Don’t Fuck This Up on IG: @dontfckthisup.podcast
Follow Lauren Alvarez on IG: @LaurentheAlvarez
Follow Kate on IG: @KateLostHills
Check out Lost Hills LA: @LostHillsLA
Book with Kate: www.losthillsla.com
Email the show at advice@dontfckthisup.com for your questions to be answered on an upcoming episode!
kate (00:00)
Thank you so much for having me.
Lauren Alvarez (00:02)
Oh my gosh, it's my pleasure. I'm so excited to chat with you. I feel like you have just such natural, like amazing energy. I felt like the first time I met you, I felt like I knew you for like 10 years. It was wild. I don't know if that was just like, we have a special connection or if it's just like how you are with everybody, but I'll pretend it's because I'm special.
kate (00:14)
I'm
I felt the same way when I met you. After talking to you for like three minutes, I was like, I know you. We've been friends forever.
Lauren Alvarez (00:23)
Oh my god.
Yes, forever, totally. I mean, before we get into everything, how are you doing? How's it going?
kate (00:34)
I'm good. I just got back from Hawaii, so I feel relaxed and refreshed. And how about how are you?
Lauren Alvarez (00:37)
Yes.
I love that. Oh my gosh, thanks for asking. I'm good. You know, this like rain in LA had me kind of like weirded out It's fine. Now the sun's shining and it's like, ha ha. Yeah, But no, I'm good. Yeah. Well, I mean,
kate (00:47)
the sun's shining. Good, nothing got damaged. Oh.
Lauren Alvarez (00:54)
I'm really happy to have you here. Would love to talk about, I mean, being a business owner. I know that you're starting a line, which is so exciting. I mean, you're an educator. There's so much that you do. I mean, one thing that I absolutely love is that your work has this like really rock and roll kind of editorial feel, but it also feels so approachable.
So, I mean, how would you describe kind of your approach to the craft? Because hair is so deeply personal.
kate (01:19)
I feel like, well, I guess I have a really strong background in training. I was trained from Sassoon, which was really hard and very strict. And then I went into this training from Bumble and Bumble, which was kind of the opposite and really loose and soft. So I feel like I can kind of bring a couple different elements to.
Lauren Alvarez (01:27)
Yeah.
kate (01:45)
the haircut and it's always tailored to the person. Like I really feel when I'm cutting somebody's hair, I know that kind of sounds silly, but I feel so much like when I just am talking to the person and I tried to really get out of them who they are. Cause I just want that haircut to be tailored to them, you know.
Lauren Alvarez (01:46)
Yeah.
Yeah.
Totally. It's like the accessory we can't take off. I mean, it really can impact so much of how people perceive you, how you feel showing up in situations. And I feel like having a great haircut, you instantly feel more confident, you'll sexier. You're like, OK, I'm in my bag. So that transformation, you get to give that to people all the time. What an amazing career.
kate (02:20)
Yeah.
It feels so good. I love it. I'm so happy that I get to do this job. And I've been doing it for, you since 1998 or something. So, you know, I feel like I can really get, I try, you know, so hard to get a read for the person and what they really want, which I'm sure most people do, you know, when you have your consultation and whatnot, but yeah.
Lauren Alvarez (02:34)
Yeah.
Yeah. Well, I mean, let's get in the time machine and go back when you started hair. And it was a really different time. There wasn't social media, like especially not what we think of social media today. I mean, what were some of the influences that led you to wanting to get into doing hair in the first place?
kate (03:03)
Yeah, I mean, I grew up in a kind of this cool town, I think it's Olympia, Washington. And there I was really into music, the music scene and watching my friends. Most of my friends and people out and about in the town were really creative people and cut their own hair and bleach their own hair. And I started doing that for them or for myself. And I loved it so much. Like, and I knew from a really young age, like this is what I was gonna do.
Lauren Alvarez (03:13)
Yeah.
kate (03:31)
So I'm lucky that my parents were so supportive of me and sent me to Sassoon in London. So that's where I first started and I was 17, just barely 18. And I was also really into the British music scene and I loved all the Brit pop and all the looks. And I definitely got most of my inspiration at that time just going out, like clubbing and going to shows and.
Lauren Alvarez (03:40)
amazing.
Totally.
kate (04:00)
all my books and magazines and things like that.
Lauren Alvarez (04:03)
Yeah. I mean, it's interesting because that time too, like Toni and Guy was such a prominent force in like the, you know, British hair scene and they were kind of doing their whole thing way before bed head was like a thing. Um, but, oh yeah, totally. What were some of like the most, like, would you say like to you iconic haircuts that were like, damn, I want to do that on somebody. Like what, what stands out to you when you think about it?
kate (04:14)
Oh, totally, yeah.
Oh, well, since I was so in that like, Sassoon world, just like really short and blunt and the hardest haircut that I could possibly give, or like really teeny tiny bangs and then, you know, cause it was kind of getting to that early 2000s too of that electro clash kind of, kind of era. A lot of like disconnection and sometimes I'll look back at some of the haircuts and I was like, what? Or even the ones that I had on my own head. Yeah.
Lauren Alvarez (04:34)
Yes.
Yeah.
I love that.
Yeah, definitely. I mean, I also like came up in the editorial space and it would always be like, Oh, would you have time to cut my hair? Like after this shoot? And I mean, I was like, why can't I grow my hair out? It's like, cause I keep hacking it off every time somebody has an extra hour. Yeah. Cause cause I keep saying like, what, what I look like with a pixie and someone's like, let me give you one.
kate (05:01)
Because we keep having.
Let me give it to you, totally. Yeah.
Lauren Alvarez (05:09)
Yeah, totally. I remember, you know, there was definitely like some of those like really iconic haircuts that stand out like when I think about them. And I remember one in particular like, do you remember Shannon Sossaman? she was in The Rules of Attraction. And she had this like sick, like really disconnected haircut. And I decided I would give myself that haircut. This is like very early 2000s. It didn't work. First of all, like I'm
kate (05:24)
Oh yeah.
Amazing.
Lauren Alvarez (05:35)
I'm not a hairstylist, but I got some thinning shears at Sally's and I really went in. And what I ended up with was two long, rectile sideburns, basically, that were like, if you glued pieces of hair to the side of your head, it was just kind of framing there. Didn't look like Shannon Sauciman, didn't have the same effect, but I thought it looked good. I tried, but I tried.
kate (05:48)
Yeah.
But you tried and you thought, you know, and he probably did look good, you know.
Lauren Alvarez (06:01)
I mean, nobody stopped being my friend. So we'll put it that way, right? Definitely. I mean, going through, I mean, Sassoon in London is like such a hallmark of hair. And you think about, you know, style and like that super blunt, bitchy Bob, like you said, like just so almost exaggerated and how perfect everything was.
kate (06:05)
Amazing, yeah.
