The holidays are a time when we take a break and surround ourselves with people and things that make us happy. Sure, there is always the stress of traveling and being cooped up with the fam, but today, we’re focusing on the warm and fuzzy stuff. As we head into the new year, it’s also a time of reflection and self-improvement — finding new ways to make ourselves as happy as possible, in the moment and for years to come.What defines this happiness may be different for each of us, but it is often about fulfillment — being engrossed and engaged with yourself, what you do, and who you're surrounded by. In a recent TED Talk, Barry Schwartz, the author of Why We Work, revealed that in the professional world, hairstylists are some of the happiest people out there. Makes sense to us: Have you ever been greeted by a grump when you've sat down to get a trim? Probably not. More likely, he or she is someone who will gladly listen to all the things that may be making you unhappy.
This human interaction, working with their hands, and making people feel (and look) good are all factors that contribute to the eudemonic nature of hairstylists. But we think it goes deeper than that, and, of course, it's not all about work. So we decided to reach out to some of the top hairstylists to chat about how they stay positive, find balance, and all those other good things we are all on an eternal search for — and they delivered. Let the following stylists be your life coaches for a moment — and offer some seriously 'gram-worthy #inspirationalquotes.
Ghd brand ambassador David Babaii works with stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Hudson, and Scarlett Johansson, but he always leaves his work at work. “I stay fulfilled outside of work by doing things I get excited about,” he says. “I am very involved in animal-activist work. I also love sports. I also love watching HGTV!”
For Babaii, it’s all about finding balance between living, laughing, and loving — but above all, it’s about loving yourself. “You need to be happy with who you are and what you have,” he says. “How can you expect to receive love if you don’t love yourself?”
Babaii believes the key to happiness is about finding inner peace, accepting yourself, and aspiring to be a better person. “Positivity is a state of mind," he says. "When bad things happen, it is important to realize and know that this, too, shall pass. Everyone has things they wish they could change about themselves, but it's important to remember how lucky you are to have your health and your body.”
For Dove celebrity hairstylist Mark Townsend, the brain behind all three Olsen sisters' covetable hair, it's all about the music. “At the end of the day, it’s hard to remember that you need to recharge,” he says. “But you need to do a little thing for yourself every day — even if it is just putting on your favorite song. Music to me is therapy. I was in therapy for years, like everybody else, but I get a lot more when I just put on my headphones and dance around my house all by myself. I make playlists. I have a one-man mosh pit, and that’s a better release for me.” What music, you ask? Townsend loves everything from Adele to Hole, to his latest discovery Troye Sivan.
“When I turned 40, I started to really appreciate what I have,” says Townsend (he’s 42 now). “I have been able to travel the world, and I’m a hairdresser! I've seen some of the most amazing places on Earth because I'm doing hair! Now, I’ve learned to take a minute and put the phone down, stop emailing and texting, and appreciate the moment that I’m in. Taking my dog for a hike is like church for me — I love that I am in the park and my phone doesn’t get a signal. My brain really does slow down, and I can shut everything out. I feel so much calmer and fulfilled because of it.”
Townsend has also become a lot more confident since turning 40. “Nothing is more beautiful than confidence,” he says. “Working in the fashion and beauty world, I didn’t find that real confidence until I hit 40. There is a big difference between ego and confidence. A confident person believes in themselves; an ego is usually a sign of insecurity. You’re overcompensating for your insecurities by throwing this ego around.”
Paul Norton, a Joico celebrity hairstylist who works with Robin Wright, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Kate Upton, has a tattoo on his wrist that says "pray."“I got the tattoo after seeing a man on the street who literally had no face,” he explains. “Just moments before I saw him I recall having the most negative attitude, yelling and screaming at other drivers on the road. Once I drove past this man who clearly had a harder life than me, I remember the instant feeling of calm and gratefulness wash over me, realizing how ridiculously I was behaving just because of a little bit of traffic. That tattoo reminds me to keep perspective at all times, because I truly am blessed and have a responsibility to remain positive regardless.”
“Jokingly, I use the phrase ‘live yo' truth’ with some of my celeb clients and beauty-industry colleagues, but there really is some truth within that statement,” says Norton. “Being your authentic self is the most important part of each and every one of our lives. It's why we were put on this Earth, and it's what makes us unique. Being anything less would be cheating the world and ourselves of something so special, and we would never fully realize our true potential.”
