Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristina Nigo
Hi Kristina, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My love for the beauty industry started when I was a little girl. I grew up watching my grandpa, who was a barber in the Army and later co-owned a barbershop, cut my family’s hair. He was an artist in every sense—whether behind the chair, painting, sculpting—you name it, he could do it. I admired him so much and shared his love of art. When I was 12, I gave my first haircut to a human—my older brother. I messed up his hair royally and quickly realized I didn’t enjoy cutting short hair! From there, I moved on to experimenting with my sister’s, friends’, and my own hair. That’s when I knew this was what I was born to do.
In high school, I expressed to my parents that I wanted to enroll in the cosmetology program, but they disagreed. Instead, I ended up taking a bunch of classes that I knew wouldn’t play a major role in my future. After high school, I paid for cosmetology school myself and graduated two months ahead of my projected graduation date because I couldn’t wait to get behind the chair!
After earning my license, I worked in several salons as an apprentice, soaking up every bit of knowledge I could. I moved to different cities throughout the state, rebuilding my business from scratch each time. For me, it’s the thrill of the challenge—starting from the bottom and working my way up. I’ve worked in corporate salons, “mom and pop” salons, managed salons in both business models, and now I’m a business owner myself.
I love creating and bringing my clients’ visions to life. The look on their faces when they realize how beautiful they truly are is priceless. I wouldn’t trade that feeling or my decision to follow my dream for anything in the world.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road. Moving to a new city where I didn’t know anyone and trying to spread the word about myself and my services was a real challenge. Working in corporate salons wasn’t difficult in itself, but I sometimes felt restricted in terms of what I could do creatively. When I decided to start my own business, the challenges shifted to areas like work-life balance, balancing my time behind the chair, managing social media, handling business finances, and all the other responsibilities that come with being a salon owner or manager.
We’ve been impressed with Texas Roots Hair Design, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The name of my business has a double meaning. First, it represents me. I was born and raised in Texas and have only ever lived here. Additionally, the majority of the products I use in my salon are based out of Texas. The other part of my business name reflects my specialty—lived-in or “rooted” looks. I work extremely hard to achieve that seamless, rooted effect that clients are looking for today.
At Texas Roots Hair Design, I specialize in lived-in, low maintenance hair color and hair extensions. I love specializing in these services because I know that not everyone can come in once a month or so to get their hair colored, so offering low maintenance services helps my clients look and feel beautiful while allowing them to spread out their hair appointments. I enjoy using hair extensions as hair solutions for my guests that struggle with their own hair lacking volume or those who want to try hair color but are afraid of making the commitment.
I think that one thing that sets my business apart from other businesses in my industry are that my service menu is short and sweet. I have only 4 options to choose from for color services. I don’t want to confuse my guests with a bunch of lingo that they weren’t previously taught to understand. They can choose from a Full Transformation service, a Partial and/or maintenance service, a quick touch up or money piece service, or a traditional root retouch service. After a thorough consultation, I will take all of the steps necessary to achieve the clients desired look and all of these steps are included in the price discussed during the consultation.
To create these looks, I use products developed by a hairstylist who is also a chemist. This ensures that all ingredients are pharmaceutical-grade, top-quality, and safe for the health of both my clients’ hair and their overall well-being. Throughout my career, I’ve encountered many products that have made me sick, and I am committed to using only those that are safe for my clients, myself, and the environment. I want my clients to not only walk out feeling beautiful but also confident that they haven’t sacrificed health for beauty. I truly pride myself on that.
Another reason that. I feel that I am set apart from other business is that I’ve chosen to switch to a no-gratuity business model in order to simplify and enhance the overall client experience. For clients, this approach offers transparency—what you see is what you pay, without the added pressure or confusion of calculating tips at the end of your appointment. It allows you to budget more accurately and enjoy a stress-free visit, knowing that all costs are upfront. Additionally, this model reflects my belief that exceptional service should always be included, and I want every client to feel valued without the expectation of extra compensation. It creates a more relaxed and comfortable environment for everyone.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love that our city is so diverse. I enjoy getting to know people from different cultures and walks of life. There’s so much to do here, from amusement parks and concert venues to shopping and exploring nature. I also love that there are so many interesting new restaurants popping up. I enjoy trying new food and finding the new hot spots. The only thing I don’t love about our city is that the beach is hours away! I’m a true water baby, and if I could change one thing, it would be to pick up the city and move it closer to the beach.
Pricing:
- New Texan (Full Transformation) $350
- Native Texan (maintenance & Partial Transformation) $240
- Texas Accent (money piece & crown) $195
- Texas Roots (root retouch and a gloss) $160
- Hair Cut & Style $78
Contact Info:
- Website: www.texasrootshairdesign.com
- Instagram: www.instgram.com/texasrootshairdesign
- Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/krisstylinghair/
Image Credits
Ray Nickles