Lauren Alvarez (06:21)
And then you talked about Bumble and you're right, it was softer. It was like this tousled kind of languid like sexy look. Was that like a complete brain bend for you when you moved into doing that type of hair or how long was it kind of between Sassoon and then going to Bumble in New York?
kate (06:38)
Yeah, I think that like, so I went from London to San Francisco for a few years and still worked at Sassoon. And then I kind of started hearing about Bumble and Bumble and I would go, I ended up starting to work at this song called Architects and Heroes that were kind of friends of Bumble and carry their products. And we had some educators come out and I was like, what is this? I can't do that. I need to know how, you know, cause I always wanted to learn how to do as much as I could.
Lauren Alvarez (06:44)
Oh cool.
Yeah.
kate (07:06)
So yeah, it was really hard for me at first, especially when I moved there in I think 2003 or something like that. And it was just starting over again. And I would be like looking at people cutting hair, just so confused. And what is that? What are you doing? And then I figured it out and it was amazing. And I think that the two together really make the best, the best.
Lauren Alvarez (07:06)
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah, I mean it.
Yeah, like having that like kind of juxtaposition and like being able to hold the tension between those two skill sets. And I think Bumble, was it like a lot of razor cutting, like that kind of like softness or was that like the first time that you did that? Okay, okay. So like really different.
kate (07:45)
Yes. Sorry. Yes. Yeah, it's all and so we're at Sessune you only can use a scissor and you can't even use a round brush. And then you go to this place where they're using like anything, you know, but mainly this razor and you know, taking out weight from like the root and making these really crazy incredible shapes with this like razor, I couldn't believe it. But knowing like, you know, what I know now is that everything was based on these classic shapes and then
Lauren Alvarez (07:56)
Yeah.
Yeah.
kate (08:14)
after you learn how to do all of that classic work going through and using the software tool. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Yeah.
Lauren Alvarez (08:18)
Learn how to fuck it up. Yeah, I love that. I mean, was there anything? Because learning anything new can be intimidating. But also, when you're cutting someone's hair, I guess it's also like learning to do surgery. You're doing this on a real person. Yes, there's mannequins, but it's not the same. So do you have any standout memories of like, oh my gosh, I really butchered this one? OK, you're nodding. What comes to mind? Sorry, did I bring you back to your trauma? I'm sorry.
kate (08:43)
Oh, yeah, of course. No, you know what, I talk about it a lot when I teach because those moments really made me who I am right now and today. And I actually will say I've never even really, we don't, I've never taught on a mannequin and I've never trained on a mannequin. So it's always been live models unless I'm learning to braid and like I have that mannequin doll to braid on but.
Um, yeah, one moment stands out to me. And I think about this teacher all the time. It was, um, I had to do this haircut called an inside out and you start from the front and it's cute little graduated Bob. And I did such a good job and he's like, do it on the other side. And then I totally, totally cut it too short on one side. It was like two inches different, but that in my training did help me for the rest of my life because I think about balance so much and I had to mess up. And my teacher knew that too. Like you had to make.
Lauren Alvarez (09:36)
Yeah.
kate (09:40)
those mistakes in order to be good to learn.
Lauren Alvarez (09:44)
Yeah, because also, like if you're good at it all the time, then what's your litmus? It's like, you know, good and you're obviously going to get better if you keep practicing at something. So eventually the thing that you thought was good, you have to start somewhere, right? And I think also like, so what happens when you have like a live model and you're cutting their hair and you're like, whoopsies, does your instructor jump in? Okay.
kate (09:58)
Right.
Yeah, usually the or well first of all, you have it's a really also a good skill at learning how to keep yourself together and have that face on you know, I'll be I'll be right back You're tucking one side behind the ear or something like this and then yeah like it in for that haircut particularly I mean I was in my early training so my teacher came in and and most of these people that come for haircuts they understand and they have like some sort of leeway I mean, I've never given anybody I've never made anybody cry or anything like that. So
Lauren Alvarez (10:12)
Yeah.
Yeah.
Oh my gosh, no, nobody. I mean, I feel like you have such a calming presence. Like there's no way. I feel like you could have like done something that they didn't have in mind and they're like, I love it. Like it's a new style. We just started something new. got a shorter haircut than you asked for.
kate (10:36)
I'm sorry.
Yeah.
So...
Lauren Alvarez (10:48)
I mean, that's so interesting, like going to New York too during that time, I feel like there was so much momentum in that space. Did you start taking on projects outside of the salon space while you're working with Bumble? Were you working on the editorial, things like that, or was it mostly concentrated in that salon and education environment?
kate (11:07)
Yeah, so, well, outside of work, I was definitely having an entire other life. Like I really went out and I was like really in the music scene. But as far as hair, I cut, I did some fashion week, some editorial, but my main focus has always been education and teaching. So at Bumble, I really got deep into the education there. And my favorite part was teaching the apprentices. So that's when they start out from,
Lauren Alvarez (11:14)
Yes.
kate (11:36)
right out of beauty school. And that's what I really dove deep into. And I love teaching and I still do.
Lauren Alvarez (11:41)
Yeah. Well, I mean, yeah, it was good to say, because I got excited. I mean, I think that apprenticeship is something that like is kind of a, it feels like it's a dying art. I mean, there's very few industries that really even require apprenticeship. I mean, even tattooing, which I thought for sure would be like the last one to fall. I mean, you see all these folks who are starting up on Instagram and they're, you know, generating a lot of followers and they're doing things they're self -taught.
I mean, it sounds like you really believe in apprenticeship. Like I really see a lot of value in it and, you know, being a mentor as well. What can you say about kind of like your thoughts on apprenticeship and how that model has evolved now?
kate (12:19)
I think it's priceless an apprenticeship. I really do. In fact, when I was living in New York, I was helping this other friend, her name's Sarah, to start a school called Trade Up to bring like apprenticeships and trade school back to high school. Cause it was such a big part of, it used to be such a big part of our, you know, education. But I think that apprentice is,
Lauren Alvarez (12:39)
Yeah.
kate (12:44)
the way to go if you're gonna do hair. I think it's priceless. I mean, you can definitely have natural talent and just be able to do a haircut, but the longevity of your work and the complexity of everything can, and also it doesn't get, it makes your craft less boring, I think. If you just start out, you're like, I know everything, how long can you sustain that? I learned so much through my apprenticeship.
Lauren Alvarez (13:03)
Yes.
