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OLAPLEX, the global sensation, whose patented technology is continuously changing what is possible for hair is beloved by salon professionals the world over. For the prestige haircare brand, hairstylists are at its very core, and their Global Brand Ambassadors are a direct reflection of OLAPLEX’s ongoing commitment to partnering with the beauty industry’s most innovative stylists and colorists. That’s why OLAPLEX has dubbed 2024 the “year of the PRO” — a celebration of salon professionals’ talent and artistry as well as a commitment to providing them with category-leading formulations.
The Tease had the pleasure of connecting with OLAPLEX brand ambassadors Christin Brown, Bianca Hillier and Chad Kenyon about their beginnings in beauty, what they love most about being “bond builders,” travel essentials, the most adventurous things they’ve done and so much more. Scroll to see what these stylist at the very top of their game have to say!
How did you realize working as a stylist was your calling?
Christin Brown: I didn’t. I still don’t know if it’s my calling and that’s actually the million-dollar question that I ask myself. Just because you’re really good and gifted at something, doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s your calling. What you’re doing right now can just be a means to an end. It can be the task that gets you the job that ultimately pays the bills. I think that you have some people that genuinely wake up and say, “Wow, I love my job and it never feels like work because I get to play in hair all day.” For those folx, I think that that realization is truly beautiful and awe-inspiring. However, what I have discovered in this process is that I truly love being an inspiration to others in the industry and those that sit in my chair. When stylists approach me with their stories of how they got to where they are and how I’ve somehow been a source of education and light, it’s an energetic exchange. You can have many callings in one lifetime. Just make sure that you’re answering them with intention and the way that you want to be remembered in this world.
Bianca Hillier: Even as a little girl at 4 years old I knew I wanted to work with hair. My parents asked my siblings and I what we wanted to be when we were older. I immediately knew I wanted to do hair and that was my calling. I was always involved with school and sports so when it was time to apply for university, my parents were a little surprised to learn I was still very passionate about hair. After graduating high school at age 17, I immediately enrolled in cosmetology school. I went to class 5 days a week, 10 hours a day, and two days after graduating, got hired at Sally Hershberger in Los Angeles.
Chad Kenyon: My first hair color client at 4 years old was the Hair Salon “Barbie.” I was young but I knew then that painting her very synthetic hair with my Mom’s makeup (my early balayage era) was something I was excitedly drawn to. I’ve been fortunate enough to have followed through with multiple varying career paths since I graduated college, but I kept coming back to my true passion as a hair artist.
What’s your morning routine like?
Christin Brown: Okay, so my morning routine has changed a bunch of times over the months and even years. I do believe that it’s a good thing that it does change, because let’s face it, you’re not the same person you were yesterday. So, my current routine is that I wake up around 6:30am every morning and the first thing I do is put on a morning meditation to help me drop into the day. After that, I grab my journal on the bedside and let my brain and pen have a conversation. Then, I get out of bed and greet my kiddo with kisses and snuggles. After getting breakfast on the table, then getting him off to school, I’ll immediately head to the gym. This helps my brain tremendously when it comes to mental health and setting up my day for a strong start. Around 10am, I’m in the salon with my first clients and we’re off to the rhythm of what we call “a day in the life.” But the morning setup is truly vital to my success in my routine.
What’s the best compliment you have ever received?
Chad Kenyon: The best compliment I’ve received is when I’m told that I have good or positive energy. That always makes my soul smile.
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done in your life?
Bianca Hillier: When I was 22 or 23 I was scrolling through Instagram when I saw a photo of the Philippines and decided I had to go. I was already on the floor with my own chair during this time, but my friends were occupied with work and school and couldn’t coordinate dates to travel with me. I still decided to pack my bags and booked a two week solo-trip to the Philippines. I landed by myself in Manila with no accommodations booked beforehand, seeing where my trip would take me. During the two week trip, I visited Manila, Palawan, and Boracay. While I was there I even got to attend a music festival after 6 hours of travel in the middle of the jungle! That was a special trip I’ll treasure forever.
Chad Kenyon: I won a Rotary International Ambassadorial scholarship to study my senior year of my bachelor’s degree in Madrid, Spain… and then I continued living there for sixteen years…long story short.
What does being a “bond builder” mean to you?
Christin Brown: Whether you’re a new client or I’ve had you in my chair for years, it’s truly about reinforcing the relationship with integrity, beauty, and trust. So, being a ‘bond builder’ for me means that not only am I establishing a connection, but making it last. I solidify that bond for future conversations, ups and downs, and everything in between.
Bianca Hillier: To me, being a “bond builder” is someone who facilitates connections among other stylists, colorists and artists. Relationships are so important in this business and maintaining friendships with colleagues only helps me grow as an individual.
Chad Kenyon: What being a “bond builder” means to me is something quite special because I’ve been with the brand since its onset in 2014. OLAPLEX is unique in that 1) it started the entire bond builder category, and 2) it rebuilds all three of our hair’s bonds: OLAPLEX has the patented power (160 global patents) to relink broken disulfide bonds, our hair’s strongest bonds…this is a massive achievement invented by OLAPLEX.
As a hair colorist, using OLAPLEX’s bond building technology in every color and lightener formula I mix, gives me a huge sense of creative freedom. I’m able to do more intricate and advanced color work knowing that I’m improving the integrity of the hair while simultaneously creating a new, stronger color canvas.
Have you ever Googled yourself?
Chad Kenyon: Yes, and the results are surprisingly accurate with some “parallel lives” stuff thrown in for comic relief I imagine.
What is something you always have in your refrigerator/kitchen cabinet?
Christin Brown: Salt and Stevia. If you love me, then you know that I will always have these two items on deck. Salt is the universal way of saying “hey, I care about your brain and neurons”
to me. And also, I care about your pallet. If I’m going to get a cappuccino or matcha latte, then I’m always going to have at least 6 Stevias in my pocket. So yeah, salt and Stevia.
What’s something you always travel with?
Bianca Hillier: Some everyday essentials of mine for traveling or day to day would be my anker lightning charger (this is a turbocharger), my Chanel sunnies, Westman Atelier vital skin complexion drops, doterra breath mints, OLAPLEX No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask, and my Dr. Lancer day and night eye creams.
For more on Christin, Bianca and Chad be sure to follow their respective Instagram accounts. And to keep up to date with all things OLAPLEX, including the latest in its category-defining innovation, visit OLAPLEX.com and follow the brand on Instagram.
