How I Gained Confidence By Working With All Hair Types

Cherin is an LA-based hair stylist specializing in cuts, color, extensions, and creating hair suited for every client’s unique needs. When not in California, she’s traveling back and forth to Korea working on an exciting upcoming project in Seoul—so stay tuned!

This AANHPI Heritage Month, she’s sharing her personal hair journey, how she challenges cultural perceptions of beauty, and low-maintenance beauty tips that fit her active lifestyle.

How I Gained Confidence By Working With All Hair Types

walk us through your personal hair journey

When I was younger, my hair was straight and has become more wavy over the years. These days, I don't do my hair at all and people are shocked that I don’t curl it. I joke that I was destined to be a stylist because it looks like I’ve spent a considerable amount of time getting myself together but in reality, I air dry.

After finding the right stylist for my hair type, I’ve fallen in love with the ease of a wash-and-go lifestyle that inspires me to offer the same to my clients.

I want hair to look good the majority of the time on my clients. I really pride myself on hair color and cuts that last a long time, that’s where I see value! I get to experience my hair all the time and it’s a constant reminder to work and strive for that. My daughter tells me how beautiful I am, it makes me blush.

that’s so sweet! so, when did you realize you wanted to be a stylist?

I have lived many lives before I ended up here, but I wouldn’t change any of it!

I remember going to the Paul Mitchell Hair & Beauty School as a high school senior to get my hair done. All the students looked like they were having so much fun, I was surrounded by what felt like all the coolest people I had ever seen, all together in one space.

It was my first time seeing work associated with something fun. I let the stylist get creative with my hair and my senior photos feature those bright yellow/orange panels. You couldn’t tell me I didn’t look awesome while I was bumping my Ladytron!

I took a longer route to becoming a hairstylist because this high school experience was met with a firm hand to go to college. I got my BA in Psychology at UC Santa Cruz, then went to find work that would allow me to financially support my parents. I worked in the corporate tech world of San Francisco as an account manager for several years and then had a quarter-life crisis, packed up and went traveling through Asia, living and working in Korea, then rendezvousing to Los Angeles to go to Toni & Guy Beauty School.

I went into beauty school knowing that I had zero skills and experience, but knew that with hard work and effort I could become an expert at anything if I just committed the time. Even in my hardest moments, feelings of growth, perseverance, and wanting to be the best are what got me this far.

you describe yourself as a multicultural colorist. what does that mean to you?

As a stylist in Los Angeles, I’m exposed to so many different ethnicities, cultures, hair types, and humans. I love the dynamic challenge of doing so many different types of hair.

I’ve focused on mastering hair since 2010, there's no end to learning about how to be a better stylist, I love that. It includes interacting with different types of personalities and hair textures daily.

how did you gain confidence working with all hair types and why is this important for every stylist?

Fake it ‘til you make it. I truly get that phrase, hair is that. I didn’t grow up doing other people's hair, nor am I fussy about my own hair—I’m sporty and spicy. I like to surf, play tennis, and stay active. I’m a proper tomboy and went into beauty school intimidated by the skills of my peers.

In the beginning, when someone sat in my chair and asked for something I didn’t know how to do, I would have to apply every bit of knowledge I had to try to conquer whatever I needed to do. I’d ask friends or fellow stylists, it may have taken an insanely long time but I figured it out and I never said no. Now I have the confidence that I can do anything I want to focus on and that mindset has allowed me to explore so many different paths in hair.

who inspires you both in the salon and out?

My clients are my biggest inspiration. I get to speak to so many amazing humans in the chair and I learn something from all of them. This is the coolest job because we get to intimately connect with people from so many different walks of life.

I also love and look up to fellow hairstylists. I’m grateful for everyone that has trained me and given me an opportunity. I have worked for so many different people I feel like I’ve kept different pieces from everyone.

on a more serious note, what has it been like to be an AANHPI woman working in the hair industry?

When I started working in Beverly Hills, I felt like there wasn’t much representation. It was before social media and there weren't a lot of options for us minorities out there as references for hair goals and beauty standards. There were two kinds of choices: cultural figures like Lucy Liu and Mulan (literally a cartoon), or any other brunettes like Selena or the Kardashians.

I was super excited when Instagram came out and I could share all the possibilities. Now, it’s so much easier to find your person—whatever that means to you. Their work, style, or vibe. That’s an amazing change and I am so grateful for the internet for that reason!

when you think about beauty, are there differences between your inherited cultural perceptions of beauty and the ones that resonate for you personally?

Korean culture is brutal when it comes to beauty. According to my mother, I was always too fat or too skinny, my skin didn’t look good or I looked tired. I was never looking amazing or beautiful, it was always criticism. When I was working in Korea, even my boss would make comments about my weight and it was totally normal and acceptable. It’s their way of showing love and that they care.

To me though, beauty is more of an energy. It’s how clients feel when their hair is done, it’s how people carry their vibe into a space. When someone feels the confidence of what makes them feel bright and light, that’s beauty to me.

what in your life makes you feel your best?

I want to do everything all the time. My best weeks are when I get to do activities like surfing, tennis, weight training, and pilates. I’m very active and when I miss any of my routine, I feel off.

I always tell people that the amount of hair I want to do calls for a lot of exercise. This job is hard on our bodies so I am doing my best to stay strong and counterbalance the asymmetry that comes with it!

what does your hair routine look like these days?

I’m loving K18! As I mentioned, I’m an air-dry girl so simplicity is key for me.

Right now, I rotate the DAMAGE SHIELD shampoo with the clarifying PEPTIDE PREP shampoo before using the molecular repair hair mask. You don’t even have to use conditioner this way, which speeds things up in the shower! Then I air dry and go about my day.

I like products that do not leave my hands feeling sticky or gross after using them, and I am sensitive to strong perfumes and prefer lighter scents and simpler ingredients.