Yeah, I mean, then there's, yeah, and there's also like that thought of like, is it Osho that talks about like the 10 ,000 hours to become like a master of your craft? I mean, putting in those hours, putting in those reps, I mean, you can't go to the gym one day and be like, well, I should be in the Olympics. I'm pretty great. You know, it's like, you have to train.
kate (13:24)
you have to train, you know? And it's also, it's like, I think there was some quote at Bumble, like, it takes this long to do this. I can't remember it right now, but then it's like, what a lifetime to, you know, to really do it. And it's true. It's like, I've been doing this for over 20 years and I still am learning all the time and thank God, because otherwise I'd be bored, you know?
Lauren Alvarez (13:49)
So I mean, yeah, so boring to like, just say like, okay, well, I've learned everything there is to learn. But also in being an educator now, I'm guessing you're still learning from your students. Like you're giving them education, but you're seeing them do things or maybe approach something in a way that you might not have. Is that the case?
kate (14:05)
Absolutely, 100%. That's another reason why I always will continue to teach. And I even started teaching when I was like fresh kind of out of school. And that helped me become a better hairstylist. And now that I've been doing this for so long, teaching keeps me on my toes and keeps me seeing what the young kids are doing or whatever. It's great. And sometimes we kind of will work out things together on a model. You know, it's like, oh, I never thought of that.
Lauren Alvarez (14:31)
Yeah.
kate (14:33)
Um, that's how I like to teach, you know, I really like to make it a.
for both of us, you know?
Lauren Alvarez (14:41)
Yeah, it's got to be collaborative. And I think it also like there's a certain, no, I think that's perfect. And like, there's a certain energy that like you get from other people when they're taking what you're saying, but perhaps getting to it. Like I use the example of like, you know, if you take an Uber to get there and I...
kate (14:43)
collaborative.
Lauren Alvarez (14:56)
you know, walk and someone else rides a bike and shows up and we all get there on time. We look hot. Like that's great. Then we're, then we did it. Right. And I think that that's kind of like the way that I like to approach it when I'm thinking about education or craft or learning is just like somebody else might have a different way of getting there. And I'm not going to tell you that my way is the perfect way, but I'm going to say, here's a guideline. And if, yeah, if you want to talk with the guideline, talk with the guideline.
kate (15:20)
Absolutely, and also it's like at the end of the day, it's gonna set you apart from another hairstyle. It's like we can all like learn the exact same, you know, foundation of things, but the way that you do it is just gonna set you apart a little bit, and I think that's great.
Lauren Alvarez (15:35)
Yeah, I really like that. You talk a lot about music being like an influence for you. Do you feel like there's like still, I mean, I loved music videos. I spent so much time watching music videos. I spent so much time going to see bands play. I would drive all over the East Coast to go see different bands play. I mean, do you feel like now with kind of the way things have shifted, we're not in like a music video culture the same way we used to be. Does hair still have that same impact and influence in those spaces or is it showing up in a different way?
kate (16:02)
I think it does. I mean, cause I think like the music video, I mean, I want, I will always go back to all my music videos. I love that you can get like 120 minutes on YouTube and things like this. And I love getting the inspiration from that. I think that the new generation are doing their own kind of music videos with using TikTok and all of these, you know, things, but I definitely, I think that the, I still get inspired by, by that. Yeah.
Lauren Alvarez (16:10)
Yes.
Yeah.
I mean, it's so much about like how people interpret like what they're seeing. Cause like you and I have different eyes and different brains, you know, we could be in the same space looking at the same wall and see something totally different, right? And like, that's the beauty of like hair. That's the beauty of music. That's the beauty of like everything. And something that like,
kate (16:42)
Absolutely, yeah.
Lauren Alvarez (16:47)
shakes you to your core might not have any effect on me at all. You know, and it is so interesting how like that is kind of that, that perfect moment of like pop culture or of that moment is like, does this thing make me feel anything? You know, and it's like, that is, yeah. And when you're creative, like that's all you can ask for is like, do I feel something from this?
kate (17:02)
Right, and that's things.
Oh yeah, totally. And that's why I'm still trying to grab all my inspiration from everything. And sometimes even, you know, like looking at the hair this weekend at the Grammys or something, there was definitely things that I was like, yikes, but like this new, yeah, the new kids, maybe they didn't think that looks good, I don't know. But even seeing that kind of thing, it totally like re -energizes me in this way too.
Lauren Alvarez (17:23)
Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah.
kate (17:36)
You're like, why is this happening? What's going on out there? What are their references that they're using? Why don't I see that that looks good, but that they do or something, you know?
Lauren Alvarez (17:44)
Yeah, totally. And I think like, well, one thing that I think is really cool is like also, you know, you're a parent as well. And I always think about this, like even with my little guy, I'm like, he's going to see stuff or do stuff that I'm going to think is so weird. And I feel like I'm like one breath away from like being totally irrelevant. You know what I mean? I don't see the reference.
kate (18:02)
Totally. Oh yeah.
Lauren Alvarez (18:04)
But like it is really interesting from like that lens as a parent, at least like I've seen, and I'd love to hear like your experience of like, they see the world with like different eyes and it's like, you start to see things again for the first time. Like it's such an amazing experience and it's kind of humbling too.
kate (18:18)
It's, oh, absolutely. It's so beautiful to see through this new, fresh set of eyes. And especially because my son is so different from me. Like his style is, I mean, he's three, but let's just, you know, he's so different and he has his own opinion and he even has opinions on what sometimes I'll be like, do you like this look that I'm wearing? He'll be like, oh, mama, no, or something, you know? And even music, I'm trying to like show him the music.
Lauren Alvarez (18:32)
Yeah.
kate (18:48)
but I also want him to have his own choice. And a lot of the music that I like, he doesn't. And I think about him being a teenager and I think about myself being young and like kind of arguing with my mom who was so fashionable. And like she grew up in Liverpool in the sixties and was like hanging out with the Beatles, you know? And I thought she was so not cool, you know? And I would like looked at her style and I was like, ugh, like, you know, I could barely even look at a Beatles album.
Lauren Alvarez (19:06)
cool.
kate (19:15)
without thinking of my mom. And now I'm like, wait, what? No, she was so cool. So I know that's gonna happen to me.
Lauren Alvarez (19:21)
Yeah. Eventually you'll be, if you're not cool now, eventually you will be cool. That's thematically true. I mean, definitely. I mean, and I think also like with, with the way that they see things, like it's so funny. I have like two of my friends are amazing couple. They're super fashionable. She's like a former editorial makeup artist. Like she's still, you know, is just like super involved in the fashion world.
kate (19:28)
Yeah, exactly. They have to come back.
Lauren Alvarez (19:47)
They just dress amazingly, like very rock and roll. And they have three kids, all girls. And the oldest one, they told me the story and I just died. The oldest one was like, you know, they would always get these cool like Mieschen puff sweaters and just like all of the cool like fashion baby clothes. And she's like nine and was like, mom, have you ever heard of this store? It's called Old Navy. My friend was like, what? And she's like, can we go there?
kate (20:08)
Yeah.
