beauty | interview with my hairstylist Claudia Cruz from The Great Studio & all the info on my hair!

This is probably the MOST requested blog post from back in p&b days and I finally got around to doing it. Last time I got my hair done, I interviewed my hair dresser to get to know her more & so I can finally share how we get my hair color with all of you!

TLB: How long have you been?
Claudia: 7 years

My mom owed a salon before while I was in school where I worked as an assistant sweeping the floor and wasn't hands on at all. I learned everything in school. I never ever thought I’d be a hair dresser-I'm way more of a tomboy.
Fun fact, she only wore a low ponytail cause she wouldn’t want to put her hair in a high ponytail because her arms would hurt from the brushing and putting it up. Fellow #layzbabe

 TLB: Fave thing? 

Claudia: Changing the person and how they feel about themselves. Even the smallest change. Any time I have tears in the chair and get to watch someone gain confidence cause of their hair, is a good day. If someone comes in and hasn’t been able to achieve what they’ve wanted with other stylists and I can get it done, I love that moment. I love a good challeng!

 TLB: What's your biggest work accomplishment?

Claudia:  I have two; I was nominated for Behind the Chair One Shot Awards aka the Hair Grammys! Which is a hairstylists competition that is open up worldwide and over 70,000 stylists entered. Only 2,500 are chosen.

My other biggest accomplishment was when I  worked with Redken and went to NYC with them for a few days. I got to go to the offices and everything.

TLB: Who is your celeb hair inspo? 
Claudia: Jlo or khloé love their hair and how it fits their personalities

TLB: Fave celeb hair stylist? 
Claudia: Chris Appleton, Jen Atkin, Tracy Cunningham

TLB: Fave hair IG to follow?
Claudia: @prettylittleombre

TLB: What’s next for you? 
Claudia: I'm doing another partnership with Redken this month and am headed to Vegas. Currently trying to figure out what hair brand I want to collab with that fits her busy lifestyle. Ultimate goal, I'd  love to travel & work on high end clients. (& she agreed that if I become a famous blogger, she'll travel with me. #goals)

me being famous

my BFTF, Mikhaila

One of her Behind the Chair submissions

Claudia owns The Great Studio with her fiance Alex who holds it down as the barber. Besides owning the salon, she's a mom of 2 beautiful kids and is currently in school to become a RN who can specialize in cosmetic procedures to hopefully bring that to the salon in the future.

The Great Studio opened in July 2016 offers makeup services, wedding styling, hair cuts & color, retexuring services, waxing, brows, lashes

follow Claudia on IG; https://www.instagram.com/_claudiacruz_/

follow The Great Studio on IG; https://www.instagram.com/thegreatstudio/

Local babes! Book today with Claudia or any of the other fab stylists in the studio, I promise you will leave there feeling your best!



6 weeks of regrowth


lightener and bonder ready for my head





first blow dry with two stylists cause I'm that extra







my color after the first round of lightener pre toner



toner mid brush out


the end product

Now on to how Claudia accomplishes my color perfectly, every single time!

 My hair process-(products and formula listed below); Every 6 weeks, I'm at the salon for a process of lightening the regrowth with lightener. Claudia adds bond builder to maintain integrity of my hair. Once the color is applied it sits for 30 minutes. Then it's to the sink to be washed and then two stylists blow dry my hair. Talk about being an extra bish. Now it's back to the coloring chair for a reprocess of the roots again with another 30 minutes-aka just repeat step 1! Once the 30 mins are up, back to the sink to wash & tone. Claudia constantly brushes it through for 5 to 8 minutes. Last it's time to blow dry & style!

My current cut is inspired by Bre Sheppard  (@bresheppard) and is a long, blunt lob all the same length

Schwazkopf lightener-blonde me with Olaplex

Redken shades eq: 9P+9N+9V+Clear toner

I hoped you loved my interview with Claudia, I know I did! I've been going to her for over a year now and I feel like I learned so much about her from doing this. Do you have a certain hairstyle that you've been dying to try? Let's chat in the comments