Today we’d like to introduce you to Lou Marroquin.
Hi Lou, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
It all started back in my emo/scene kid era! When I wanted the cool, textured mullets with the top teased high and side swept bangs straightened flat over my face like all my friends had. After trying out many salons/stylists and feeling totally disappointed, I let one of my friends cut my hair, and all she used was a RAZOR. It only took a little bravery until I started to do my own hair and then taking care of my closest friends too, who were also struggling to find a place they loved. I figured this world needed more hairdressers who were passionate enough to care, listen, and be inspired to step out of their comfort zones to create something different because everyone IS so different and unique in their own way; When I started high school, I experienced a lot of hardships with childhood trauma and my own identity. I battled with depression and later, substance abuse which led me to nearly lose myself. One day I woke up to my mum asking me what would make me happy enough to leave everything behind and start living again. The biggest thing for me was feeling that euphoria each time I cut my own hair, and nothing made me happier than providing that same feeling for my loved ones. How cool would it be to do it for a living? And since I had that realization, I never looked back. I dropped out of high school, got my GED immediately, and enrolled myself to my favorite hair school (Paul Mitchell The School Miami) in 2013, where I was lucky to have the best instructors and mentors. I originally intended to take the barbering course but settled for cosmetology because PM didn’t have a barbering school in Miami at the time. Today I am grateful for everything going the way it did because now I’m able to blend both barbering and cosmetology together to create magic that people really love to see. I received my license in 2014, and I apprenticed/worked at a barbershop for nearly seven years, where I learned structure, integrity, and consistency to build/create something amazing. After the pandemic hit and we learned so much about ourselves and others, I decided to open up my own solo studio where I was able to provide a safe and affirming experience to my lgbtqa+ community. Unfortunately, but fortunately, our rent was raised, and the cost of living started to become unbearable. Thankfully I have family in Columbus, Ohio who offered to help my fiancé and I relocate for better opportunities and just a brand-new chance to start over somewhere peaceful. I soon landed the opportunity to work at one of the best barbershops in town, Turners Barbershop, where I am currently building brand new, strong relationships and connecting to the community all through my craft, as it will always be!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It’s been a smooth road for the most part, but I definitely faced some challenges very early on in my career. Barbering is such a male-dominated industry, and society, especially some men, have this idea that women can’t fade or don’t know how to use a straight razor. Before I transitioned and others perceived me as female, it was challenging for me to build a clientele, and had to work extra hard to prove I could do just as a good job as my male coworkers. I would constantly be turned down or be made to feel so uncomfortable behind the chair because it was clear some folks would be nervous to be getting their haircut by me and not the guys. I think it took me maybe 2-3 years to make the statement that in fact, there are VERY talented women in the industry, and I believe they provide such a better and more soothing experience. The next challenge was my “gender transition” in 2019 and coming out to my work peers and my clients who I had been taking care of for years. I was scared about losing clients or being misunderstood and not being accepted. My journey definitely went better than I expected as far as my clientele, everyone showed up for me and tried their best to transition with me in my new identity, even the ones I thought would be totally opposed to it. I even gained new clients who were queer! One thing I didn’t ever expect was how much the environment at the barbershop would change; it made sense since the guys and their clients now perceived me as a man (although I identify as non-binary but I’m more masculine presenting). The conversations held in the shop became disgusting to be around, and I also started to experience transphobia from clients who weren’t even my own. My team who claimed to be allies, never knew how to stand up for me because they themselves didn’t really understand what it meant to be queer and what a queer safe space was supposed to feel/look like. But all of this was just fuel and motivation for me to leave that place to start my own empire and create that space for my myself and my own community. So here I am working towards that!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I do all types of hair! No matter the length, texture, color, or gender. I do work at a barbershop, so my focus is traditional barbering and styling. I’d say I specialize in mullets/shags, textured crops, very low/dropped fades, and long hairstyles. I’m known for offering gender-affirming experiences to folks in the lgbtqa+ community and take pride in each and every queer person that sits on my chair because I understand how challenging it is, especially for us, to find someone we’re comfortable connecting with and trusting to do something that’s so important us. Our hair tells our story! I think what sets me apart from others is my care and attention to detail, the way I take my time and make sure to check in with my client throughout the service to make sure they feel content, safe, and confident with what I’m doing. Another thing people really love about my work is my ability to give a nice fade with clippers but also knowing how to create shape/texture with shears and styling their hair with a blow drier while teaching them how to recreate it at home so they can achieve the same look. My goal is to give organic haircuts that are customized to the person’s head shape but, most importantly, that match their identity, personality, and lifestyle.
What makes you happy?
Love/affection, nature, and food! Because it makes my heart full, brings peace to my mind, and joy to my soul! Also, my pets and all the animals I ever encounter make me so happy.
Pricing:
- $40 haircut
- $60 haircut and beard
- $30 beards
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @loushairsalooon