Lauren Alvarez (20:12)
like on the internet. She's like, sure. And she basically just wanted to like to wear the most, I'll say basic kind of clothes, because that's what her friends were wearing. And I think that something died in my friend's heart. She was like, oh no, like, yeah, but you know, the other two are still all down with like the fashion moments. But like, yeah, Old Navy was the thing that made her daughter the most excited. And she's like, okay, to Old Navy we go. Like, here we go. Yeah. Yeah.
kate (20:24)
Totally.
Okay, right? Yeah, you kind of just have to give in, you know, it's like, yeah, I mean, that's, it's kind of great though, because I feel that we can kind of give them all the options and you just have to have that patience and just be like, oh, here's the stage. And I look back at my awkward, I thought I was so cool, you know, when I look back at my awkward stages and I'm like, what was I thinking? You know, and I'm like, gosh, my parents really just let me like,
Lauren Alvarez (20:53)
Totally.
Oh my god.
kate (21:05)
play it out, you know, they let me do it and experiment with my, I shaved my head. I was like, you know, doing all kinds of wearing crazy clothes and I've looked nuts, you know, but it's good.
Lauren Alvarez (21:08)
Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. I like, like, I look back at pictures and I'm like, wow, I did that. Or like, oh, I was really wearing tutus and combat boots to work. Okay. Like, they just let me do it. Great. Yeah, totally. I mean, I'm always going to love that look. Like, whenever that becomes a thing again, like, I'm ready to go.
kate (21:25)
It totally looks great. I love that look.
I
Lauren Alvarez (21:34)
Let's talk a little bit about opening your own space. I mean, you came to LA, and one thing I've seen people say about you that I think is awesome is if you're a New York person and you're looking for an actual haircut.
kate (21:34)
Okay.
Okay.
Lauren Alvarez (21:47)
go see Kate, And I think that there is something really specific about that, but what was the impetus for you opening your own space, Lost Hills, you know, here in LA?
kate (21:57)
Yeah, so when I first moved here, when I was in New York still, I should start out with, I shared a really cool little art space with a few of my friends, Eric Halk and Jordan M. And we would just do haircuts in there and kind of get, you know, all of our inspiration and our muses, that's kind of where we would cut everybody's hair. So when I first moved here, I tried to work in a salon and it was,
just so different in LA for me. And I felt awkward and I'm kind of getting uncomfortable, shy person. And I just never felt like I found the place. So I just thought, let's just find some space, like kind of like that place on Christie street. And I'll just start putting a chair in there and start cutting people's hair. And I never really imagined myself owning a salon or it really becoming what it is now, 10 years, almost 10 years later. So I guess I just needed a...
where I felt safe, where I wanted my clients to feel safe, where people could kind of come together at that time too. So many people were kind of moving here from New York. And yeah, we would have lots of art openings and parties. And I just wanted to have a community space in a way. Like my dream would have been at the time I was like, I want like an old church or something where I can like bring the community together. But yeah.
Lauren Alvarez (23:15)
Yeah.
I love that. Yeah.
kate (23:24)
But then I found where I am now and I love it and I'll never leave it if I can.
Lauren Alvarez (23:28)
Yes. It's such a special space. I mean, like anybody who's listening, if you live in LA, you should go see Kate for one, your hair is going to look way better than it did when you walked in. But also like this space that you've curated just feels so special. There's really nothing that I've experienced like it in LA. It feels New York, but it feels different. It feels like...
really beautiful, it has somehow tons of light in there, and then you realize you're like in this kind of warehouse -y space. It's very, very cool, and you almost never know it was there, which is hidden in plain sight is kind of such a special thing.
kate (24:02)
Thank you. Yeah. I mean, we are so hidden and for a little bit that was in the early days, I was like, I want to salon work like, um, I want to storefront, I want to storefront, um, eventually, you know, and then the longer I was in there and hearing feedback from people loving it back there. And it is, it's we're hidden. We're like in a basement. It's like, you have to walk, go through this like weird parking lot. Um, but it is special. And I feel like every client kind of like, and.
and every person that works there and comes through leaves like a little bit of their specialness and you can really feel it in there. And I really wanted a place where I could have a library of books, where we could do things other than cut hair, you know, we can have photo shoots or we can have an art show or karaoke party, things like that.
Lauren Alvarez (24:40)
Yeah.
Yeah, I mean, what's been for you kind of some of the bigger lessons of like having a space like that that is a community space, you know, you're also kind of inevitably a business owner with that too. And there's that side of it. So what has that been like for you to kind of go from working for someone to working really for yourself in that way?
kate (25:12)
I'm not gonna lie, it was really hard for me, especially in the beginning. I didn't know how to like, and it took me a while to let go of Bumble. I would work for them and teach and I would go back to New York every month for like six years, cause it was like the safety net. And I finally had to let that go, you know, cause of the world's changing and having a child. And then I had to own it, you know, I really had to own it myself and.
That was hard for me. I'm not like, I'm a creative mind. I'm not a business person. And I also went through some, you know, relationships with friends that didn't work out through this too, you know, and now we are friends again, but you know, you really grow and you learn and you find yourself and who you are through this. And I feel proud, but I'm still learning every day.
Lauren Alvarez (26:00)
Yeah.
kate (26:05)
I'm still like, I'm not a business owner. I'll be like, ah, it's not mine. But it is.
Lauren Alvarez (26:08)
Yeah, it's funny when I said that you kind of made a face and then you're like, oh, wait, yes, I have a business owner. Okay, I can answer this. It's like very, very candid. I mean, when have you grown? I mean, is this the moment like when you've grown the most in your life and like, you know, really the cause of that growth? Because I just see you like you're growing through these moments. I mean, you touched on a lot of them. You were in London and then you were in San Francisco and then you were in New York. Those are all like growing through those moments. Then you come to LA and you finally let go of New York, which like I went through that too. It's so hard.
kate (26:13)
Yeah.
Lauren Alvarez (26:38)
hard to let it go. And I'm like, well, New York will always be there. And that was a big one for me. But what for you, if you had to put a finger on it, what has been that biggest growth moment for you and what caused it?
kate (26:52)
Yeah, I feel like, well, one, having a child like really made me think like, oh, wow, I have to kind of grow up and I have to like, leave something for him. And it's not just myself anymore. And also, letting go of New York, I had to kind of let go of my old self and my past a little bit. Like I, for me, it was like, I was always kind of holding on to that my New York Times and my life there, but it was kind of like my younger self.
Yeah, I mean, I'm, I guess like really like learning through trial and error too with the business end of it. And I feel very lucky that for the past five years, I've had like this really stable group of stylists that are around me and I work with and I really lean on them. And we're all like, they're all really strong women that we all run our own little businesses out, you know, inside this big business and.
