I believe I found Tanya on a LA-centric facebook group based around beauty/fashion, and I was still on the hunt to find the best person to do my hair since moving there in 2016. It’s tricky to find someone who does “fun colours” with the same skill as “natural colours”, uses great products, is a true artist, looks after your hair and is a lovely person - this matters so much when you spend 5-8 hours on average in the chair! Once I saw Tanya for the first time, I knew I’d found the right person. I was so impressed with how she created my look from start to finish in her Hollywood studio (inside Salon Republic, right near Arclight) and the time flew by as we chatted away about life, music, food and everything in between. I utterly miss having Tanya do my hair, and I know that once it’s safe to travel internationally again, if I’m ever in LA I’ll be sure to make getting my hair done part of the trip.

I hope you enjoy discovering more about Tanya on a personal level, including her approach to work - what I find super interesting is her drastic career change. This is something people always tell you about, but so many are afraid to do. Here’s an example of someone switching directions and it working out beautifully.

x Lucy

The Questions:

Name: Tanya Ramirez

Current location: Hollywood, CA

Where are you originally from/what is your family heritage? Born and raised in Los Angeles. My parents emigrated from Mexico to the U.S. in the late 1960’s.

Current occupation, industry and title: Independent Hairdresser/Colorist

Business name: Untamed Instincts Hair

Years in current industry: 15

What did you study or train or get experience and where? Hairdressing is a second career for me. Although, it was a hobby of mine from the age of 13. In my late 20’s, my Father passed away and it forced me to reevaluate my entire life. I made big changes; both personal and professional. I quit my long-standing corporate finance job without knowing what I would pursue next. I just knew I needed to make the break. During my ‘lame duck’ period, I went to get a haircut at a local salon. As is typical, the hairstylist asked me what I do for a living. I told him I just quit my job. He asked, “What are you going to do? “I don’t know”, I replied. He immediately stopped cutting my hair and looked right at me via the mirror and said, “Tanya, didn’t you ever have a dream?!” He caught me off guard and made me laugh. As I took in his words, I replied, “Actually, I’ve always wanted to do what you do.” “Why don’t you go to beauty school?” he asked. And for the first time, I didn’t have any excuses relating to taking care of other people or snappy comebacks about how far-fetched that idea might be or how I didn’t have time.

Later that week, I was doing my Mom’s hair and out of nowhere she says to me, “You know, I’ve only seen you happiest when you are doing hair. Why don’t you go to school?” I thought this is wild...a stranger and now my own Mom were suggesting I go beauty school?! So, I called up my old boss/mentor with this ‘new’ development. I told her “I finally figured out what I’m going to do! I’m gonna go to beauty school.” She replied, “Well, I could’ve told you that.” I was shocked, What?! “Don’t you remember that conversation we had in my office 5 years ago? I asked you, if you weren’t working here what would you be doing and you said, I think I’d go to beauty school.” Silence. I was immediately transported to that very moment; sitting on her sofa across from her desk like I had traveled through some strange time-shifting portal. Wow, how could everyone have known this about me, except me?! Shortly thereafter, I enrolled in an 16month long night program for cosmetology so I could work during the day.

A few months later, I joined a wonderful salon team working as a receptionist. I was eager to learn everything about the business from the inside out - how to manage clients & expectations, booking services properly, folding towels, washing colour bowls to sweeping the floor. Once I became licensed, I got to assist all the stylists hands-on and did weekly sessions with the owner, Jimmy Takiyama of Aya Salon. I credit this foundational salon work experience with giving me a true sense and understanding of the impact hairdressers make through the power of touch.

What is the best and worst part about your job? The best part is...being an active component in helping people unleash their spirit through the transformative power of hair that tells their story. To get inside their head and, not only, see them how they wanna see themselves but make it real. The worst part is body aches and hair splinters.

What do you think needs to change in your industry? Our occupational licensing system is antiquated and restrictive.

Is your industry female or male dominated? I suppose like many industries, it is mostly comprised of female identifying persons while the top echelons seem to be comprised of male identifying persons.

What is the biggest misconception people have about you and/or your job? I don’t know if it’s necessarily a misconception about me but a lot of folks are shocked when they hear me speak Spanish. A misconception about my job...that it’s not an actual career since we just get to play and have fun all day.

What's something you wish people told you about your industry/job before you dove into it? At some point, you’ll deal with an unhappy client/situation that can’t be resolved. It will haunt you but you’ll just have to grow and learn from the experience to establish better business protocols and boundaries. That there’s opportunistic people and somebody will back stab you or rip you off. Be kind to your body.

Is your industry generally supportive of individuals and peers? I think hairdressers are an interesting breed. I believe we tend to champion ourselves/each other and have a good community. But there are rifts in terms of where you went to school and brand affiliations. In the age of the influencer, we see manufacturers and brands choosing to prop up stylists that can best deliver their purpose: to sell product.

Have you ever considered leaving your industry? If you have, what other industries did you work in and why the change? Absolutely. I ask myself all the time but, at this point, I can’t imagine doing anything else. I wouldn’t want to work at a desk in front of a computer all day. As I mentioned above, this is my second career. Perhaps, if I started earlier, I might be totally burnt out by now.

What's the favourite thing/item/project/person you've worked on? This one is hard to answer. Every project is my fave till I do the next one. I’m fortunate as an independent hairdresser that I have the flexibility to work on personal, creative projects that satisfy my soul.

hair 3.jpg — If you have your own brand/business, did you start it right away or work for others first?

Yes and yes! The cool thing about hairdressing is you can be your own brand even while you’re initially training and growing as a stylist. Aside from the first salon I worked at while attending school; I’ve basically been an independent stylist for nearly my entire career.

What's something you had to do earlier in your career that you're relieved not to have to do anymore? Feed parking meters.

If you have your own business, what made you decide to go for it? Need and opportunity.

What are some pros and cons of working for yourself? Pros & Cons: You have to do everything.

What did you think you wanted to do career-wise when you were a teenager? I wanted to be a globe-trotting CPA - imagine if Carmen SanDiego was a forensic auditor.

Do you like to listen to music while working? If so, what are your jams? Absolutely! I love an eclectic mix of 60’s French Pop and Surf Rock. Some artists/bands on rotation are La Femme, France Gall, Detroit Cobras, Chromatics, Thievery Corporation, Dengue Fever, The Equatics and Yellow Days. I like a certain vibe/rhythm while I work. I’ve learned that I can’t listen to classic rock while I’m doing hair, I’ve tried.

How has quarantine/the pandemic affected your job/career? Gosh, it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster with being closed, opened, closed a second time and now open again. I won’t be surprised if we get shut down again if cases get really high. Our industry has been hit pretty hard considering we’re a high-touch, indoor business. We’ve had to implement a lot of new safety protocols. Only time will tell how these changes affect us long-term; personally and professionally.

Are most of your friends from your current industry? If yes/no why do you think this is? I have lots of hairdresser friends from all over the world. But the close friends I actually hang out with are not in the hair industry. They all tend to be in creative fields though. I guess that makes me the hairdresser friend. I think we all understand the fundamental struggle of balancing a need for creative expression within the framework of a capitalist society.

What would be your last meal? Hmmm...I’d wanna, a least, taste these flavours: Vietnamese - Bun Chay Dac Biet (vermicelli rice noodles with tofu & veggies) from Pho Cafe on Sunset. ‘Veg outta the Box’ Tacos from my sister’s plant-based spot, Veggie y Que. And some Boba...the BHH from Alfred Tea Room. It’s a strawberry, pomegranate & beetroot almond milk latte topped with a shot of ceremonial matcha.