Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Castorini.
Christina, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in a northwest logging town and had no interest whatsoever in doing hair, beyond all the weird stuff that I did to my own as a kid. I went to college right out of high school and dropped out a year later because I couldn’t figure out what to do with my life. After a summer of bussing tables at the beach (and telling myself this can’t be my life), my mother suggested that I go to beauty school. So I found the best one in western Washington (at the time), started a few weeks later and discovered that I really enjoyed what I was learning. After a couple of years behind the chair, I visited my former cosmetology school roommate in Marietta and fell in love with Atlanta. I went back to Washington, quit my job, packed my car and drove back down here…
Living in Atlanta and working in Buckhead brought several great opportunities, one of which was the opportunity to work with the Atlanta Braves for several years while they were still at Turner Field. I’d had some experience with men’s hair but this was basically my crash course in barbering. I loved everything about it: the conversations, the knowledge that I couldn’t hide a bad haircut with a good blowout (although they did wear hats) and how I always knew how long it would take to do a haircut from start to finish (perfect for my left-brain, type A personality). My men’s haircuts in the salon began to improve as well. I have worked in high-end salons, a couple of hipster barbershops, as well as two men’s grooming lounges. I have learned some great techniques from my fellow barbers, but the highlight was the three-day advanced barbering class that I took in Rotterdam in 2017. It was like starting completely over in beauty school, however, it has completely changed the way I approach my haircuts now and, for me, bridged the gap between the structure of traditional barbering and the artistry of high-end haircuts.
It’s been a whole journey but it’s made me who I am today and I’m definitely not done learning.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t always been easy. I learn techniques quickly and I’m reliable and consistent, yet I have been known to get in my own way. I have a wicked wanderlust and I once had a difficult time staying put long enough to really discover what success in this industry looks like. Learning that I’m there no matter where I go, that I can satisfy my desire to see the world without changing my profession, and that I CAN set boundaries around my time have been the most valuable lessons I have learned along the way.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My degree is in cosmetology and my main focus for the last 10 years has been on men’s/short hair and beards. I’m most proud of the amazing people I’ve had the honor of working with along the way: in salons, barbershops, photo shoots runway shows and education. What I believe sets me apart is the amount of time I have spent merging the techniques of classic barbering and salon haircutting. The manner in which I approach my clients’ hair is reflective of the training I received in the Netherlands and is completely different from anything I’ve learned in the US.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happy is that every day of my life is different from the day before. It’s easy for me to get stuck in a rut, so I do my best to create a life that keeps me on my toes and engaged with others and the world around me.
Contact Info:
- Website: Christinathebarberatl.com
- Instagram: Christina.thebarber.yogi
- Other: Christinathebarber2.Booksy.com
Image Credits
Liesa Cole, Madison Victoria Media,