Lauren Alvarez (27:31)
Yeah.
Yeah.
kate (27:51)
I think that they've saved me. Like, you know, I really can lean on them. I can talk to them. I could talk through it if I'm frustrated or if I'm confused or I don't understand. And whether that be like business stuff or hair stuff, you know. So I think having a mentor and that kind of goes back to apprenticeship, you know, it's like, I always will go to my mentors and talk to them.
Lauren Alvarez (28:03)
Yeah.
Yeah. And I think also like knowing like who you can call in that like you don't have to explain the context of the situation, like people who get your industry. I think there is something really powerful about that where like I have people who work in the same space as me and like I can reach out without a ton of backstory and just be like, Oh, I'm having this thing,can I vent? And they're like, yes. And I don't have to say like, Oh, okay. Well, when you're coaching someone, it's this, this, and this. And they're like, start, start, start from the moment where you got mad, you know? And I'm like, yep, let's go. And I think that somebody who just,
kate (28:41)
Yeah.
Lauren Alvarez (28:42)
gets your guts like that, who really understands where you are, is something that's so powerful. And I've realized how much I need that, especially as I've grown in my career and been in my own independent spaces, it's been really challenging. It's not like you're going into an office and you're like, hello, all my coworkers, let's talk about everything. You're in your own space.
kate (29:00)
Yeah, right. Oh yeah. And sometimes even at first, like working alone, I'd be like, it was hard for me because I'm always used to having that energy around me and even just all the hairdressers around me and this. And then I kind of went and I was by myself. And sometimes I still am, you know, we have other people there, but yeah, it's good to have those people to call. Also, I feel so lucky because I have a really amazing partner that he's like the strength for me. And
I talked to him about everything and he knows nothing about hair, you know, but I'm just like, whoa, you know, and I can really bounce things off of him. But, and yeah, I really, a great network of people. So I feel lucky.
Lauren Alvarez (29:37)
Yeah.
Yeah. And I also think something about like having a partner, like when you become a parent with them, you're just like, Whoa, we're like, we are in new territory. Like good thing you're familiar because everything else is totally strange. And like, I think that was a huge thing for Dan and I too. Like when we like becoming parents, it like took our relationship to like a different place, which was like really special. Cause it's like, okay, well like I know you as like my, you know, like my romantic partner. I know you as like my, like really like my best friend, but also like now I get to see this other side of you as like a
kate (29:50)
Real. Yeah.
Lauren Alvarez (30:13)
parent and like, oh yeah, like we're really good at that too. Cause we are like the ultimate team, but no one ever preps you for like how much dividing and conquering there is in parenthood. Like where you're not, you're like, I've been around you all day, but I've literally not talked to you. Cause we're just trying to like keep things afloat. Right.
kate (30:22)
Oh yeah.
It's.
Totally, yes, 100%. I'm like, oh yeah, you're here. How are you? It's real. So we have to try to take those breaks with each other. Otherwise, we'll never have to have a conversation. But yeah, I feel so lucky. I my husband stayed home with our son for the first almost two years of his life so I could work. And for me, I think that it was kind of...
Lauren Alvarez (30:35)
Yeah?
Wow.
kate (30:57)
I mean, I wouldn't have changed it ever. I'm somebody that is a workaholic. I love my career, my job. And, you know, I think some people asking me like, wow, how does that make you feel? Like, do you think that you're like missing out on some of these experiences with your son? Like, how can you just like, you know, and no, for me, it's like, you'll never know the true me, the true Kate, if I wasn't working and I wasn't doing this. So I also, I'm so thankful that I was,
Lauren Alvarez (30:59)
Yeah.
Me too.
Yeah.
kate (31:27)
that Ben was able to stay home with him and kind of be the homemaker while I was at work.
Lauren Alvarez (31:34)
That's amazing. I I also like, I grew up in a household where like my dad was often like Mr. Mom, if you will, like he used to call himself, he'd say, I'm Mr. Mom. Um, but you know, it was always like, I think that that while it's maybe not traditional, I think it's really assuring. And I think that there's something really cool about that because like, I also really love, I love working and having a career is really important to me. And I also want, you know, Jordan to know that about me as his mom, like that.
kate (31:40)
That's awesome.
Lauren Alvarez (32:01)
I love working, like it's important to me. And also you're important to me, child. And like, so is, so is, you know, my husband and so is like my friendships and making time for all of that. But I don't think it has to be either or. And people are so obsessed with that, with parenting, especially with women. I feel like they're like, expect you to like give up the ship. And so many people said to me, I remember throughout my pregnancy of like, you probably won't even want to go back to work. Like you'll be fine. You know, we're like.
kate (32:15)
It's true.
Lauren Alvarez (32:27)
you should be glad you got laid off. That was a really new one for me, because I got laid off right in the beginning of my pregnancy. They'd be like, you'll be really glad. Trust me, one day. I'm like, OK, you obviously don't know me because of what you're saying. But also, I don't really think that's how it works. And there's so much about your identity that shifts with becoming a parent that I also feel like it's made me. And I had this conversation with someone a few weeks ago, Allison, who was on the show. But she was talking about how
kate (32:31)
Oh well.
Right!
Lauren Alvarez (32:55)
being a mom has given her superpowers that we can hold this amazing thing of how we can multitask and how we can accomplish stuff, because you just naturally become more efficient. Have you seen this reflected into your spaces when you're working?
kate (33:09)
Oh, absolutely. Yes, definitely. I'm like, Oh, wow, I can really get things done. You know, we're more, I used to take so much more time for things. And also I feel like when I'm at work, maybe it's more like this is my space. I'm here, I'm working. You know, I know like Liam's at school, I know he's safe and I can really focus on what I'm doing. And then my days off, they're really like my days away from work.
Lauren Alvarez (33:33)
Yeah.
kate (33:37)
And I think before maybe I would always kind of show up there or like take a client and do that. But it's kind of given me this separation that's been actually really good for my job. Like I think I'm a better stylist because of it. Like with that focus and the, yeah, that multi, like, or that not for me, I guess maybe it's not multitasking.
Lauren Alvarez (33:50)
Yeah.
Yeah, like really finding your focus and like really being able to like, yeah. And I think that's really, it's like being really present with like what's in front of you and not thinking about all the places that you need to be or where you should be, like you said. And I think with him being in school, that's probably really amazing. It's just like, he's able to like, you know, he's learning and experiencing things that you couldn't do for him. Like that's cause we're not educators, right? Like in that way. I mean, if he wants to learn haircuts, you're going to be like, let's go baby. Yeah.
kate (34:09)
Great.