For Norton, being your true self and living up to your potential is all about goals. “The single best way to better yourself each and every day is to set goals. Seems simple, but so many people live their lives without really working toward the specific things they want for themselves. Visualizing the goal at the start of every day and doing at least one, if not more, steps throughout the day to obtain that goal is the best way to better yourself. Having dreams and not acting on them is like having a plate full of food but never taking a bite.”
Matrix SoColor celebrity stylist George Papanikolas, who’s colored the hair of some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, from Kim and Khloé Kardashian to Mila Kunis, says you should always dream big — we’re capable of anything we put our minds to. That being said, Papanikolas says the real key to happiness is having amazing life experiences. “Money and things really don't make you happy in the end,” he says. “I make sure to take time to travel, entertain friends at home, and spend time with family. I make sure to surround myself with people I love.”
Clear stylist, and the woman behind both Jennifer Lawrence’s and Julianne Hough’s big chops, Riawna Capri is all about the inspirational quotes — and is even thinking about starting an Instagram of what she calls “little reminders.” “It’s an important part of life, little reminders here and there,” she says. For Capri, it's also important to do something in life that turns off her brain (she goes as far as actually booking downtime in her calendar).
“Yoga is a really good thing for everybody — it is something that is simple enough — focusing on each pose and each move makes you turn your brain off," she says. "The main thing about it all [is doing] whatever makes you turn your brain off. Reading a book makes people turn their brain off, watching TV does for some people. They don't for me, but yoga, gardening my front yard, and painting do.”
She also believes in rewarding yourself. “Whether that be by adding the whipped cream on your coffee, getting those shoes you really wanted, or taking the time to recharge your batteries with either a massage or a vacation,” she says. “Live each day to its fullest, because we never know if we will make it to tomorrow; treat yourself today.”
Capri is a firm believer that you create your own reality. And if you are worrying all the time, that worry will become your reality. “The more you focus on what you don’t have, the more you’re not going to have it,” she says. This goes back to living in the moment — not obsessing over the past or the future.
“All you have is right now,” she says. “The past is done, it’s over. Hope you learned your lesson, and you move on. The future, you don’t know if it is even going to happen. My sister lost her hand in a car accident six years ago; the cop told her if her steering wheel was two inches over, she would have lost her head instead. Nobody knows if they’ll make it to tomorrow — so you really have to take in today.” Not worrying isn’t easy, but since this accident, Capri has learned to train her brain like a muscle not to "get in her head" and fuck up the moment she’s in.
Motions celebrity stylist, and Rihanna’s go-to hair guru, Ursula Stephen stays positive by keeping positive souls around her. “I truly believe energy is contagious, so I am very conscious of the company that I keep,” she says. “[I also] try my best to make others feel good by listening. I love to make people laugh, and I love to encourage people. It’s important to me that I always try to be the best friend I can be.”
“I make myself feel good by eating good food, pampering myself, and laughing as much as I can,” says Stephen. “I’m human so I do go through tough times, but I always do my best to remember my spiritual foundation and push through.”
Work takes up most of Matrix Stylelink celebrity stylist Nick Stenson's time, but he also finds it extremely important to occasionally turn off completely. “I find when I'm able to do that, it's like hitting a reset button and helps me to refocus,” he says. He also thinks it’s very important to push yourself.
Though hard work and success are super-important to Stenson, he believes love is really the key to happiness. “Being loved and loving someone unconditionally [is key],” he says. “The other would be passion. Have passion in everything you do to really feel fulfilled.”
Anh Co Tran, the man behind L.A.’s hottest haircut and the waves of Anne Hathaway and Liv Tyler, says loving and accepting yourself is the true key to happiness. He is fulfilled by work because he is doing what he loves, and he advises others to find careers that they are really passionate about.
“I really don’t have a work-life balance, but I love what I do so it’s not even work to me. Making people happy about themselves makes me happy,” he says. “I do take trips out to nature to recharge, [though]. I am so inspired and relaxed by the beauty of Earth. It’s so important for me to do this all the time.”
Tran believes in always keeping an open mind. “When things go wrong, look at what you have learned and experienced. Apply that to your next thing you do. That’s what being open-minded is about,” he says.
Johnny Wright, L'Oréal multicultural artistic style director and stylist to none other than FLOTUS Michelle Obama, is another pro who can’t stress enough how important it is to find a job you love. “My work and life are easily balanced because work doesn't feel like 'work.' I live by, 'Do what you love and love what you do.' In addition, I learned the power of saying no, which is sometimes hard to do.”
“I believe there are several keys to happiness, but most important is staying true to yourself. I am authentically me. I am comfortable with who I am,” says Wright. “I keep myself around positive people. I try my best not to associate myself with negative people. In addition, I like to connect with the Earth: I enjoy yoga and going outdoors.”
