Hi Claudia! Thanks for your time; I’m thrilled I get to chat with you! So your 5-star salon—highly rated on Google and Yelp—is located in Poughkeepsie, New York. How long have you been in the hair care business and what inspired you to join this industry?

I have been doing hair for six years now. I always knew I wanted to be my own boss, but right out of high school I wasn’t sure what kind of business I was going to get into. My mother was also a hairstylist and my parents always owned their own businesses so I wanted to follow that path. I started community college and studied business. However, a few semesters in, I realized college wasn’t for me at the time. So I dropped out and enrolled into Cosmetology School—Capri Cosmetology Learning Center, Newburgh, New York. During that time I was doing part-time night classes and working during the days. Although it was super exhausting, I completely fell in love and found a passion for hair. I loved that it was an actual challenge.

Doing hair is not easy. I feel like so many people think it is, and once you’re actually learning everything that goes into doing hair, your mind is blown away. I love being able to use my artistic talent and creativity, and express it through another person while making them feel amazing. Hairdressing is everything I ever wanted in a career, from being creative and artistic, to being challenged and making people feel great. Now, I’ve owned my own salon for three years, along with my fiancé who is a men’s hairstylist; and I couldn’t feel more complete.

Oh my goodness, I love, love, love that you and your hubby own The Great Studio salon together and specialize in men’s barbering and women’s hair. That is the coolest! You’re right though, doing hair isn’t easy. I was wondering, what are some of the hair trends you’re asked to do the most?

The most popular hair trend being asked for is definitely “Balayage” and “Lived In” color looks. As far as haircutting, the “LOB,” which is a long bob, is definitely a favorite amongst my clients. I personally love giving low maintenance hair when it comes to color and cut, so balayage is most often the ‘go-to’ color technique along with a textured lived in haircut. I also specialize in color correction. I love a challenge and love getting clients to a look that they’ve never been able to achieve or thought impossible.

Oh my God, I wish I met you 16 years ago when I need color correcting after getting hideous blond highlights on my dark brown hair. After a terrible dye job, it took me years to grow out my hair and get it back to virgin-grade hair. Speaking of color correcting, do you specialize in color only, or cut and style too, and do you style all hair types, hair textures and hair lengths?

I specialize in color and haircutting. Although, I do love learning and also offer re-texturizing services, like the Brazilian Blowout and American Wave, formal styling and make-up. I love working with all different types of textures, including Mexican and Asian hair. I’m Mexican, so I know the struggle with finding a stylist that can properly execute color and cut on such thick, straight hair. I also love doing all types of cuts, from pixies to long layers. I don’t like denying clients, so I try to learn it all.

I absolutely love that you have experience with styling all hair types on women of all ethnicities! What type of hair extensions, like clip-ins, tape-ins, weaves, pre-bonded, fusion, and micro-link, do you use on a regular basis? Which brand is your favorite?

I’m Glam Seamless certified and offer tape-In extensions. I love how easy they are to install and love the quality of their hair. Celebrity stylists, like Chris Appleton, also use this brand.

That’s really cool that you’ve been certified with Glam Seamless. They’re known for their commitment to quality. On a similar note, what styling tools are your go-to?

I love creating a textured wave on my clients. My absolute favorite curling irons are Babyliss or Paul Mitchell. Depending on the hair length and desired look, I will use a 1-inch or 1.25-inch iron. As far as blowdrying, I’m completely obsessed with my Dyson hair dryer. It’s so light, yet so powerful—enough to even blow out the thickest hair in such a short time. My favorite brushes are from Olivia Garden.

I have to tell you, the majority of stylists I talk to, rave about the Dyson hair dryer and the Babyliss curling iron! So, what products do you like to use on your clients and why?

For permanent color, I love Schwarzkopf. The possibilities for color correcting and formulating are endless. For toning, my go-to is Redken Shades EQ. Shades EQ are the ABSOLUTE best! They have big variety of tones to choose from and they leave the hair feeling super smooth and shiny. I always add Olaplex to lighten, and cannot live without it. It makes such a huge difference in any lightening service and makes the hair feel 100 times better than before any color service. I refuse to do any lightening without Olaplex, no matter what condition the hair is in, and have included it into the prices. For styling, my go-to is Amika. They have so many amazing products that actually do what they say they do. I have not used an Amika product that I haven’t fell in love with.