Right, yeah. Right. Oh, he said something so funny to me. He was like, daddy, you don't know how to cut hair? And Ben was like, no, Liam, I don't know. Only mommy knows. And he goes, but all you do is go snip, snip, snip, cut, cut, cut, spray, spray, spray, comb, comb, comb. I was like, okay, thanks. So he knows how to cut hair. imagine.
Lauren Alvarez (34:41)
Wow, reductive. Yeah. Yeah, I guess so. Yeah. I love that. I mean, what advice would you give to somebody who wants to move into the space of being a stylist? They're interested in that. They're naturally attracted to it. But they're kind of like, I don't know where to start. Does where you go to school matter? Let's talk about all of it.
kate (35:03)
Oh, yeah. Well, one, if anybody ever has any questions, they can always reach out to me. I really love like mentoring people, even if it's just like by email or text, any information. So just so anybody out there knows that I'm always here for you. But I really think that I don't think that beauty school necessarily is important. I think that apprenticeship is important. And something really special in California is that you don't have to go to beauty school. You can just do an apprenticeship.
Lauren Alvarez (35:30)
Hmm.
kate (35:30)
and get your hours that way. If you are gonna go to a beauty school and you don't wanna do an apprenticeship, I'd still say going somewhere like Sassoon is so great because you're gonna get such a good foundation. But definitely going to a salon, like if you're in New York City, like Bumble and Bumble to do an apprenticeship or Sassoon or somewhere where you're just gonna see a lot of different clients, a lot of different hairstylists cutting a lot of different clients.
Lauren Alvarez (35:45)
Yeah.
kate (36:00)
and that you'll have mentors and people that have been there through all different generations. It's really great. And you can, of course, you can do it on your own. Like how I always had my own little studio, no matter what. I was always cutting hair on the side, but then I was so dedicated to my apprenticeship. And I think it's priceless. And I want that to come back, I really do.
Lauren Alvarez (36:06)
Yeah.
Yeah, I think it's amazing. I mean, and I even love I didn't know that you had started something that was focused on like trade schools and high school. But I think that there's so much opportunity that isn't talked about when it comes to like what career paths you can follow. And like, I didn't go to college, like I don't think that college is necessarily the path to success. But I also think that people who feel like they don't know, why not just try? Why not just like, see if you like going to her school, see if you enjoy apprenticeship, you can try it. There's no punishment for that.
kate (36:54)
Absolutely. You can reach out to a salon, like especially one of the major ones and just say, can I shadow for the day? You know, can I just come in and see or yeah, reaching out to different hairdressers on social media. Also there's, I work for a company called Pony Education and they're pretty amazing. And they have a full, they have an app and all of the online education. And they're also starting with their apprenticeship.
program online. I don't think that you can get your apprenticeship, but you know, they're showing their apprenticeship program so you can learn from the very beginning. that's Karina at Pony. Yeah, and she's she's amazing.
Lauren Alvarez (37:34)
Yeah, yeah, she's amazing. Yeah, I love that she's also just kind of taken that space of online content and been like, let's make like some real content that's really educational for people as opposed to just like seeing someone's Instagram highlight reel of like a haircut they did and, you know, hyperlapse. It's like, yes, we've all seen that, but that doesn't teach the foundational education.
kate (37:55)
And she really has such an amazing app that like goes from everything that you could imagine from styling to cutting to color. It's very, it's amazing. And I really do recommend every hairdresser have that, you know, just to check in, you know, I watch people on there all the time. But if you're interested in doing hair, I say give it a chance. It's an amazing career. And there's so many different.
Lauren Alvarez (38:14)
Yeah.
kate (38:22)
ways that you can go. You can have your own salon. You can only do cut. You can do cut. You can do color. You can do editorial. There's just, there's so many, so many options.
Lauren Alvarez (38:32)
Yeah, and what do you think is really inspiring about right now? I mean, everyone's going ballistic over Pat McGrath and everything with beauty and fashion right now. And from a makeup standpoint of just revolutionizing, is there anything that jumps out at you as like, I love what this company is doing or what this person is doing that you see as like a beacon of change and inspiration? Because there is a lot of same sameness out there.
kate (38:58)
There is a lot of same -same -ness. I will say I'm excited for my friend, James Pescius. He just launched a company called Blue and Green, and it's gonna be amazing. It's about clean beauty and about getting rid of plastic. And I think that's kind of like a conversation that we all need to have here, no matter what industry we're in. But there is so much plastic from the beauty industry. And...
I think it's really great that James is doing that with these little tablets that you use to wash your hair instead of having plastic, because we do have children and we have to think about their future. As far as like looks go, I always say like people need to, you know, I am somebody that really feels that you got to.
Lauren Alvarez (39:36)
Yeah,
kate (39:47)
put on, give yourself a haircut or a look that looks good on you. Doesn't matter what's happening in the trends, you know? But I have been cutting a lot of hair off. Yeah.
Lauren Alvarez (39:53)
Yeah, totally. I'm sure people do it. They come in. Yeah, they're coming in with like a picture and you're like, okay, well, just so we're both aligned, you know that you don't look exactly like this model you're showing me, right? Yeah. But you said you're cutting hair off. Yeah, okay.
kate (40:05)
Right, yes. I mean, I do love references. Right, I am. I've been cutting a lot of hair off, a lot of little bobs, a lot of bangs, cute bangs, baby bangs. It's been so fun. I think that people still after, you know, it's been all this time after we were all at home, but people are still wanting to get their hair off. It's really great.
Lauren Alvarez (40:27)
Yeah, during the pandemic, did you see a lot of your clients resort to cutting their own hair or how did they get through that when, you know, presumably they couldn't come to you, you know, for their regular every six to eight to 10 weeks, you know, for a haircut.
kate (40:43)
Yeah, you know, I got a lot of like, will you help me cut my hair on Zoom? And I was like, no, I don't know. This is, no, I can't do that. I'm sorry. That's not my, yeah, well, no. yeah, most of my clients were cutting their own hair or just letting it grow. Or their partners were cutting their hair for them. And that was really interesting. And I got a lot of, oh, Kate, your job is really hard.
Lauren Alvarez (40:47)
This seems risky. You're just having a flashback to the uneven haircut from back in the day. Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
kate (41:08)
I didn't know that you're what you did actually, you know, wow, it is hard. So that was, that was kind of nice to hear a little bit. Like it's not just. Yeah.
Lauren Alvarez (41:17)
Respect, yeah, my respect for, I mean, I already had respect because I had been in the space with hair for a long time, like early in my career, but what really got me was like my nails. Like I know how hard it is, but like I can't, even like a pedicure, like I can't do any of it. And I just like, that was really my struggle was like, okay, well, they're obviously gonna get cut short and they're gonna be shapeless and ugly. And like, when can I crawl back into that chair, please?
kate (41:45)
Totally. I know that that's actually been the toughest thing for me with having a child too is my nails and the time that I don't have to get them done. I'm like nails, nail techs. I give them so much credit. There's nothing like it.