John Frieda creative consultant Harry Josh, the man behind Gisele Bündchen’s signature waves and a whole Instagram feed of inspirational quotes, is the epitome of the happy hairstylist — and his energy is contagious. He loves his job, but he is not drawn to fame and surrounds himself with people who are of the same mindset.
“I surround myself with people who I love and who love me; a healthy support system is important. I meditate a lot and keep the people in my life in those meditations, and am always wishing them the best,” he says. “Your personal and professional life kind of merge sometimes. But…I host a lot of dinner parties and game nights at my apartment. No hair involved!”
Josh has learned from all his experiences, and is grateful for his success. “I feel so blessed to love my job,” he says. “I’m surrounded by art, talent, and creativity, whether it’s via my peers or my clients. I work with the most amazing people and am constantly inspired.”
Scotty Cunha, hairstylist to the Kardashian family, Lucy Hale, and Kristin Cavallari, thinks it’s important to tap into your own emotions. “If you are having the worst day ever, HAVE THE WORST DAY EVER and feel those emotions of being miserable and complain, and get it out, and then MOVE ON!” he says. “If you stay true to what you are feeling, deal with that emotion, and process the actual emotion of being miserable, it will help you to be happy. Really looking inside yourself, and getting to know yourself, will make you feel better because you are constantly working on yourself and learning about yourself. Sometimes I have a shitty week; then I'm like, You know this was shitty, but it's a new day and I'm going to be in a good mood, and I'm better!”
Cunha has a few other life tips up his sleeve: “Be yourself! Live in the now! Don’t stress! Everything happens for a reason!” he says. “Listen to your gut and spirit. Listen to what people are telling you about themselves. Listen to anything Oprah says!”
Jon Reyman, founder of Spoke & Weal salons and Jon Reyman Pro, advocates living a healthy life and staying fulfilled outside of work. “I make sure my cup gets filled outside of the salon,” he says. "I go to yoga with a true master; I see an acupuncturist who is highly skilled; I have trained in meditation, martial arts, and winter sports with the best in the profession. I seek out highly skilled people to recharge me and take care of me — I have a therapist, a spiritual healer, a guru, an acupuncturist named Nana, and a trainer at Equinox named Berto. I feel lucky to understand and receive their services — well worth the investment.”
“I see happiness as a byproduct,” says Reyman. “I don't think it's a goal in itself that I can get to. It happens through shared experience, integration, and community. For me, focusing on mastery, self-direction, and purpose is very gratifying. I work hard, I improve, I devote myself… Focusing on self-improvement has given me the opportunity to strengthen, refine, or let go of sources of unhappiness — both people and habits."
“The key to happiness is waking up every day and telling yourself you are happy, and accepting where you are presently and choosing to be happy in that space,” says César Ramirêz, stylist to Ciara and Mizani global artistic director. “Don't accept negativity into your life. If you want life to look differently, then make new choices and follow through with them. I have a very strong connection to God and my spirituality. I believe in being honest and treating everyone around me with respect and kindness. Don't blame others, and don’t gossip.”
And, of course, don’t forget to have fun! “Have lots and lots of fun,” says Ramirêz. “I think we tend to forget to enjoy the ride and really laugh out loud. Tell, or laugh at, at least one joke a day!”
Once a year around his birthday, celebrity hairstylist Tommy Buckett (who has worked with Felicity Jones, Christina Hendricks, and Sienna Miller) goes to see a clairvoyant. “I treat myself to this wonderful lady who guides me through certain aspects of my life,” he says. “She makes me stop and think, and be more aware of people I have around me.” When Buckett gets stressed or burned out, he follows her advice and takes a “psychic shower.” “The best way to do that is to close your eyes and imagine yourself in pink and gold light that washes everything away. Pink and gold is love, and it just lets everything melt right off of you. [I do it] whenever I’m feeling a little stressed out, or whenever I am feeling a little tired from work," he says.
Sometimes, you just have to trust your gut, says Buckett. “You have to listen to yourself, because you know yourself better than anyone. If there is a sliver of doubt or anything, you’ll figure it out. So listen, smile, agree, and then do whatever you were going to do anyway.”
But no matter how many psychic showers Buckett feels like he needs to take, there is one thing he tells himself every day. “It’s all going to be okay,” he says. “And that is what I tell myself every day, no matter what the situation is. At the end of the day, you just have to put yourself into perspective. I am very fortunate.”
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