Today we’d like to introduce you to Karina Lopez.
Hi Karina, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I actually used to want to be an aspiring makeup artist and my job at the time was getting really slow after the holidays. I decided to get a job cutting hair at supercuts at 19 because I needed a consistent job and I had no experience. I learned my fundamentals there and picked up knowing how to cut hair pretty quickly, felt like as time went by, I was continued to be tested when it came to clients, haircuts, work ethic. (When you barely start off somewhere, to my fellow barbers/hairstylists if you know you know) I stayed about a year and a half and that’s when I couldn’t take my environment anymore, I went to Floyd’s 99 and started a completely different journey. I had clients follow me from my previous job, which was such a cool realization, that I was basically knee-deep into a profession I didn’t even know I really wanted all because I gave it a chance. Floyd’s gave me this experience where I was forced to be out of my comfort zone and push my skill set to the next level. I started doing more barber cuts and services, more fades more beards, I was experienced in both doing short and long and men and women services. My new job was so high volume. After going back and forth on it for many years, I finally decided to go to barber school. I was hoping and praying it was a good investment. I felt like everything led me to go to school. I went to Dallas blends back in 2019. I met a fantastic friend who would always mention to me that I should go on my own, Jose shoutout to you, he was one of the first people to pushed me to chase what I thought was such a far-fetched dream. I learned a lot in barber school and became super into being a barber, my clientele revolved around it and my cutting and details only got better. I take so much pride in it too! I got my license in 2020 after the pandemic hit, Jose pushed me to get my license since the pandemic gave me huge procrastination. It was such a great feeling when I got my license, again, I take so much pride in it. I stayed at Floyd’s for about 3 years, it was 2021 when the idea of being off on my own as an independent barber/hairstylist that it became a goal to almost push myself to go forward in that direction. I was so scared I won’t even lie that idea alone is terrifying. Would my clients follow me? Would this be a smart move finically? Can I even do this? Am I enough? My mentor Natalie, also my hairstylist and supercuts coworker, told me summer of 2021 that she was going to go independent, and I swear that was a sign. The room next to her opened up, I got covid and it kind of put a huge damper on my plans I was out for a bit and was forced to push everything back a month and the room was taken. In August she told me the barber to her left, room 24, was going to open up since he was leaving. Again, I swear it was a sign, I called and checked the suite out and I put down a deposit that day because I just knew if I didn’t, I would regret it. I was able to hold my deposit for a whole month. I already had a plan, I had written in a notebook for the past year the idea of branding and decor, I had already changed my name on Instagram and posting all my work more, and just showed out for myself. I swear I felt like a little kid writing in a diary or a journal writing all these ideas and inspiration, I started telling all my clients, it was so surreal. I remember that last week of September I had switched to part-time at my current job thinking I could juggle both, the day before I don’t know what it was that I said to myself, “I can’t split my time and effort on both I have to give it my all or nothing. I quit via text, I thanked and appreciated them, I was getting burnt out and I felt like the growing I did at Floyd’s came to a stop and it was stagnant, and I needed to move on but was so grateful for that experience. I started at my own suite in Addison October 1st, 2021. It was the best thing I could have ever done for myself. It only pushed me to be better. It gave me this time to continue to grow and try new things in this industry and allowed me to push further into my career. From hair to brows to laminations to lash lifts. I’m so appreciative of all the clients and all of my support system that helped push and support my literal dreams. I fell in love with my job, being a barber and a hairstylist became a literal passion, and the people I’ve gotten to meet and the connections I’ve gotten to make is irreplaceable. I never looked back and I’m so proud of myself for my taking the fall and landing even if I didn’t know what was gonna happen. Dallas Barber Babe is officially a year old, and I couldn’t be more proud of overcoming all of the hardship and hard work to get to this point. I’ve done weddings, to a pop-up, I’ve gotten to travel to a different city for work. I’ve gotten to strengthen my skills and continue to grow and invest in myself. I swear I won’t stop til my hands fall off everything up until this point in my life and my career was meant for me and we’re only gonna keep it pushing.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I will say some of the struggles I overcame or went through were definitely very personal. You know the constant thought of, am I good enough?, am I getting any better? Can I even do these things? Can I make more money doing this or doing that? It almost became intrusive. I wasn’t giving myself enough credit, I kept thinking and comparing my journey to other barbers/hairstylists who had everything already, knowing it took so much effort and hard work, and experience to get there. Knowing I can be there too, you know. It’s easy getting lost in this industry because everyone and everything is doing the same thing but so different and that’s the most unique thing about it. I had to create my own self and place myself into this industry and ground myself and credit my hard work because somehow my clients chose me in this big city out of so many people and that to me is what reminded me to keep working. The lack of experience in owning a business is also another big thing, that’s what made it scary I feel. It’s all a growing process and it’s definitely okay to not have it all figured out. There were gonna be some real busy days, and some real slow days. It’s all part of the process it isn’t easy, it’s still a little hard here and there, especially where you’re just one person but that’s okay. I know I can do this I know now I am more than capable. You just have to show up every day for yourself and the rest comes with it. The fear of the unknown is so scary, and I feel like for many things in my life that’s what stopped me from being or even doing potentially great things for myself. We have to be okay with not knowing and that nothing is perfect. The goal as a barber or hairstylist is making sure your client is happy or satisfied feeling their best and you are giving your 120% to the person in your chair. A big reminder to tell yourself affirmations on what a great job you’re doing because you deserve it and don’t ever forget it!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a professional cosmetologist and barber, I have dual licenses and I take huge pride in that. I specialize in long layered hair and blowouts, and for all my short hair, I specialize in doing fades from low tapers to bald fades to lines on the side of your head to mullets you name it! Every Friday you will catch me doing fades all day I swear. I absolutely love it. I take a little more pride in my guys, they are some of my biggest supporters I got guys that come and see me once a week and I have guys that give me creative freedom! I will say when my ladies come in it’s all giggles. My favorite part of doing long hair is blowing it out and styling. You won’t know what your hair looks like until it’s actually styled and the look on their faces when I show them! That’s the best part. I want to make sure I focus on educating my clients on what I’m doing to them making sure to take them step by step.I want to make sure that everyone is comfortable and gets what they want with what we have to work with. I know the anxiety of trying a new person and trying a new style, it’s scary, but I know they know I got them! I’m investing and focusing on making sure I can provide as many services to my clients and making sure that everyone is getting 120% from me. I’ll continue work hard, to push being multifaceted with my business, and continue to grow within this industry. I plan on sticking around for a long time and I can’t wait for the future and I very much appreciative the present!
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I feel like our version of defining success should always be personal. It’s like we have this basic idea of what success is which usually involves you being rich and famous, right? I feel like that’s a lot of pressure and almost instant gratification. Although that is the goal of course for some of us I had to switch to rooting for myself and celebrating my small and big wins and appreciating the journey getting to the first goals. We should be celebrating of ourselves even on the days we can’t get out of bed, but we do. The days you get through a busy work weekend, and you got to close shop for the day. The days where your color formula worked, and the client loved their hair. The list goes on, it made this human experience so much more fun, and where I look forward to my next venture. I am nowhere where I want to be but I am nowhere where I was and that is success. It’s how much you wanna keep learning, how much you want to keep doing to get to the next point in your life all while being present. We should root more for ourselves and our peers. We’re all doing our best with what we have, and I think that is being successful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dallas-barber-babe.square.site/
- Instagram: instagram.com/dallasbarberbabe
- Other: https://linktr.ee/dallasbarberbabe
Image Credits
Shirley Salinas