Lauren Alvarez (41:57)
Yeah, totally. Although I will say Dan did double process my hair back when my hair was bleached blonde during the pandemic and he did okay. I'll say like six out of 10. Yeah, he was like, this is really hard. There was a big patch he missed in the back. Yeah, we'll not get it twisted. It was not perfect but.
kate (42:06)
He did.
I love it.
Oh, it is really hard, especially a bleach and tone. A bleach and tone looks so simple and it really is so hard. I was a bleach and tone for many years. So yeah, credit to him. Yeah.
Lauren Alvarez (42:24)
Yeah, yeah, respect to the colorist who can make that happen. Well, let's talk about, you know, your hair care brand. I mean, I'm so excited that you founded your own line that's coming soon. Is that 2024? What's our timeline?
kate (42:38)
Yeah, that's 2024. It should be soon. I'm making a mill. Thank you so much. I'm just gonna be making like a small just like right now it's gonna be one or I think I have two for sure. A balm and like a hair cream. It's called Tossel, but it's spelled T -S -O -L which is lost backwards. And so.
Lauren Alvarez (42:41)
Congrats!
I love that. Oh my gosh, totally.
kate (43:06)
Yeah, so it's yeah, the little play on words there. But it's something that I've been thinking about for many, many years and kind of was like, do we need to have more products out there? I don't know. But I wanted something that I cut with product in the hair always. And I wanted something that was really smells really nice smells.
Lauren Alvarez (43:25)
Mm -hmm.
kate (43:30)
expensive and good and it works and it does what I need it to do in the hair as I cut and also can dry really nice and naturally into the hair and I want it to be a really reasonable price point. So I want it to be for all for everybody and it's just going to be very small batch like I'm I want it to be in I'm going to send it to all of my hair friends out there and put it in their salons, but I'm not trying to.
Lauren Alvarez (43:48)
Hmm.
kate (43:58)
make some crazy huge like brand just starting small. Like I did with the salon, you know, it's like, I like a word of mouth moment. It's really important to me. I want people to really see how they're loving it, you know, and then they share it with their friends. And that's kind of how I've always ran my business.
Lauren Alvarez (44:02)
Yeah.
That's amazing. And also, I mean, it's no small undertaking to create a product line. I mean, what was the process like for you, you know, with iteration and, you know, especially when you are creating something that you'll be working with. I'm sure you had a really specific idea, but it wasn't like from zero to idea overnight. I mean, how many iterations of the product, you know, did you work through while working with the lab?
kate (44:40)
Yeah, this is probably my actually I'm working with this really great lab and I have a friend that's helping me as well. Her name is Christina and my husband also is helping me. And this is only my third, my third one and I love it. So actually the first one that he made for me, I love and I'm probably that's why I'm like, I guess I'm gonna have two products because I loved it, but it wasn't.
Lauren Alvarez (44:58)
Wow. Okay.
kate (45:09)
what I was expecting to want. I feel, I know, I feel very, I feel very lucky. Everybody that's been smelling it is like, what is that smell? It smells so good. I think I've been thinking about it for so long that once I was ready and I had my, this friend of mine, Christina, to like be like this liaison for me.
Lauren Alvarez (45:11)
Okay, oh my gosh, the mystery.
kate (45:33)
and take my jumbled up words and thoughts and translate that to the lab. She was so, so amazing and she did a good job at telling them what I needed. And so I feel like that's why it came back so good. Yes.
Lauren Alvarez (45:37)
Yeah.
That's so special too, just to like see something. I mean, you're kind of birthing another thing, right? Like you're seeing this thing that you hoped for and dreamt of, like, can this be real? And then here it is. And so when can people expect to get their paws on TOSL
kate (46:08)
I think it's going to be in the next three months. So I will. Yeah. Yeah. It's really going to be soon. Yes. And, um, you know, I, what you just said, I really never thought that I could do it. I just, it's always been something like, well, I can never do that. I don't know how to do that. I can't do that. Um, and then I'm like, why can't I do that? No, I can. It's just like, I need, that's why I think having these people and those, these.
Lauren Alvarez (46:10)
Oh my gosh, okay. So exciting.
kate (46:37)
around you that you really trust and can work with and can understand a creative brain are just so important for us to have around because, yeah, without this friend and my husband, I don't think that I could have done it.
Lauren Alvarez (46:44)
Yes.
I mean, that's also incredible. It's just to speak to the people around you who see that, you know, in you. And it's so helpful to have that reminder when we are in those moments where you're sort of like, can I do this? I don't think I could do it. They're like, shut up, Kate, let's do it. You know, like, I, yeah, don't we all, like, we all need that thing where someone's like, okay, you've been noodling on this for how many years now? Like, just make it happen, you know? And like, yeah.
kate (47:07)
Yeah, totally. And I need that! Yeah. We do it.
Yeah, just make it happen. And that's why I feel so lucky. Like she was like, just don't even know just tell me what it is. What do you want? What do you look? What do you need? What is it? Tell me what kind of smells? What sense do you love? What don't you love? You know, what products do you like? What don't you products you don't like? Like, you know, it was really important for me to not have plastic, you know, those kinds of things. Just keeping it I'm going to have glass and refillable stuff like that. So yeah.
Lauren Alvarez (47:42)
Cool. It sounds like it's going to look expensive too, which I love that you talked about the ex. Yeah. But the accessible price point, which we all, you know, like I love when new products come out. I'm always happy to try new things, but I feel like so often it's like $70 for a lipstick. Like, wait, what, what world are we living in? Yeah.
kate (47:46)
It's gonna look excessive chic.
No, I don't like it. And it's just, it's not, and that's something too that I will always bring back to my salon. I mean, I feel like my price point for a haircut, I'm never gonna be, and now people ask me that, you know, I charge 160 and I think that's like very reasonable. Many people charge a lot more. And I also do have like a kind of a hidden sliding scale for people that can't afford a haircut. If somebody, you know, reaches out to me, I always will.
cut their hair. I just want beauty. Yeah, well, actually, I'm going to give you a teeny tiny little shave. No, yes, yes, they do. But I think that it's just having you know, that beauty and product accessible to everybody is so important.
Lauren Alvarez (48:29)
But you just give them whatever you want, right? No, I'm just kidding. Yeah, you're like, well, I get to pick, so.
No.