I must say, Redken Shades EQ is another favored toning product that the A-list stylists I’ve spoken to swear by. Amika products have also gotten good mentions too! Out of curiosity, do you have your own line of hair or beauty products?

I do not have my own product line.

You know, the great thing about life is you never know what possibilities the future holds. With your talent, I’m sure a product line is right around the corner! What beauty tip are you asked about the most?

I’m mostly asked about how to curl your own hair at home. At the end of every appointment, I go over and show my client how I am styling their hair. I explain every product and why I am using it. I also show them in the mirror how to hold the iron and in which direction to turn it.

I swear, if you lived in Miami, I’d be at your salon because I love to learn how to care for my hair directly from stylists and I don’t seem to get that. I always like to ask, what vitamin or supplement do you recommend for thinning hair?

For hair growth, I always recommend the Sugar Bear Hair vitamins. They are yummy and work so well!

I have to say, I fully agree with you that they work! In fact, I researched Sugar Bear Hair’s effectiveness by analyzing online reviews, and they actually work. Which hair-dye brand is your favorite and why? Which common drugstore hair-dye brand do you recommend for touch-ups at home?

I love Schwarzkopf, Goldwell and Redken. I NEVER recommend doing box color at home. I always say ‘color at home your own risk.’ I believe that sometimes going the ‘cheaper’ way and using box color ends up being a pricier fix at the salon than it would’ve been from the beginning.

You know what, the more I learn what goes into mixing color to make sure it lasts and is the perfect shade, I realize that getting your color done at the salon is probably the better way to go. So, what is your number one hair care tip or warning?

Don’t color, and especially, don’t bleach your hair at home! Unless you’re an experienced professional, you don’t know what you’re putting on your hair and what can happen when mixing certain products. I’ve had so many people sit in my chair, desperate for help but at some point when the hair’s damage has gotten so bad, nothing can be done.

Sounds like a nightmare of a situation. I know from firsthand experience, how traumatizing it can be to have a bad color job. Mind you, my experience was like 15 years ago and hair coloring wasn’t as advanced as it is now. I was wondering, who did you train with and do you hold any certifications and/or awards?

I’ve taken many balayage classes with people like Jamie Sea (@prettylittleombre), Ryan Weeden (@masterofbalayage), Asil (@asil). As far as cutting, I’ve trained with Nick Arrojo (@nickarrojo) and have taken many of his classes. For styling I’ve taken classes with people like Lala (@lalasupdos) and Mustafa Avci (@mustafaavci). I’m always learning and taking classes, usually one to two times a month, at least. The beauty of this industry is that you never stop learning and techniques are always evolving.

Along with constant learning, I have become part of the Redken Influencer team, where I travel and attend events with them. I’ve also been nominated two times for Behind The Chair One Shot awards in 2017 and 2018. I’ve also been featured on multiple hair magazines’ social media pages, like Modern Salon, American Salon, and Behind The Chair.

Congrats on all of the recognition, it’s well earned. Your work is absolutely fantastic! I’ve been following you on Instagram via @_claudiacruz_ for quite some time and love your balayage and color work. Plus, you’ve worked with several of the industry’s leading experts so I’m just blown away. Out of curiosity, do you work out of the salon or are you available for on-location bookings, either locally or out of state?

When I work out of the salon, it is to do weddings. My salon offers on-site wedding services, locally. I also travel to local salons to teach classes on balayage techniques.

That’s really cool that you also teach balayage techniques at other salons. So, I have to ask, what can we expect to see from you in the future?

I plan on expanding my salon and creating a space for education where my team and I can offer classes. I hope to win the One Shot Awards and plan on entering many more competitions. I would also love to start a YouTube channel where I can show my techniques.

Kudos! I love that you’re planning to expand for the purpose of teaching. Best of luck starting a YouTube Channel, I can’t wait to watch! Claudia, I want to thank you for sharing so much information with me, I learned a lot. Cheers to winning the One Shot Awards!

LuvlyLongLocks would like to thank Claudia Cruz for sharing her insights and tips. For more information about Claudia Cruz, visit her salon’s website www.thegreatstudiony.com.

This interview was conducted by Avni Parekh, LuvlyLongLocks CCO. LuvlyLongLocks has affiliate partnerships and may earn a commission if you make a purchase through the link at no extra cost to you. Rest assured, only products that are known to yield high results are recommended.