I really love that too. I think that's so special. And my own like twisted humor had to like make a joke in the moment, but you said something really beautiful about just like, you just want to see beauty. And I think that that is like really important that that shouldn't be based on a price point or having access. Like, and it's even something that we spoke about, about booking, you know, there's like this pomp and circumstance that certain stylists have, which they're not really doing anything revolutionary in terms of like,
kate (48:56)
Yeah
Lauren Alvarez (49:17)
having a haircut, but it's like I've sat in chairs with some really amazing, you know, hairstylists who had zero ego and yourself very much included in that about like booking and getting in with you. It wasn't like, oh yes, I have a six month wait list and hopefully we can accommodate or like, oh, I don't know that Kate is taking, you know, new clients. I'm like, well, aren't I talking to Kate? You know, it's like, I definitely had that experience with certain places. And, you know, I also had, I mean, I went to David Mallet when I was in Paris and like,
kate (49:37)
Right. Totally.
Lauren Alvarez (49:44)
He's super well known, you know, and this was like a few years ago and I was there and I was like, I wonder if I could just like book a haircut with him. And he's like, well, why wouldn't you be able to? I own a salon and I'm working. And I just thought like, oh, thank goodness that there's people who are like, open, open.
kate (49:53)
Right. Right. There you go.
You know, it's like, I can't close off myself because otherwise, again, I go back to like, I'm always trying to grow and learn and I love meeting new people, you know? And yeah, I think a lot of stylists don't wanna take a new client, one, because they're busy and two, because it is harder. You know, you do have to like go through the whole like getting to know the person and trying to figure out what they want, but that's, I love that.
And for me, it's like, if you can book an appointment, you can take the appointment. And if you're my client, you know me, you have my info, you text me, call me, and I'll always leaving some wiggle room in for people. But I also have that punk background, those punk roots, you know, where I grew up in Olympia, you know, nobody wanted capitalism. And, you know, it's like people are doing things for trade. It's like, you know, these kids, they don't have money, but they're like creating stuff.
Lauren Alvarez (50:53)
Yeah.
kate (50:58)
and money shouldn't, I mean, let's be honest, I would love to have tons of money and everything, but I also want everybody to be able to express themselves and I'm here for it. So, you know, and it's like, I've had people from like celebrities to like little punk kids or like, you know, old people and young people. I have no, I want, that's how I keep my day alive too. It's like, my day starts out with this one person and ends with somebody like,
Lauren Alvarez (51:05)
sure.
Yeah.
kate (51:27)
a way different person, you know?
Lauren Alvarez (51:29)
Yeah, that's amazing too. And thinking about like, yeah, having punk roots and having like people, you know, that's also like where style is coming from more often than not. It's like these big brands are often looking at, you know, what are they calling Dimes Square in New York now, but like they're going to these places, like where are the cool kids? Like who's doing what? What are they wearing? How are they dressing? Like, what are they listening to? That is like oftentimes the pulse of that culture. Like,
kate (51:45)
Oh yeah.
Lauren Alvarez (51:56)
You know, Massaer, who I had on the show said like, the youth will always win. And I thought like, wow, what a poignant way to say that. It's like the youth are always going to be controlling what we're interested in, in terms of style and function. And at some point chasing relevancy is just like, you can't do that. So you have to find what works for you. Like you said, with a haircut, with anything, but why not get those inspiring, like cool young kids who maybe don't have tons of money, but they want like a, they have an idea, they have a direction and an aesthetic. Like why not compliment that?
kate (52:01)
Absolutely.
Oh, absolutely. I love those kids that I cut. And some of them honestly have grown like when I first got here 10 years ago and I was cutting these like, you know, barely 20 year olds artists, really cool. Like, but yeah, like barely surviving. And 10 years later, I've seen them really go and survive and become these like incredible artists or.
famous designers or all these different kinds of things. So you also just never know what that relationship is going to evolve to. So.
Lauren Alvarez (52:59)
Yeah. Like you never know who's sitting in your chair and like what an incredible gift to like get to greet each day with like, okay, who's, who's going to be here? Like this person is going to challenge how I think about this or this person is going to inspire me or like maybe they have something new or I get to meet somebody. Like it's hard to meet people. So that's a gift. It is, I feel like the older you get, like the harder it is like to find your community, your people. So I always get really excited when I meet someone and I'm like, oh my God, we like totally vibe. It's great. Yeah.
kate (53:17)
It's hard to be full of, yeah, totally.
right? You're totally like, oh yeah, I like you. That's yeah, that's great.
Lauren Alvarez (53:29)
Yeah.
I like you, yeah, and it's like a scary, should I ask you on a friend date to get coffee? Yeah, just ask the person because you just never know. Or my getting coffee is come on my podcast and become my friend, yeah, totally.
kate (53:42)
Oh, you have to.
Right.
Lauren Alvarez (53:47)
I mean, a couple of questions in closing. I mean, where can people go to learn more about you and your work? Where can they book with you? What would you like to share?
kate (53:55)
Okay, yeah. LostHillsLA .com and you can book with me and there's also my email on there. If you have any questions, you can always reach out to me. Hairdressers out there that are starting out or not a hairdresser yet and you have any questions, I would love to answer them for you. So please just email me and if I don't respond, you just gotta email me again because.
Lauren Alvarez (54:19)
Yeah.
kate (54:19)
I'm not the best with the whole phone, but yeah, you can book with me there. And if you ever don't see an appointment, you can reach out and then I'll be sharing Tossel soon. It's gonna be coming out like little by little. So.
Lauren Alvarez (54:34)
Oh my gosh, I love it. Maybe a special opening party in LA. That's what I'm voting for. And that'll be, yeah, we're having a party. And we'll, and also like on your Instagram, you post really like beautiful images on Lost Hills LA on Instagram as well. So we'll put that in the show notes for sure. Of course.
kate (54:40)
Oh yeah, okay, there we go. Done. We're having a party.
Thank you so much, I appreciate it.
Lauren Alvarez (54:55)
Yeah, Kate, what is one final thought you want to leave our listeners with today? I feel like we covered off on so much about mentorship and growth in the industry and everything, but what's one final thought? It could be anything.
kate (55:06)
Well, first, thank you so much for having me. This is the first time I've ever done any kind of a podcast and I feel I'm just, I appreciate it. So thank you. And I guess my final thought is just, yeah, let's bring apprenticeships back. Let's bring those mentorships back. Yeah. Cool.
Lauren Alvarez (55:14)
My pleasure.
Hell yeah. Yes. And if you're out there and you're curious about an apprenticeship, just email Kate. Just email Kate. I'm just gonna tell them too. Yeah, why not? Just email Kate. Yeah. It'll be perfect. Oh my gosh, Kate, this has been so special. Thank you so much. But this has been really, really great and I just appreciate you so much. So lots to look forward to in 2024. And yeah, thanks for coming on today.
kate (55:29)
Yeah, see mommy? Does sound like me, mommy. Yeah.
you.
Thank you so much and I'll see you soon.